How do I know if my bunny is happy?

[Feathery]

I’ve had Dotty for more than a year now, and I have grown very attached to her.. and hopefully she to me.

 I’ve read that rabbits sometimes make sounds or thump their feet as ways of expressing themselves.  However, mine does none of that.  She gets a lot of attention, especially on weekends when there is more time to spare. I try to give her treats (moderately) and take her outside to get a few minutes of exercise.  Basically, I’m doing my best to make keep her healthy and happy.  However, I can never tell if she truly is content. 

 She doesn’t move a lot.  If I put her somewhere, she will sit there for a very long time until I pick her up and put her in another location.  She doesn’t mind getting picked up.  In fact, if she sees me, she will hop toward me.  When taken outside, she gets much more curious and starts sniffing this and that, hopping behind flower pots and bushes.  I’ve noticed that she always makes sure that I’m within her sights though.  If I move away or if I make a gesture to go inside the house, she will usually come and find me. 

Her behavior in seeming to want to be near me makes me think she feels safe with me.   However, from reading articles about rabbit behaviors, I can’t help but think that my bunny doesn’t produce those immediate behaviors of happiness.  I was told that when she was with her previous owner as a baby she thumped her foot a lot!  Ever since she started living with us, she has never done that.  =/

 Could she be lacking something? 

[Sarita]

Rabbits are generally silent animals – they can thump and can make some noise, but they aren’t vocal like many animals.

I think as far as behavior every rabbit is different and just based on what you are telling us, it sounds like she is very content with you.

[Bam]

A rabbit thumping his/her feet isn’t necessarily happy. They do it when they feel there’s a threat, to warn the other rabbits (an instinct, so they’ll do it even if there are no other rabbits) and they can do it for attention – if I haven’t given my rabbit enough (in his opinion) to eat in the night, he can wake me by thumping to get more food.

[Feathery]

Well thanks for the responses so far. I guess all I can do is keep giving her the best care that I know how.

I just wished I knew what makes her happy or content so that I can use those signals to further benefit my relationship with her.

[Deleted User]

Rabbit behavior definitely varies upon the rabbit. Skipper will thump her foot if she is angry and impatient. Hugo will thump if he’s scared. And Ian thumps when he’s doing his Bunny 500s and is very happy. Normally an indication of being happy is doing binkies. =]

[LoveChaCha]

Buns are all different and that is the beauty of them She sounds like she is pretty comfortable allowing you to move her.

My Chacha bun is a thumper. She thumps if her food is not on time, if she wants me to move, etc. She is quite the bossy bunny.

[LittlePuffyTail]

She sounds like a happy bunny to me. If she lets you pick her up, she is definitely comfortable with you. As for her not moving around much, lops tend to be pretty lazy. Mine sure is.

[Elrohwen]

I agree on the lazy lop thing – my holland lop boy is a lazy slug and always has been. He’s just happiest lounging around. My mini lop loves activity and is always active, so it just varies a lot from rabbit to rabbit.

I agree with others that not thumping is more positive than anything – most rabbits will thump when they are scared or startled, so it’s not a sign of happiness the majority of the time.

Bunnies are a very different pet from dogs and cats – they’re not always very expressive (though some can be) and it can be hard to read them. The face that she’s so comfortable with you and follows you around are great signs. An unhappy bunny is more likely to be scared and nervous and she’s neither of those things. To me, a content bunny is usually a “zen” bunny. I actually love how calm they are and how they are happy to sit very still, just observing the world.

[Feathery]

Thanks everyone for their helpful responses. I just wanted to make sure my bunny is fine without expressing herself in obvious ways. =)

[bunnnnnnie!]

I think lops can be a little more understated in their expressions… Zeus might do a binky MAYBE once every two weeks. And it ALWAYS pertains to dinnertime. LOL!

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Yeah now that I think about, Sally is a lop and is pretty lazy lol she just kinda lounges at my feet all day. The only time she moves is when I get up to go some place and she will follow me lol it’s great that when its time for her to go to her cage I just get up and walk and know she is close on my tail

Now Harley, is a wild child. He’s a harlequin and he is always running around doing zoomies and binkies and honking and thumping and just very energetic lol he comes up for snuggles after he has a ran A LOT but its not for long before he is at it again. He’s very vocal lol

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