Scratching legs

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 6sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 10 months ago by Lyia.

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- 05/24/2014 at 6:22 AM
  Lyia
  Participant
  21 posts
  Hello everyone,
  
  I have two lovely bunnies. Billy is 3 years old and absolutely adores me – he’s truly bonded to me. Noah came from the RSPCA and was a few months old when he arrived home. Apparently he was found abandoned with 2 other baby bunnies. We now had him for about 9 months so he should be about 1 year old. They are both males and neutered, and get on well.
  
  Noah has always been a shy and fearful rabbit, but on the whole he’s happy. He binkies on the carpet (he hates the lino!), eats from my hand and jumps on my back when I’m lying on the floor. However, he does not really like being petted by me, it mostly annoys him. What he wants is some licks from Billy only. I’ve settled for playing with Noah rather than cuddling him. I hand him his toys, he likes to go under my legs, etc…
  
  What I don’t understand is this – sometimes he just comes up to me and scratches me. I’m sitting on the carpet with him and he just starts digging at my legs. He also does it when I’m standing next to his cage. I’m talking to our hamster (its cage is situated on top of the bunnies’ cage), and Noah comes up to me, gets up against my legs and scratches at my clothes. What can it mean? His is “jealous” and does he want some attention? Does he just want me to move away?
  
  I never had a bunny with such a different character and it’s hard to understand what Noah’s telling me sometimes. I guess he likes me but wants me to love him from afar (Billy’s his real love when it comes to the petting). But what does the leg scratching mean? Help anyone?
  
  Thank you =)
- 05/24/2014 at 12:27 PM
  Mocha
  Participant
  509 posts
  Your rabbit is not jealous of your hamster He probably wants to be pet. My rabbits really like if I rub them in between their ears and on their neck. Some rabbits just don’t like to be pet. You haven’t had (Noah) for a while, so he’s taking his time to get used to you.
- 05/24/2014 at 3:52 PM
  Peony
  Participant
  219 posts
  When my bunny was new to “us” she kept “digging” and “nigging” at my mom’s slippers. (Standing or laying) Never figured out why.
- 05/26/2014 at 4:39 AM
  Lyia
  Participant
  21 posts
  Thank you. He nudges and scratches me, but when I want to give him a head rub he usually hops away, as if saying: ha, gotcha again! I touch you but you won`t touch me!
  I hope he will trust me fully after some time, I take it as a test/game.
- 05/27/2014 at 9:52 AM
  Peony
  Participant
  219 posts
  Might be telling you to move or give food if there is nugging with that
- 05/27/2014 at 11:31 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  It could be a number of reasons but my guess is, he wants your attention. My Bindi will do that to me if I stop petting him (spoiled!) and Olivia will do it if I`m in her way and she wants me to move.
- 05/27/2014 at 12:03 PM
  Lyia
  Participant
  21 posts
  He may actually be asking for food. When I came home today, he went up to me, stood and started to scratch at my legs and it was meal time. One of my bunnies used to thump on the floor to call me, I guess Noah takes a more direct approach. I certainly can’t ignore him that way
  Thank you!
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