Rabbit help?

Question

Right now my rabbit is going crazy. I just fed her and she won't stop stomping her foot. She also ran around her cage. What is happening? What should I do?

Answer 1

Your rabbit is frightened. When your rabbit does that be very careful regarding any movements or noise that you make. Any sudden movement or noise might set your rabbit off into a panic running around the cage.

There are normally two things you can do in this instance. Either back away slowly and quietly. Or approach the cage slowly and quietly. Once you approach the cage get to the point where you can quickly grab your rabbit without it racing around the pen and hurting itself. Once you have your rabbit securely grabbed, pet its forehead between its eyes. Doing so helps calm the rabbit down. However by approaching the rabbit you do risk it running around more if you aren't very careful. And if you have other rabbits, when you attempt grabbing it, it may squeal causing the other rabbits to get more excited and scared.

The risk when the rabbit gets scared isn't a heart attack or seizure. The real risk is your rabbit running into the side of the cage and breaking its spinal chord. That's why the rabbit will act paralyzed. Many people mistakingly think that the after signs of a spinal chord injury in a rabbit is due to a heart attack or seizure when that is not the case.

To lower the chances of your rabbit getting excited, play a radio around your rabbit 24/7. This will get your rabbit accustomed to noise and it will not get excited as easily. I always keep a radio playing for my rabbits.

Some things that I've seen excite rabbits:

1.) Kids running around the rabbit.
2.) Sudden noises
3.) Thunder
4.) Movement by a dog or other predator around their cage
5.) Opening and walking through a door
6.) Something falling
7.) Another rabbit squeeling (when you try picking that rabbit up...they typically squeal after they have gotten loose and you try picking them up) or acting frightened

As you probably saw that other people mentioned, there are more reasons than just being frightened that a rabbit stomps their foot such as anger, being horny, etc. But your description definitely points to the rabbit being frightened and not the others. If the rabbit was angry, you might have heard it grunt at you or see it try stomping its front paws at you in an agressive manner. If it is scared, your rabbit's only concern is going to be getting away from you and running around the pen to avoid you. It's ears will also be totally upright at attention and might look like it is listening for something very intently. And the eyes will often be bug-eyed and bulging wide open.

Answer 2

When a rabbit stomps or starts running around its cage, that means it's angry or irritated somehow. You don't really have to do anything. If your rabbit has a quick temper, it's best to leave it alone to calm down and relax. This is assuming it has enough food and water, and of course a nice clean cage :). Trying to hold it or calm it down at this point can be bad. It may stomp while you're holding it. When it does, your rabbit may damage its joint.

Has it been not that long since you got your rabbit? I have two rabbits right now, and one of them had short fuse in the beginning. He's much more tame now that he's used to me. It's most likely just the rabbit's temper, given that it has everything it needs.

Answer 3

Either she is afraid of something in her area or she just got spooked/startled.

If she is allowed out of her cage let her out to investigate. Don't touch her when she's all panicy like that.. open the cage door to let her out or just walk away slowly. Once she sees the area is secure she will stop stomping and will calm down. Might take awhile though... I once had one stomp for a good half hour.

Answer 4

You may want to google rabbit nehavior. I saw some sites and they said that stomping feet could be an expression of anger, fear or playfulness, depending on the circumstances. Maybe your rabbit got spooked by something?

Answer 5

Check the room for anything that may be bothering her (a snake, a mouse, etc.) Check her water bottle if she doesn't use a bowl. Make sure the water can come out easily. Check her food. Smell it. It should be green and smell sweet. Make sure her cage, food bowls, and litter box are clean. If all checks out then don't worry about her. She's just being silly.

If you live in California you may have an earthquake soon. In that case, just forget about it and go to bed and sleep through it like the rest of us do. lol.

You don't have to DO anything unless there is a predator around. This is normal rabbit behavior. My rabbits do it when they please. They're talking to each other about different things - "Here comes mom", "There's that cat, again", "I'm the big, tough bunny of the barn", "Ooh, food!", "You expect me to eat THAT?!", "Don't bother me, I'm eating", "Be gone, slave.", etc. etc.

Aah, silly bunnies...I love them. :) Just enjoy her silly antics.

Answer 6

Stamping of feet is a danger signal

Answer 7

Thumping her foot means there is danger close by. If you can remove it please do so, if not put the TV or radio on to try & distract her. She may get so scared that she gives herself a heart attack so it is imperative you calm her down

Answer 8

Sounds like she needs to go run/ hop around somewhere... but it might he hard to catch her and put her back in the cage.

I could be wrong though, I don't know much about rabbits.
Some rabbits are just odd and randomly jump around in their cage.

Answer 9

She sounds frightened. Rabbis stomp when they are afraid or angry. Maybe she hates the food you gave her.

Or she is happy and having fun.