As with most of my pets, Fluffernutter is a rescue. Her previous owner simply was not able to keep her any longer. My kids wanted a rabbit, but I had always thought that caged pets were boring. After all, they don’t really play with you right? Boy was I wrong……..
Fluff has quite a wide range of communication behaviors. The trick is to interpret them.
Binking - The bunny dance of joy. Binking is when your rabbit leaps high into the air, twisting and kicking its feet. Fluff goes into a binking frenzy when she has outdoor time.
Fluff and Karma, sniff-greeting
Chinning – Just like cats, rabbits have scent glands in their face which they rub against objects to mark them. Sometimes when they are playing together, one of our cats, Miss Kitty, and Fluff play “Scent Tag.” One will rub against the couch or furniture and then the other one comes right after to rub the same spot.
Grunting - A warning. Grunting usually means your rabbit is displeased with you or the situation. A grunting rabbit may be expressing simply annoyance. While cleaning Fluff’s cage, I usually get 2-3 grunts for the disturbance. Grunting can also be the warning before an attack. I do not let any small children near Fluff if she is grunting, just in case she decides to bite.
Lunging - A form of attack. If you stick your hand in her cage unexpectedly, your bunny might lunge at it.
Periscoping - Rabbits can sit up on their hind legs and stretch to get a better view of the world around them. Fluff often periscopes when she is begging for a treat.
Fluffernutter watches intently to make sure I put everything in the cage back the same way after cleaning it.
Possessiveness - Rabbits are not that fond of their humans moving around things. They are creatures of habit and like things to stay just the way they put them. After all, you wouldn’t like it much if someone else came in an decided to rearrange your living room after you got it just the way you liked it either.
Teeth Grinding – A bunny purr. When it is a soft sound, it is a sign of contentment. If it is a loud crunching sound though, it could be a sign of pain.
Thumping - Warning of danger or displeasure. Thumping in the wild is done to warn everyone that there is danger near. Thumping in my house is done whenever Fluffernutter is irritated with us – which is usually whenever we take her out of the cage, put her back in the cage, fill up her water, move her toys, or fill her food dish before filling the hay manger.
Throwing - Rabbits will throw anything they can pick up with their mouths. Zoom! - there goes that bunny rattle. Whoosh! – there goes the food dish that I didn’t secure fully to the cage bars. Boink! – poor doggie just got a chew stick in the face.
Trancing - Bunny Meditation. Trancing is when your rabbit is lying completely calm and relaxed on its back. It is much easier to clip your rabbit’s nails when it is lying in a trance as all four feet are easily accessible.
Squeals or Screams - These are the sounds that you NEVER want to hear. A squealing rabbit is one that is in extreme fear or pain.
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