7 Ways to Show Your Rabbit You Love Them

Do you adore your pet rabbit and want to make sure they feel loved every single day? There are so many fun, enriching ways to shower your bunny with affection and enjoy quality bonding time together! Get ready to hop to it and learn 7 pawsome tips for showing your furry friend they have an amazing human by their side. From providing yummy treats to playing games, you’ll discover great ideas for reinforcing your special relationship and keeping your rabbit active and engaged. Turn caretaking into playtime with this guide to delighting your beloved rabbit! Your thumping heart will melt as you watch your rabbit binky with joy knowing how cherished they are.

1. Give your rabbit yummy treats

One of the best ways to show your rabbit some love is by giving them tasty treats! Rabbits have very sensitive palates and thoroughly enjoy new flavors and textures. Some healthy treat options to try include:

  • Small pieces of fresh fruits and vegetables – Try offering small slices of banana, apple, pear, melon, carrot, broccoli, celery, kale, and herbs like parsley or cilantro. Make sure to introduce new foods slowly.

  • Unsweetened dried fruits – Dried papaya, mango, pineapple, apple, and banana chips are great options. Opt for unsweetened varieties and serve in moderation, as dried fruits are high in natural sugars.

  • Leafy greens – Most rabbits relish leafy greens. Try various lettuces, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, cabbage, bok choy, spring mix, and fresh herbs. Mix it up to keep things interesting.

  • Timothy hay pellets or cubes – If your rabbit is a fan of timothy hay, they’ll love these compressed timothy hay treats. They’re a healthy way to add variety.

  • Occasional seed & nut treats – A few crushed walnuts, almonds, pecans, pumpkin or sunflower seeds make for an exciting surprise. Just a tablespoon or two, once or twice a week.

  • Rabbit yogurt drops – These sweet nutritious drops are a surefire way to a rabbit’s heart and full of natural active cultures to support digestive health.

  • Herbal biscuits – Many major pet food brands offer herbal biscuits, crackers, and cookies formulated just for rabbits. They make a fun sporadic treat.

When giving treats, always remember moderation is key. Treats should comprise no more than 10% of your rabbit’s daily food intake. Make sure treats do not replace their main diets of hay, leafy greens, and limited rabbit pellets. Time treats for after playtime or training sessions for positive reinforcement. Surprising your rabbit with a few crave-worthy morsels here and there will surely get some affection in return.

2. Pet your rabbit

All rabbits love to be petted, when done properly. Petting is a wonderful way to strengthen the bond with your bunny and make them feel safe and loved. Here are some tips for petting your rabbit the right way:

  • Pet in short sessions of 5-10 minutes to avoid overstimulation. You can always pause and come back for more petting later.

  • Gently stroke along the top of their head and down their back in long, soothing motions. Avoid petting against the fur growth.

  • Never pet near the tail or rear end, as this area is private and can cause discomfort.

  • Listen for teeth purring or teeth grinding. Purring indicates contentment, grinding means stop.

  • Limit petting to the head, neck, shoulders and mid-back. Rabbits don't enjoy having their feet or limbs touched.

  • Get down on your rabbit's level on the floor for easiest access when petting.

  • For shy rabbits, sit beside them and let them come to you for pets when ready. Don't force interactions.

  • Try offering a small treat while petting to associate being stroked with positive experiences.

  • Use a soft brush to gently brush loose fur. Many rabbits find this very relaxing.

Make petting sessions a special quiet time between you and your rabbit. Pay attention to their reactions and body language. With time and trust, many rabbits learn to love being cuddled and even roll over for tummy rubs. Going at their pace and keeping petting low-stress and enjoyable will strengthen the bond with your bunny.

3. Spend time with your rabbit

Simply spending quality time with your rabbit is one of the best ways to show you care. Rabbits are very social creatures who crave companionship and interaction with their owners. Make it a priority to spend at least a few hours each day focusing on your rabbit. Here are some great ways to hang out with your bunny:

  • Let your rabbit roam freely for supervised playtime. Rabbits need several hours of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. Lay on the floor and let them climb over you while they explore.

