Is my rabbit stressed?

Your pet rabbit will need to be able to perform their natural behavior comfortably to get happy and healthy. All rabbits are individuals, but if your rabbit's behavior suddenly changes, please consult your veterinarian's advice. Rabbit behavior can vary depending on age, personality, or past experience. However, it is common to see frightened or painful rabbits develop the habit of attacking or hiding. Other indications are that rabbits may be under stress or fear, including chewing cage bars, excessive grooming, changing feeding or toileting habits, or repeatedly surrounding the fence.


Rabbit needs:


Get everything you need (such as space, food, water, safe hideouts, companion rabbits, bathrooms and toys).


Safe toys and regular opportunities to play/chew with other friendly rabbits and/or people.

- Rabbits are highly social, playful and curious and need to interact and play with other friendly rabbits.
- Many people like to communicate with people.


Always enter safe hiding places so that they can escape when they are scared. Rabbits must be able to avoid things that scare them.

-Because they are arrested, they need to be able to hide in a safe place away from the predator's sight and smell (eg fox/cat/dog/snow/raptor).


Exercise every day to keep your body healthy.

- Rabbits are active animals that require regular, frequent exercise. Ideally, they prefer to graze, forage and socialize during their most active periods (early morning, evening and night).


Good quality hay is often obtained; this is important for emotional health and the health of the teeth and digestive system.


Suitable materials that allow excavation (such as sandboxing), as well as marking areas with chin secretions, urine, and feces.

- The smell is an important way of communicating with rabbits.


You must be good at observation. If your rabbit's behavior changes or shows signs of stress/fear, consult a veterinarian or a qualified animal behavioralist - they may feel pain, boredom, illness or injury.

- The behavior of the rabbit depends on age/personality/past experience.
- A frightened/painful rabbit may change its behavior/develop unwanted habits, such as attack/hide.
- Signs of stress/fear that the rabbit may be subjected to may include hiding/chewing cages/over-washing/changing eating or toileting habits/excessive drinking/playing water bottles/humpback sitting/unwilling to move/repeating around the fence.

Kindness! Don't yell at the rabbits or punish them because they are less likely to understand and become more nervous/fear. If your rabbit's behavior becomes an ongoing problem, seek expert advice.