You do not have to do any modifications to stop stomping. Rabbits may also sustain injuries on their hind legs as they kick them on the ground Ignoring them may make them die out of fright and extreme stress. If this pet continuously thumps for a long time, you need to go give him or her some assurance. My rabbit is stamping its feet continuously Probably there might be predators that pass nearby their hutches.ĭon't you remember the Daily Mail story of a giant bunny that scared of burglars with thumping? Such could also be a reason why yours is stamping on the ground. The reasons are the same ones we have noted. Why do rabbits thump at night?Ī few bunny owners have reported instances of their rabbits thumping only or mainly at night. This thumping may be accompanied by other signs of pain such as your bunning grinding his teeth, shrieking, snarling and they might also bite if approached. Rabbit bloat, gas, illness, and injuries could be causing the pain. While these pets are good in hiding their pain and illness as they fear they would be preyed on, pain can make them stamp their feet on the ground. This is common if your furry critter is lonely and while seeking attention, he may be asking for food, treats, and so on. Seeking attentionĪlso, stamping may be a way to seek attention from the handler or other rabbits or if they “are upset they are not getting the attention they feel they deserve“ This is a sign of aggression in rabbits and it might be followed by it biting or scratching you. If they do it while you try to pick them, they are warning you not to pick them again and the feet stamping is a protest.īe very careful when your rabbit stomps. Showing irritation or disapprovalĪlso, thumping may be a message of displeasure, irritation or discomfort to you for something you have done, or you haven’t done such as feeding him or her, not giving him treats, eating his treats, or picking them. When expressing their rage, the hind leg thumping may be accompanied by vocal warnings such as grunting.

Your bunny is simply trying to tell you he or she is angry at you, and you need to get out of his space. Stomping is also noted in territorial rabbits as a means of warning you, other pets or rabbits invading their territory. There may also be other signs of fear including squealing, trying to escape, crouching or urinating. When scared, they also lower their ears, remain stiff and quiet, besides the thumping. This is a sign of fear and they are simply telling you they are nervous or scared. They are scaredĪlso, some bunnies show this behavior if you startle them such as walking silently into the room without them noticing you. While stomping on the ground some may also flash their tail just before they thumb their feet on the ground and they may remain in the thumping posture until they know the danger is gone. For some bunnies, the thumbing may be accompanied by a sound such as a squeal, a scream, or other noises. While in a standing posture on all their four legs or tiptoeing with their ears alert, they may lift their hind legs and hit, stomp or pound them down loudly. Some of these things might not pose any danger yet this pet may interpret them as dangerous. The danger could be anything including a bird flying across, a cat walking around, a lit cigarette, any fast movement, house appliances such as the noises of blenders, fridges, car moving around, and so on. It is possible for them to also stand in their hind legs to try to get a better view. Therefore, hind leg foot thumping is a normal and natural bunny body language shown by bunnies as a means of warning other bunnies of a danger they have heard, seen or smelt. Some of the common message they are trying to convey include the following: Warning of imminent dangerĪs prey animals, rabbits are very alert and once they sense danger, they signal other rabbits even in their natural habitats including in their warrens. There are many reasons why rabbits stomp one or both hind feet for a varying duration such as a few seconds to even hours. My rabbit is stamping its feet continuously.

Angry giant stomping