9 surprising facts about rabbit behaviour you probably didn't know

July 16 2026, by Michael van Wassem, 5 min reading time

From joyful binkies to teeth grinding: discover 9 surprising facts about rabbit behaviour and what they reveal about how your rabbit is feeling.

Your rabbit suddenly jumps into the air, twists a quarter turn and lands as if nothing happened. Or it flops abruptly onto its side, as though it has fainted. What's actually going on? Rabbits have a rich repertoire of behaviour that often looks surprising, or even worrying, to outsiders, while for the rabbit itself it's the most natural thing in the world. Anyone who learns to read these signals understands their rabbit better and can spot more quickly whether it's happy, stressed, or scared of something.

Below are nine facts about rabbit behaviour you probably didn't know, along with an explanation of what they mean for you as an owner.

1. A rabbit isn't a rodent at all

Rabbits are often lumped together with hamsters, guinea pigs and rats, but biologically they don't belong to the rodents (Rodentia). They form their own order: lagomorphs. Part of the difference shows up in their teeth: behind their large, obvious front incisors, rabbits have a second, small pair of teeth known as "peg teeth". Rodents don't have these. The practical consequence for you: just like rodents, a rabbit's teeth keep growing throughout its life, so enough chew material and roughage are essential to prevent overgrowth.

2. Those crazy jumps in the air are pure joy

Does your rabbit suddenly leap up, twist in mid-air and shake its head, before hopping off again? That's called a "binky" and it's one of the clearest signs that a rabbit feels overjoyed. You often see it in young rabbits, or just after they've been let loose in a new, safe space to explore. However clumsy it looks, there's nothing wrong with your rabbit: this is exactly the behaviour you want to see.

3. Thumping with the hind legs is a warning signal

A hard thump with both hind feet on the ground means something very different from a binky. In the wild, rabbits warn each other of danger this way; the vibration travels through the ground and alerts other rabbits nearby. In a pet rabbit, it can point to fright, irritation or displeasure about something in its surroundings, for example an unexpected sound, a dog or cat coming too close, or simply annoyance that the food bowl is still empty. Pay attention to what happened right before the thump: that usually tells you enough.

4. Nudging with the nose and rubbing the chin are communication

Does your rabbit nudge its nose against your hand or leg? That can be a request for attention ("pet me" or "move over"), but rabbits also actively use their chin to communicate in a way we can't smell. Underneath their chin is a scent gland they use to mark objects, their surroundings and sometimes even you, as "familiar territory". For the rabbit, that's a sign of ownership and safety, not submission.

5. Eating night droppings isn't a dirty habit, it's a pure necessity

It looks unappetising, but it's essential for your rabbit's health: at night and early in the morning, a rabbit produces soft, mucus-coated droppings (caecotrophs) that it immediately eats again. This process is called caecotrophy and allows vitamins, protein and fibre to pass through the digestive tract a second time so they're still absorbed. Without this "second digestion", a rabbit would miss out on important nutrients. Do you instead see hard, dry droppings during the day? Those are the normal waste pellets, and they aren't meant to be eaten again.

6. A rabbit sees almost everything around it, except right in front of its nose

Thanks to the placement of their eyes on either side of the head, rabbits have a field of vision of nearly 360 degrees: ideal for spotting predators in time. But that same structure creates a blind spot right in front of the nose and directly behind the head. If you approach from the front with your hand to stroke your rabbit, it may startle, even if you mean well. Better to approach your rabbit from the side or from above, within its field of vision, so it sees you coming.

7. Suddenly flopping onto its side is total relaxation, not an accident

Nothing startles a new rabbit owner quite like a rabbit that suddenly "collapses" onto its side and lies completely still. This is called flopping, and it's actually a compliment to you: a rabbit that lets itself fall like this feels completely safe in its surroundings. As a prey animal, a rabbit prefers to lie upright, ready to flee; only in an environment without danger does it dare surrender itself so fully to relaxation.

8. Rabbits groom each other and build a bond this way

Rabbits living together lick and groom each other's fur, particularly around the head and ears, areas they can't reach well themselves. This mutual grooming, called allogrooming, strengthens the bond between them and confirms the social hierarchy within the pair or group. Does your rabbit ask for petting by pressing its head against your hand? Then it's actually treating you as a fellow rabbit, which is a big compliment.

9. Rabbits are champions at hiding pain

As a prey animal, a sick or injured rabbit in the wild would rather not reveal its weakness, since that would make it a target. That instinct has never disappeared: a pet rabbit can be in serious discomfort and still keep displaying most of its normal behaviour. So pay attention not only to obvious signs of pain, but also to subtle changes: eating less, less droppings, sitting still in a corner, grinding its teeth, or a changed posture. Not sure? Always contact a vet experienced with rabbits, because a rabbit's condition can deteriorate quickly.

What this means for you as a rabbit owner

Most rabbit signals are simpler to read than they seem once you know what to look for: a binky and a flopped rabbit mean everything is fine, while thumping or sitting still in a corner call for extra attention. Want to see your rabbit show this relaxed, natural behaviour? Make sure it has enough space to run and jump, enrich its surroundings with toys and a cosy hideaway it can safely retreat into, and always keep enough hay within reach for it to nibble on.

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Gedrag Kennisbank Konijn Weetjes

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