Submissive behaviour?

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This topic has 9sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 11 months ago by Taloan7.

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- 12/04/2018 at 6:00 PM
  Taloan7
  Participant
  138 posts
  I find the interactions between my bunny and cats very interesting and am constantly trying to interpret them (especially because there are some communication barriers). I was just watching them and Moonpaw came over to the cat and ducked his head low under the cat’s chin, and half closed his eyes and just sat there like he was waiting for something. After a few seconds the cat sniffed his head and ears and this seemed to satisfy Moonpaw and he flopped over next to the cat. The behaviour seemed so intentional I was wondering if there was something behind it, like was it a submissive gesture or something?
- 12/04/2018 at 8:44 PM
  Asriel and Bombur
  Participant
  1104 posts
  It’s an invitation to groom. You tend to see it in the dominate buns. But most buns will do that for grooms
- 12/05/2018 at 1:14 AM
  Taloan7
  Participant
  138 posts
  That’s interesting. Having a bunny is like learning a whole new language. Moonpaw will groom our other cat, but never do the head thing, and the cat who he does the head thing to I’ve never seen him groom. Do bunnies have concrete hierarchies where that would imply he think the one cat is his superior and the other he is dominant over or do bunnies even have that clear cut of heirarchies? Or does it just depend on the mood? I would enjoy reading up on rabbit social structure.
- 12/05/2018 at 6:55 AM
  ThorBunny
  Participant
  824 posts
  This is a good read if you haven’t seen it already
  
  http://language.rabbitspeak.com/prove-that-you-love-me/
- 12/05/2018 at 7:08 AM
  Asriel and Bombur
  Participant
  1104 posts
  I love rabbit speak! Read it so much the month or two before getting the boys.
- 12/05/2018 at 12:48 PM
  Taloan7
  Participant
  138 posts
  Thank you! That is the exact sort of thing I was looking for.
- 12/05/2018 at 12:53 PM
  Taloan7
  Participant
  138 posts
  Oh that is so interesting (I just read it). It makes some of Moonpaw’s behaviour make more sense. He has apparently decided our one cat is his subordinate and I have seen him demand grooming from him more than one, but our big 20lb Maine Coon gets grooming from Moonpaw, so I guess in his mind the Maine Coon is the top rabbit haha.
- 12/05/2018 at 1:30 PM
  Asriel and Bombur
  Participant
  1104 posts
  Maine Coons are absolutely beautiful. I had an American Short Hair and a Calico growing up. 100% don’t think the buns would like them xD
- 12/06/2018 at 6:47 AM
  ThorBunny
  Participant
  824 posts
  Glad you found it interesting! That whole site is wonderful for figuring out rabbit behavior
  
  I love Maine Coons, they’re so regal
- 12/06/2018 at 10:51 AM
  Taloan7
  Participant
  138 posts
  Haha, our cat was regal once upon a time and he still likes to pretend he is, but he’s getting older and frequently fails at jumping. He’ll jump from the counter to the table, miscalculate and hit the side of the table and fall on the floor, then hop up and saunter off, nose in the air, like he is royalty and we are all peasants.
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