Decoding Bunny Language: The 5 Resting Positions

Bunnies don't nap and sleep for long hours like cats, but they do spend a considerable amount of time resting:

Bunnies adopt different resting positions depending:

• on their mood
• how they feel about their surroundings
• current health. 

Humans can learn to understand what a bunny is feeling from his/her posture. Here are the 5 common ways bunnies relax:

1. The 'side-leg'

• The side-leg is a very common position chosen. No particular meaning; the bunny is relaxing.

2. The 'patty'

• The 'patty' is another common resting position. No particular meaning; the bunny is relaxing.

3. The 'egg'

• A bunny may assume the 'egg' position for several different reasons:

• he/she is resting and dozing off

• he/she feels slightly cold (perhaps it's raining and you have tile flooring?)

• he/she is lethargic due to illness

• How to differentiate between resting and lethargy due to sickness?

• If the bunny hops up immediately and is very enthusiastic when his/her food is presented, the bunny was just relaxing. It is unlikely that he/she was in discomfort.

4. The 'super-bunny'

• The bunny is rather comfortable with his/her surroundings to completely stretch out. 

5. The 'bunny flop'

• The bunny is contented, happy and feels safe in his/her environment. Often, bunnies tend to fall asleep in this position. When bunnies sleep, their noses stop wiggling so often and they grind their teeth softly.

Additional notes:

• No matter the position, if the bunny rests at the same spot for hours without moving much (=not getting up to eat hay or grooming at all), it is likely that the bunny is sick. He/she is feeling uncomfortable and unusually tired.

• The names for the above resting positions can vary from bunny human to bunny human. These are the words I personally use. You are free to make up your own!

First published on 15/02/2015

Decoding Bunny Language: The 8 Basics

1. Eating

Dutchie eating Timothy hay

• Throughout the day, bunnies spend a significant amount of their time munching, chewing and eating. It is important to make Timothy hay available to a bunny at all times. Timothy hay is crucial in maintaining a healthy digestive tract and satisfying the bunny's natural chewing urge.

2. Grooming

Dutchie grooming the fur on his back

• Bunnies are neat creatures, they groom themselves frequently - it's a daily-must! Therefore, bunnies practically don't need baths. Baths also tend to be stressful for them.

3. Resting

• Besides eating and grooming, the third most common activity a bunny does is relaxing and simply watching the world go by. 

• One thing to note here is that, bunnies don't take long naps like cats. A bunny is constantly alert to various sounds and surrounding movements. 

4. Binkying

Jippie binkying!

• A binky is a high jump accompanied by leg kicks and head flicks. Occasionally, it is preceded or followed by a lightning-speed run. A bunny binkies when he/she is filled with happiness and joy!

• This is one of the many reasons not to keep a bunny in a cage 24/7. Without freedom at all, how could a bunny be happy? Furthermore, a bunny can't binky without space!

5. Standing on hind legs

"What are you doing up there?"

Dutchie checking out my dad, who was pruning his bonsai.

• A bunny might stand on his/her hind legs for several reasons:

• he/she is exploring a new environment. Bunnies are rather curious creatures. Standing gives the bunny a better view of his/her surroundings.

• he/she wants to eat something (eg: 'Hey, it's my routine treat time!', 'I want to eat something, please?')

• he/she notices something up above (such as apples on the kitchen counter), and is trying to get a better sniff and/or reach it.

6. Thumping

• Since bunnies do not bark, meow or produce any loud sounds vocally, they sometimes thump to communicate. 

• A description of thumping would be: lifting hind feet and stomping down.

• A bunny might thump for several reasons:

• he/she is showing displeasure and dissatisfaction (eg: 'Oi, stop reading that book! Pet me now!')

• he/she is trying to get your attention (eg: 'Hey, it's treat time!')

• he/she has sensed or heard something odd and potentially dangerous

7. On the alert

Dutchie feels that the plastic basket is suspicious

• When a bunny is in Alert Mode, he/she generally would:

• tip-toe towards the direction of the triggering object or sound
• angle ears towards direction of object or sound
• jump or run away at the slightest new sound or movement
• thump his/her feet

• Alert Mode is generally triggered by:

• a new object the bunny has never seen before (for example, a new potted plant in the living room.)
• a sound or movement that seemed, to the bunny, odd or dangerous.

8. Chewing and digging

"I need to dig here .. And fix that patch over there ... "

Jippie digging our garden's grass and soil.

• Bunnies love to chew and dig. It's their nature.

• Chewing:

• Chewing is an enjoyable activity that relieves stress and wears down a bunny's teeth, which never stops growing.

• Provide Timothy hay to a bunny at all times so that he/she would have something to chew on when he/she wants to. Otherwise, there is a high possibility of your wooden furniture or book collection ending up as the bunny's chew victim.

• Digging:

• Digging is another enjoyable activity. It also helps to naturally wear down their nails.

