Why is my rabbit making noises?

Question

My family has a pet rabbit and in the night he is making loud thumping noises (presumably with his feet against the wood floor of the hutch).

The hutch is outside and the first time he started making these noises was at 10:00pm and there was a cat nearby. He did it again two nights later and there was a cat again but last night he was doing it for 15mins and I'm not sure if he's distressed.

Could anyone please tell me why he is making these noises?

Answer 1

Rabbits Thump their hind feet when they feel threatened. It's what wild rabbits do to warn each other of danger. Domestic rabbits are the same.

Answer 2

Could have smelt or heard something unusual that he percieved as a threat- maybe the cat is there again or has been there and he's so spooked by the lingering smell that he'd reacting like that.

I wouldn't assume he's distressed, it's just a warning sign, not an active sign of distressed behaviour- just alarm and warning any other rabbits.

Answer 3

maybe it's hungry. kb

Answer 4

Hes scared, and its his way of showing it and his way of alerting danger,your bunny doesnt feel safe when hes doing this.  and sometimes the rabbit thumping loud will scare off its stalker, so the rabbit stays safe!

Answer 5

Rabbits thump their back legs when they are scared. In the wild it is to alert other rabbits of a threat. I have rabbits and they do this thumping when they feel threatened or just stressed/startled.

Make sure that your bunny has somewhere where he can hide and feel safe (i.e. a dark area inside his enclosure that has only a small entrance to it). Also make sure that your bunny enclosure is secure and that animals such as cats can't get up close to your bunny to scare him. If a cat is harassing him regularly, consider bringing him inside - he will be a lot happier here.

Answer 6

Maybe you rabbit is not comfortable in your house they want to go free.

(sorry not offending you)

Answer 7

it's probly not the rabbit