Rabbits are social animals that live in groups and are very responsive to changes in their environment. When rabbits are stressed, they may exhibit several different behaviors, including freezing, fleeing, or fighting.
Abused or abnormal behavior in rabbits is not very common, but it’s still possible. If you’re planning to keep a pet rabbit, you must know if she shows abusive behavior and what to do about it.
Bunnies sometimes get upset and grudge against anyone who has offended them. One common sign that shows their changed behavior is that they would give you the cold shoulder by ignoring you and refusing to take anything from you.
If these pets hold a grudge, they would also flick their feet along with other people and urinate in areas they wouldn’t normally do. Let’s find out what type of abuse rabbits suffer from and what signs show a rabbit might be holding a grudge.
Types of Abuse Rabbits May Suffer From
Neglect is the most common type of abuse that rabbits suffer from. It can be defined as the failure to provide the basic needs of the rabbit, such as food, water, shelter, and veterinary care. Neglect can also include leaving the rabbit alone for long periods of time or not providing enough enrichment to keep the rabbit mentally stimulated.
There are many different ways in which neglect can manifest itself. For example, a rabbit not given enough food may start to lose weight, or a rabbit who does not have access to fresh water may start to suffer from dehydration. If a rabbit is not given enough shelter, she may start to experience stress and anxiety. If they are not given enough enrichment, they may exhibit destructive behavior.
Another reason why rabbits may engage in abusive behavior is because they may feel threatened or scared. If a rabbit feels in danger, it may try to protect itself by attacking.
Finally, rabbits may also engage in abusive behavior if they are not getting enough exercise or are bored. If rabbits are not able to run around and explore, they may become frustrated and take out their frustration on other rabbits or people.
How Do Rabbits Respond to Stress?
The rabbit will show peculiar behavior if she is upset about something. Most rabbit owners would know that if they upset their pet, she will not be her friendly self again. Rabbits are usually very playful and friendly, but if they are upset about anything, they behave differently.
When rabbits are stressed out, they may exhibit changes in their behavior. For example, they may become more aggressive, withdrawn, or even stop eating altogether.
Some rabbits are more sensitive than others. If they feel abused, they would stop eating and start losing weight with each passing day. This is not a good sign, and you should immediately do something about it. Sometimes the reason behind a rabbit’s abused behavior is simply neglected on your part. If you think that’s the case, start caring for her more and give her more cuddles and attention so she can come out of this phase.
It is seen that rabbits getting upset by a person would not usually hold a grudge for too long. If you offer them their favorite treat, they always return to you. They would also feel better after a pleasant massage, which relaxes them. However, in some cases, bunnies would hold their grudge for several hours, or it could go on for days if they feel slighted.
It’s also important to ensure that your bunny eats a healthy diet. Feed them hay, fresh vegetables, and a small number of pellets every day. If you do these things, your rabbit should start eating again and become happy again.
What Makes a Rabbit Hold a Grudge?
Domestic rabbits have a very social and friendly nature that makes them adorable. If they get upset, they have an instinctual approach to communicating with each other. This behavior change comes from the unhappiness they are suffering after getting offended. They will use this behavior to tell the person they have been hurt until that person apologizes or move on without an apology.
He will easily get offended if you try to hold your bunny and put her in a scary or stressful condition. If you need to handle your bunny, even if you have to move her from one place to another, you need to clip her nails or give her medication, she might get upset. Rabbits feel scared when they are held tightly and are moved places as they feel trapped with no escape.
They would quickly identify that they are scared because of you and hold you responsible for inflicting this fear on them. This is when they would start holding a grudge against you.
In the same way, bunnies behave differently when they come home from any kind of car trip, like visiting the vet. This is another stressful situation for the bunnies to get upset. They will hold a grudge during the journey but return to their usual self once they are safe.
Some bunnies will get offended even if you touch their things. If you try cleaning their space and rearranging their furniture, they could easily get upset. They would try reorganizing their enclosure to get everything back to normal or just sulk for some time until they accept the change.
Signs that Tell a Rabbit Might Be Holding a Grudge
It is not easy to read your rabbit’s behavior at times. Some of these are so subtle that you probably wouldn’t even notice that they are upset with you, while others would make you think they have completely changed their personality. Every rabbit has a different way of expressing her displeasure, but there are some common behaviors that will let you know that your pet is upset with you.
The Cold Shoulder
Upon feeling slighted, rabbits would start giving you the cold shoulder. This is when the bunny hops out of your reach, turning her back and ignoring you completely. She may look back at you over her shoulder just to see that you are watching her. She wants to tell you that she is upset with you by exhibiting this behavior.
If you go up to them and try to pet them, they will hop back and sit with their butt pointing toward you. This is where your rabbit is just sulking and not ready for an apology. Once you give them their time and space, they will get a chance to calm down and let go of their grudge, then you can try to pet them with a massage.
Flicking their Feet
Have you ever seen your bunny hopping away from you while flicking her feet in your direction? This is the situation where it’s called “flipping you off.” It is a soft gesture, but a strong sign that your rabbit is upset with you and they want to let you know about it.
This behavior is noticed commonly when you hold your pet and put her down for the first time. They will start hopping away from you while flicking their feet. They will start to give you the cold shoulder for some time until they are in a position to forgive you.