10 Considerations Before Having A Bunny At Home

1. Your reason

• Is it simply impulse due to a bunny's irresistible cuteness? If you're a parent, is the reason because your child begged to have one? Are you prepared to welcome a furry companion into your home?

• Wait for a week or two and think about the question thoroughly. Getting a bunny on impulse often leads to frustration due to the realities involved in the caring of a living being.

2. Expenses

• The initial expenses include the cage, playpen, bowls etc. Afterwards, can you afford the bunny's food (eg: hay) which may need to be bought monthly - or even weekly? And what about vet expenses if the bunny gets sick?

• In my case, the average monthly cost for caring a bunny is about RM150 - 200. This amount, of course, does not cover vet expenses. 
  
  
  
  These two 15 oz bags of Oxbow hay (each costing about RM 35) lasts only 10 days!
  

3. Space

• A bunny should have a cage which is large enough to place the bunny's things, and for him/her to hop around a few steps in all directions and completely stretch out his/her legs.

• However, most of the time, the bunny should be outside the cage. You can do this by setting up a playpen. I personally recommend that the area be at least 3m x 2m. Do you have enough space in your house to ensure that the bunny has enough space to hop and, when they're in an excellent mood, binky?
  
  
  
  A bunny binkying - space is needed for a spectacular jump like this!

4. The chores

• A bunny's cage tray and litter box should be cleared daily to prevent unpleasant odour. Also, the floor should be cleaned 1 - 2 times a week to keep the bunny's area hygienic.

• Secondly, if you think: poop, poop soaking in urine, poop scattering all around the floor, or anything that has to do with poop or urine, is beyond disgusting ... a bunny, or an animal companion in general, probably isn't suitable for you.
  
  
  
  "What?"
  Shredded newspaper, scattered poop and hay, and urine all over the place. 

5. Time

• Bunnies, like any other pets, need love and attention. Will you have time to accompany the bunny everyday, after doing the routine chores? To have a good relationship with a bunny, humans should take the initiative.
  
  
  
  Millie enjoying pets
  
  

6. Behaviour expectations

• Did you know that most bunnies actually don't like to be carried and cuddled? Did you know that some bunnies may bite and lunge when they're not yet familiar with humans? Did you know that bunnies relax most of the day when they're not eating hay or exploring their living quarters?

• As humans, we should abandon many of our preconceptions in order to understand animals as the individuals they are. 

7. The likely mess

Flicka from Bunnyhugga

• Examples of "accidental" happenings: 
• chewed wires
• a pool of urinate in an unexpected corner
• shredded newspapers or nibbled books

• Examples of natural happenings:
• hay and poop being scattered here and there
• balls of fur rolling around the house during the bunny's shedding periods

• Are you ready to accept these messes - and more?
  
  
  

8. Handling

• You must not be afraid of a bunny's claws. In some situations, you may need to carry the bunny - whether the latter likes it or not. I can tell you firsthand that those claws can really scratch.

• Another important consideration is your medical condition. Are you allergic to the fur of animals? Does your family members have such allergies?

9. Potential "sacrifices"

• One of the common problems faced by all pet owners: being unable to go on faraway vacations. A bunny should be monitored daily and his/her area cleaned. Leaving the bunny at home for several days is an undesirable decision.

• When a bunny is sick or moody, you will have to cut down what I'd like to put as "me" time. Less shopping, less internet-surfing, missing your favourite TV show when you suddenly notice you're out of hay and vegetables, etc.

• In such situations, will you be seeing your bunny as a burden? Are you willing to commit?

10. Your future

• The future may seem far away - but did you know bunnies have an average lifespan of 10 years? Add ten years to your current age and picture the changes you might go through. 

• For example: if you're a student, will you be furthering your education in a place away from home? Will your family be taking care of the bunny? If you're an adult, will you be having your own children in a few years? Can you care for both your bunny and child?
  
  
  
  12-year-old Wuck (Sleepy Bunny Gets a Kiss from His Human)

Many bunnies - as well as other pets like dogs and cats - are abandoned and neglected every single day. The fortunate ones survive to reach a shelter, but the remaining often die of sickness, hunger or injury on the streets.

Let us not be a single contributor to this harsh statistic. If possible, adopt from your local shelter when you're ready to receive the wisdom of these lagomorphs. (Start HERE!)

12 Bunny Facts You May Not Know

1. Bunnies are lagomorphs, NOT rodents.

• Although bunnies resemble hamsters and mice in appearance (eg: the teeth, the nose-mouth area), they are NOT rodents though often wrongly classified as so.

• Lagomorphs are herbivores, whereas rodents are usually omnivores. 
  
  
  
  Emil from Worringer Kaninchenstall

2. Bunnies have an average lifespan of 10 years.

• Bunnies mature at 6 months old, and with good care, constant love and attention, they can live up to 10 years or even more.

3. A bunny's diet consists mainly of hay, NOT carrots!

• When it comes to bunnies, almost all cartoons feature them eating carrots. In reality, however, too much carrots (or other fruits) causes bacterial imbalance in a bunny's gut. This condition could potentially lead to death within days.

