Licking. Lots. And lots. Of licking.

[MissPinUp]

I know licking is normal and all, and from what I understand it’s the salt that they like, correct?  My bun LOVES to lick.  It’s getting to the point where I can’t sit at my computer with my feet under me becase she’ll lick my feet for a half hour.  It frustrates me because sometimes I need to get to work, and I can’t herd her to her cage because all she does is lick!  I got her a salt lick circle that attaches to her hay basket, but she hates it!  I need something for the little girl to lick, just not me 24/7! Help  

[Crayon]

So does your bunny lick the kitty cat too? Or pillows, carpet, or anything other than you?

I don’t think it is salt he is craving but rather the need to groom. I have a stuffed bunny that my rabbit likes to lick. Maybe
you could try that.

[MissPinUp]

Now that you bring it up, she does lick everything. I should try the stuffed bunny thing. Thanks!

[SirThumpsey]

I’ve heard that poodles have licking obsessions….Perhaps she is part poodle? LOL

[Barbie]

Leroy licks like crazy too. When I’m sitting on the floor with him he’ll spend forever licking me, and recently I’ve noticed him licking the carpet and his fleece bed. I’ve given him a towel, an old t-shirt and some stuffed toys for him to groom – or whatever it is he thinks he’s doing – but none of those seem to interest him… * shrug * as long as he’s not eating the carpet or swallowing bits of the fleece, I don’t care. =)

This is a bit of a tangent, but my comment about giving Leroy a towel reminded me… I’ve tried making a bunny burrito out of him when it’s time to trim his nails, but he spazzes out and starts squirming and digging at the towel.. I’ve given up on trying to wrap him up, now i just flip him on his back on my lap to trim his nails; he also lets me get his nails when we sit on the floor and I hold him up on his butt in front of me, his back to my stomach… kind of like when you grab a sheep and pull them onto their haunches so all 4 legs are sticking out straight in front and you’re standing behind the sheep so their back is resting on your legs and you’re standing over them – if any of you have experience with that and know what I’m talking about … =P lol. Anyway, when I tried the bunny burrito method to trim his nails, Leroy seemed to love digging at the towels, but now, I can’t get him to pay any attention to the towels I give him… Does anyone know why? Maybe it wasn’t that he liked the towels but he was frustrated with being wrapped up?

[Joshua (Fear)]

Yes mine had a licking issue, he just gradually stopped now its only once in a while, i also tried the salt wheel, never touched it.

[QueenThumper]

 Ah, the digging.  I notice that when Thumper digs around in towels or in the rug it’s usually because 1) she wants to tear it up or 2) because she’s frustrated either by the un-straightness of the towel or 3) something I’ve done.  When it’s number 3, it usually looks like she’s trying to dig her way out or taking out her frustration on the towel.  Barbie, my guess is that Leroy is experiencing number 3 and is taking out his frustration on the towel.

And about the licking, I’ve heard that they do it when they’re really, really happy with you.  It’s their way of saying you’re family, the grooming.  It’s their equivalent to a good petting.  A couple weeks after I got Thumper, she just started licking everything, especially the bottom of a piano bench.  I used to call her a dust-bunny because it seemed like she licked everything that had accumulated dust in the room.  Once she became more comfortable and familiar with me, she’d start licking my nose instead, and other parts of my face but mainly my nose.  It tickles so good!   ^_^

Anyway, point is your bunny loves you very much and expresses that with her tongue.  As said before, presenting something else to her to lick in your place like a stuffed bunny may help, so she has somewhere else to pour out all of her love for you.

[KatnipCrzy]

When Cotton was younger she used to lick my face and arms all the time- not obsessively though.  And she used to groom my husbands hair too- she would stand on the back of the couch and lick his hair occasionally giving it a tug with her teeth.

I kind of miss all the bunny kisses.  She is much busier now when she is out running- and would rather flop in the middle of the room to show the other pets how unconcerned she is about them then spend time kissing me. 

[RabbitPam]

Queen Thumper – exactly.
You’re getting kisses and grooming, so really the salt lick isn’t necessary.

Licking and digging are signs of what they prefer as an activity, as some bunnies like jumping or tossing things better. You can follow these hints by getting toys that lend themselves to it, such as making a diggy box for a fun way to express the digging need. (I think it comes from the instinct to burrow.)
Grooming short smooth substitutes like a toy can work. Or when you get all those kisses, reach down and give some head pets for a few minutes. Grooming is often mutual affection and if you show your appreciation by grooming back, your bun may be satisfied that you responded and move away to do something else.

[Barbie]

Yes, Leroy always licks more when I’m petting him, and when he initials the “grooming” I always pet him back =)
And he’s finally taken in interest in the towels and stuff I’ve given him for digging so that’s a good thing! I’ve noticed that Leroy doesn’t toss any of the rings or balls I bought him – he doesn’t even touch those. Nor does he binky much, but he does do the Bunny 500 A LOT!

[Barbie]

Yes, Leroy always licks more when I’m petting him, and when he initials the “grooming” I always pet him back =)
And he’s finally taken in interest in the towels and stuff I’ve given him for digging so that’s a good thing! I’ve noticed that Leroy doesn’t toss any of the rings or balls I bought him – he doesn’t even touch those. Nor does he binky much, but he does do the Bunny 500 A LOT!

[Author]

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