Rabbit emotions

Rabbits do have feelings

Rabbit language among themselves

Laying side by side

Rabbits that are put together and can figure out how to live together will often be friends for life with a few quarrels, but then again, who can not have a bad day?

They will be numerous if they have first found each other and once they have figured out what their hierarchy is like. Rabbits in the wild are very dependent on each other as they live in colonies, which means they each have their family in a huge herd where they all keep an eye out for predators, and warn each other if danger is at the door.

What could be the cause of the quarrel?

Many rabbit owners find it difficult to assess whether the rabbits are up for a fight or whether they just have a small "disagreement". Here are some reasons why your rabbits may get into an argument:

• Territorial behavior. If two rabbits share a small cage, then they will both take it as if they own it, and some small disagreements may arise in such situations.

• Fighting for dominance. There will always be one who is more dominant than the other, to take care of the small flock, and to provide food and ie. The other rabbit will then be subject to the dominant (submissive) in relation to.

• Too much time together. Two rabbits are happy to be together and like to spend a lot of time together, can also get tired of being together all the time, so they sometimes need a break to do what they feel best for, and that is therefore really important that there is enough space in the cage and the running yard so that they can get a break from each other.

• A third party. When a third party enters the picture, this can create a lot of stress for the rabbit who already lives with you. It now no longer knows its head and tail in its own home, and questions may arise which need to be resolved. Who is this new rabbit? Where is its territory and where in the hierarchy does it lie? Is there enough food for both of us? It is very important not to expose the rabbit to unnecessary stress as this can cause GI Stasis.

Do rabbits carry grudges?

Molly is washing Sandy's nose

Yes, in fact, a rabbit can carry grudges for several hours even days. It can be nice for the rabbit to have some peace to think about whether it was such a good idea to argue. If the rabbits are up for a fight, then it's better to separate them for a short period of time, but make sure they can still see and smell each other, and they will soon find out that it was not that smart to fight, so they will apologize, and be best friends again. You may want to experience some of these scenarios: as they are very proud and stubborn animals by nature. If the rabbits are still angry at each other after many hours where they have been angry and may have been up fighting, then it may be a good idea to separate them for a while before you try to put them back together.

• If the rabbit scurries over to you just before it looks down into the ground, it tells you that it knows you are there, but that it ignores you.

• If it is waiting for you to look at it before it goes its way, then it is very annoyed with you.

• It turns its back on you and kicks with its hind legs in your direction, then it is furious at you, and is very dissatisfied with something you have done.

• When it folds its ears down, it will not be recognized by you, and is therefore very offended.

These are just a few scenarios that are very clear to see through, and that mood can well take place over several days. You could think about what you have done to make your rabbit so mad at you, and try to avoid it another time, if possible. This behavior is also shown to other rabbits, but here the two rabbits may also get up to fight. No one wants some sour mines, so of course you try to make amends for your behavior as soon as possible, but it is important to offer an apology, and then all this will be forgotten in a short time.

How do rabbits apologize to each other?

Rabbits are some very funny animals, because they can actually apologize to another rabbit if they now feel that they have offended the other rabbit or in some other way made the other rabbit upset.

Sandy and Molly are touching noses

When they apologize, they gently bump their heads together so that both their foreheads touch each other, and so they can sit for a while. They can also put both snout up against each other, and sit like that for a bit. It is not so often that it is seen by the rabbit owner, as not many people know what they are doing because they just look cute, but in reality it is completely normal rabbit language and one should finally not disturb them. Just let them be and let them make peace with each other. If the rabbit licks the other rabbit, then the apology has been accepted, and they are good friends again.

You've bothered the rabbit, but how do you say sorry?

If your rabbit has first gotten mad at you, then it should probably tell you in a way that you listen to it (hopefully). There are many ways you could offend your rabbit and here are a few:

• Is the cause of pain in the rabbit. Whether it was on purpose (but necessary) or whether it was without intentions, it will believe that everyone will harm it and / or eat it.

• Do not share food with it. Some rabbits are very interested in your food, but what it does not know is that it is toxic to it, but that is not how it sees it, so it would like you to share the food so that it knows that you want to take care of its survival. You may sometimes find something that the rabbit is actually allowed to eat, and then offer it a small mouthful so it can see that you are willing to share.

• If you have been the unfaithful. It definitely does not like if you have been with animals other than it. Rabbits are very decisive and insecure, so they quickly become afraid of whether you will betray it, so it will often not like you if it discovers it.

• Ignore it. You should never ignore your rabbit (or other animals) as they are in dire need of attention from you. If it licks at you or puffs at you, then it tells you to talk to it and this should never be ignored.

• Cleaning the cage. Even if you actually do the rabbit a favor by cleaning its home, it will not see it that way. It thinks you're taking over its home, and they are not always happy about that.

If you have done one or more of these things and your rabbit has become angry at you, then it would be a good idea to say sorry, but here do not do as the rabbits do, and put your forehead against its. It will feel like it is being assaulted as you are much bigger than it, so it will definitely be intimidated, but then you should rather give it a treat or something it loves and then talk to it a lot.

Sources:

https://www.rabbitcaretips.com/how-do-rabbits-apologize-to-each-other/