• Unlimited Timothy hay MUST be given to bunnies. The hay provides fibre which ensures a healthy digestive system.

Only Bugs Bunny and other cartoon buns eat carrots.

Real bunnies eat hay!

Left: Timothy hay; Right: Jippie eating hay from a metal ball

4. A bunny's teeth DOES NOT stop growing!

• And therefore, here comes another importance of hay. A bunny's teeth naturally wears down as they chew and eat hay (due to the opposing action of the teeth).

• If a bunny's teeth are not worn down, they could potentially overgrow. This causes discomfort and pain to the bunny and he/she will have problems eating.
  
  
  
  Coco from 家有寶貝兔, yawning - look at those bunny teeth!

5. Bunnies must NEVER be picked up by their ears or scruff!

• Again, cartoons often feature magicians picking out bunnies from their hats in this way. This is actually horribly dangerous and wrong! 
  
  

  Picked up by the ears - WRONG.

  
  

  

• A bunny's ears have many important functions such as:
• consisting of delicate blood vessels
• hearing sounds from different directions
• regulating body temperature

• Picking up a bunny by his/her ears could potentially:
• cause irreparable damage to the ears, resulting in severe problems such as deafness.
• cause a bunny to fall and break his/her back, as this method does not secure the bunny properly.

6. Bunnies poop constantly.

• Completely different from dogs and cats (who only carry out their business once or twice a day), healthy bunnies produce poop almost every hour throughout the day. Yes, every hour.

The above is only a very small percentage of what my bunny, Jippie, produces daily.

7. Bunnies DO NOT stink, and they DO NOT need baths!

• Unless you're very sensitive to fur scents of animals, bunnies do not "stink". The three things I know that may be the cause of unpleasant odours are:

• the accumulation of urine or soft poop at the bum - however, this will be unlikely if you feed them the correct diet consisting of unlimited Timothy hay.

• the feeding of cheap, low-quality pellets.

• a dirty cage and uncleaned play area.

• Bunnies groom themselves clean everyday. Therefore, bunnies practically don't need baths at all! Unless the bunny is disabled (eg: has a splayed leg), very rarely does a situation arise where he/she needs a body bath. Baths are often stressful to a bunny.
  
  
  
  Fridolin from Worringer Kaninchenstall, about to wash his ears.

8. Bunnies consume cecotropes.

• Cecotropes are partially digested food that are reingested by bunnies to obtain nutrients. As a bunny bends down to consume his/her daily cecotropes directly from the anus, many people, unfortunately, mistakes this as eating poop.

• Here are the differences between cecotropes and normal bunny poop:
  
  
  
  Differences between cecotropes and normal poop.

A bunny (pictured: Dutchie) would bend down and consume his/her cecotropes directly from the anus

9. Bunnies are NOT stay-in-cages animals.

• No companion animal should be kept in a cage 24/7. You can put a bunny inside a cage, but most of the time, the bunny should be outside the cage.

• Consequences of keeping a bunny in a cage for long hours:

• The bunny becomes more territorial and wary towards humans (eg: biting when you attempt to pet him/her)

• The bunny becomes stressed and tends to have a shorter lifespan. (Imagine being cooped up in a holed box yourself, where you can only walk a few steps around everyday.)

Dutchie: Lemme out! I demand to see my lawyer!

(Dutchie going nuts when I was only locking him up in his cage to mop the floor)

10. Most bunnies DO NOT enjoy being carried up.

• By natural history, bunnies are ground-dwelling prey animals. It is against the nature of a bunny to be held above ground where his/her motions are strongly restricted.

• A bunny will struggle and kick when held against his/her will in such a situation. This could potentially injure both you and your bunny. If the bunny falls, he/she could even break his/her neck, back, or legs.

• Bunnies prefer humans to sit or lie beside them on the ground at bunny-eye level - and us to be generous with our pets, of course.

11. Bunnies are sociable animals.

• Unknowing humans claim bunnies to be "boring" and "lazy". This is not the truth at all! When one has a good relationship with his/her bunnies, these furry creatures can do many sweet and adorable things for you, such as:

• leave their current lounging location just to be around you.

• nose-bonk your legs if you just got back home from school or work.

Jippie's eyes flipped on to Sparkling Mode when he wants vegetables or treats.

• The key to a good relationship is frequent interaction between human and bunny. DO NOT keep your bunny in a cage.

• However, it might take a few months before a bunny shows obvious friendly gestures mentioned above. You should be the initiative:

• accompany your bunny everyday for a period of time, pet and talk to him/her gently all the while.

• be the one that gives their daily food (eg: hay, vegetables).

12. Every bunny has his/her own personality.

• Personality is not primarily related to breed. A bunny's personality comes first, his/her breed second. 

Dutchie is sociable and a little cheeky. He's one of the minority cuddle buns.

Jippie is shy around strangers, but he's incredibly sweet and loyal when you get to know him.