  • Child's pose on the ground and let your rabbit crawl under you or use you as a jungle gym. Some rabbits enjoy sitting on your back.

  • Build or buy your rabbit obstacle courses and tunnels to run through and keep them mentally stimulated. Watch and laugh together at their antics.

  • Read, work on your laptop or watch TV while your rabbit curls up beside you on the couch or bed. Stroke them gently as you relax together.

  • Take your rabbit outside on a harness and leash for grazing and binkying outdoors. Fresh air and new stimuli are excellent for bunny enrichment.

  • Hand feed bits of favorite greens and herbs while you pet or brush your rabbit. This nurturing gesture fosters trust.

  • Scatter toys or hide small treats in a box for your rabbit to forage for. Their natural curiosity will delight as they discover each treasure.

  • Lie on your stomach and make silly chattering noises while your rabbit plays around you. Rabbits love silly human antics.

  • Set up a protected space for your rabbit to dig, chew and rearrange to their heart’s content. Their amusing redecorating instincts will entertain you both.

Making your rabbit a priority each day deepens your friendship over time. Whether it's playtime, cuddling, communicating or engaging in their favorite activities together, your shared moments form treasured memories.

4. Give your rabbit fun toys

To keep your rabbit active and enriched, providing a variety of fun toys to play with shows them you care about their mental stimulation and happiness. Rabbits love to play, explore and investigate new objects in their environments. Here are some great rabbit toy options to try:

  • Untreated wicker balls and baskets – Rabbits enjoy tossing these around and hiding inside. The alluring scents and textures keep them coming back for more.

  • Cardboard boxes, tubes and tunnels – Simple cardboard items make for endless amusement. Rabbits enjoy crawling through tubes, sitting in boxes and nibbling on edges. Change designs frequently to keep it exciting.

  • Natural sticks and logs – Offer apple tree or willow branches for your rabbit to chew on. Always supervise to ensure sticks are safe.

  • Pinecones – Both edible and indestructible pinecone varieties give rabbits hours of foraging fun. Scatter them around their enclosure and watch your bunny go hunting.

  • Paper bags – Plain paper shopping bags are endlessly interesting play objects for rabbits. They’ll love hopping inside, tearing at the paper and moving the bag around.

  • Digging box or ball – Hide treats and toys in containers filled with dirt, shredded paper or other shreddable material for your rabbit to dig and burrow in.

  • Treat puzzle toys – Look for treat dispensing toys made specifically for rabbits. As your bunny rolls and manipulates the toy, treats fall out to reward their efforts.

  • Hide and seek boxes – Cut entry holes in a cardboard box and hide treats or toys inside. Rabbits will have a blast figuring out how to enter and exit to uncover the “hidden treasures.”

Keeping a variety of engaging toys on hand prevents boredom and gives your rabbit a positive outlet for their energy. Rotate offerings frequently to keep them curious, active and entertained for hours. Your rabbit will appreciate all the fun!

5. Copy their behaviors

Rabbits have some endearing and amusing behaviors that you can mimic as a way to connect with your bunny. Recreating your rabbit's body language, motions and quirks shows them you are paying attention and trying to communicate in their language. Some cute behaviors to copy include:

  • Nose wiggle – Rabbits wiggle their noses frequently to sniff the air and investigate their surroundings. Try wiggling your nose back at your rabbit when they do it. They may find it quite confusing!

  • Licking – Rabbits lick surfaces to communicate. When your rabbit licks you, return the gesture by pretending to lick them right back. This gets the message across that their affection is returned.

  • Binkying – A binky is an excited hop or leap into the air and twist that rabbits do when happy. The next time you see your rabbit binky, leap right alongside them to share in the joy.

  • Flopping over – Rabbits often flop over on their sides when very relaxed. If you notice your bunny flopped over, lay down beside them calmly to help them feel serene and safe in your presence.

  • Digging – Gently mimic the scratching motion with your hands that rabbits make when digging. They may interpret this as you wishing to dig alongside them cooperatively.

  • Tooth purring – Try imitating the rapid tooth purring noise rabbits make to show contentment. Your rabbit may find your version quite silly, but it gets the bonding message across.