Refusing Treats
Some bunnies would express their act of holding a grudge against you by letting you know about it by refusing your treats. If you offer them their favorite treat, they will ignore it until they forgive you. This doesn’t mean that they would refuse to eat too. They will not accept the extra treats you give them. They would eat whatever they regularly eat but would refuse if you tried to hand it over to them.
Temporary Aggression
Rabbits are generally gentle and timid creatures. However, they can show aggression under certain circumstances. Two main reasons rabbits may become aggressive: to protect themselves or their territory or to assert dominance over another rabbit.
One reason why rabbits may become aggressive is to protect themselves or their territory. If a rabbit feels threatened, it may lash out to scare off the perceived threat. For example, if a predator approaches a rabbit, it may try to scare the predator away by biting, scratching, or thumping its hind legs.
Additionally, if a rabbit feels that her territory is being invaded, she may become aggressive in defending her home. For instance, if another rabbit enters her territory, the resident rabbit may try to chase the other rabbit away.
Another reason rabbits may become aggressive is to assert dominance over another rabbit. Rabbits are social animals, and they establish hierarchies within their groups. The most dominant rabbit is typically the one who gets the best food, mating partners, and sleeping spots.
Rabbits may also show aggressive behavior when holding a grudge against someone. However, it’s only temporary and would subside on its own.
Urinating in Places They Wouldn’t
Rabbits are very smart animals, as they know where to go if they need to urinate. If they are upset with you, they will urinate where they wouldn’t normally go.
A rabbit tends to claim his dominance and ownership of an area by spreading her scent. If your bunny is peeing outside her litterbox, she is trying to tell you that she is in total control of things and is very upset about what you have done to them.
How to Apologize to Your Rabbit?
It’s not easy to admit we’re wrong, but sometimes a sincere apology is the best way to repair a relationship. If you’ve hurt your rabbit’s feelings, here are four steps to make things right.
If you feel that your adorable pet is not happy with you, you would want to find a way to make her forgive you. Most rabbits will only hold a grudge until you let them know you are sorry. If you try to apologize to your pet, she will forgive you instantly.
The first step is to acknowledge what you did wrong simply. This shows your rabbit that you’re aware of the situation and taking responsibility for your actions. You might say, “I’m sorry I yelled at you when you knocked over my water glass.”
The easiest way to apologize to your rabbit is to offer her a treat. This gesture would immediately put you in a good position to be forgiven, as they won’t hold a grudge anymore. Even if they try to ignore your treats when angry, their favorite ones would attract them and would come to you.
It would be best if you offered your rabbit her favorite treat and put it in a place where she can find it easily and is ready to forgive you. If she eats your treat, it means that she has forgiven you. When a rabbit receives a treat from her owner, it makes her feel loved and appreciated.
Furthermore, treats can also be a way for owners to bond with their rabbits. By giving a treat to a rabbit, owners are showing that they care about their rabbit’s happiness.
In addition to the social aspect, giving a treat to a rabbit can make her happy because it provides mental stimulation. Rabbits are very intelligent creatures and need to be mentally stimulated to stay happy and healthy. Treats can provide this stimulation, as rabbits must use their noses and paws to figure out how to get to the treat. This type of activity is not only mentally stimulating for rabbits, but it is also a lot of fun!
When you feel your rabbit is mad at you, you need to pet her with a pleasant massage. This helps the rabbit relax by enjoying the massage and would be ready to forgive you. If you feel your rabbit is avoiding your touch, you need to give her some time, as she needs time to clear her head before coming to you. Try to wait for some time and then pet her.
When massaging your rabbit, increasing the pressure as you go gradually is important. Use your fingertips and fingertips to gently stroke their fur, starting from the head and working your way down the body. You can also use gentle circular motions on their back and sides. Avoid massaging their stomach, as this can be a sensitive area for rabbits.
These are some ways that can help you renew your relationship with your pet. However, sometimes nothing seems to be working. Even if that’s the case, don’t give up. With a little bit of effort, you and your rabbit will be able to come closer again.
If you feel that petting and treats are not working, you need to give your rabbit a little more time to come back to you. You need to respect her space and give her the choice of doing whatever she likes to do. Just watch carefully and take a step back until she is able to forgive you.
Final Words
Rabbits are adorable creatures, but they are also quite vulnerable at the same time. They are always looking for your attention and love. If they get abused by your behavior in any way, they will start to show signs of unhappiness and displeasure. Every rabbit has a different way of showing her anger and displeasure.
Abused rabbit behavior is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. There are many reasons why rabbits may engage in abusive behavior, and it is important to understand these reasons in order to help prevent and address this problem. By socializing rabbits from a young age, providing them with plenty of exercise, and spaying or neutering them, we can help to reduce the incidence of abused rabbit behavior.
It all depends on the nature of your rabbit as to how he responds to a certain gesture. Some rabbits would only show subtle behavior, while others would show signs of aggression. You need to handle your pet with care so that if she is upset, she is not upset for too long, and there are no health consequences from this entire episode. You should try and make her feel comfortable first before she comes back to you and make sure she has completely forgotten what happened earlier.
Saying sorry isn’t always easy, but it’s important to do if we want to maintain healthy relationships with the people (or animals) we care about. If you think your bunny is holding a grudge against you, apologize to her, offer her a treat, and give her some extra cuddles.