  • Twitch nose – Rabbits twitch their noses to signal danger or stress. If your rabbit seems tense, give an exaggerated nose twitch back to say you understand their apprehension.

Simply paying close attention to your rabbit's non-verbal cues and mimicking them strengthens your communication and connection. Laughing together at each other's antics can be a shared joy.

6. Let your rabbit explore

One of the best gifts you can give your pet rabbit is ample time to freely explore their surroundings each day. Rabbits are naturally inclined to investigate new spaces, sniff out hiding spots, and circle their territory over and over. Ways to let your bunny satisfy their curiosity include:

  • Rabbit-proof a room or section of your home and allow supervised playtime daily. Watch to ensure they don't get into mischief or chewing hazards. Rotate toys to keep their environment fresh.

  • Construct enclosed runs or playpens on outdoor grass. This allows safe grazing and stimulation from smells and sights. Always supervise for protection from other animals.

  • Get down on the floor and crawl alongside your rabbit to experience playtime from their perspective. Let them hop over and sniff you while praising their sense of adventure.

  • Provide tunnels from cardboard, pop-up tents, and other materials for your rabbit to weave through and hide inside. Change tunnel pathways frequently to stimulate their mind.

  • Set up temporary fencing to block off "new" unexplored areas of a room. When your rabbit has investigated fully, open up the space again for renewed interest next time.

  • Scatter treats in nooks for your rabbit to find during playtime to satisfy their foraging instincts. Watching them hunt down goodies is entertaining for you both.

  • Place objects with new and intriguing scents, like cardboard scratchers or cat toys, for your rabbit to approach and overcome any wariness. This builds confidence.

  • Introduce novel edible toys like pinecones to activate your rabbit's chewing curiosity. This adds enriching mental stimulation.

Allowing your rabbit freedom to explore their world daily provides essential cognitive stimulation and allows them to exhibit natural behaviors. Paying attention to what captures their attention will inspire you to offer new adventures. Their joy of discovery is a gift.

7. Play games with your rabbit

Playing interactive games together is a fun way to bond with your rabbit while providing needed mental and physical stimulation. Rabbits love running, jumping and problem solving. Engage your bunny's body and mind with these fun game ideas:

  • Crawl through tunnels – Build interconnected cardboard tunnel pieces and crawl through alongside your rabbit for endless chases. Their feisty energy will delight you.

  • Basketball bunny – Gently roll a small ball toward your rabbit and watch them push it back to you with their nose. Take turns making baskets.

  • Follow the leader – Run or hop around with your rabbit mirroring your every move. Switch roles and let them be the leader. Wherever they hop, you follow.

  • Hide and seek – While your rabbit waits in another room, hide small treats around their play area. Then let them race around finding the “hidden treasures.”

  • Ring toss – Set up cones and loosely toss plastic shower curtain rings for your rabbit to push along the floor and nudge over the cones.

  • Agility course – Use props like tunnels, step stools, toddler play equipment, and weave poles to assemble a mini agility or obstacle course. Give your rabbit a fun physical and mental workout.

  • Nose target training – Hold a target stick and reward your rabbit with treats for booping the end with their nose. This teaches coordination and bonding.

  • Soccer rabbit – Gently kick or roll a plastic ball to your rabbit and let them return it to you with kicks of their own. The sillier the game gets, the better.

Playing interactive games takes your relationship with your rabbit to new levels of trust and understanding. Laughing together as you challenge each other and cheer victories makes for precious quality time together.

In Summary

Showing your beloved rabbit affection and enriching their life brings great joy to you both. By providing tasty treats, paying attention to their communication style, making playtime a priority, giving mentally stimulating toys and activities, letting them safely explore their world, and engaging in silly games, you demonstrate your devotion to their happiness and well-being each day. Your caring commitment as a pet parent strengthens the lifelong bond you share with your bunny.

Rabbit Breeders

Rabbit Breeders is the leading website for rabbit information & research. For over 10 years rabbitbreeders.us has been serving the rabbit community. We provide the world's largest rabbit breeders directory.

Recent Posts