What does this mean?

CiaraPatricia · Mar 17, 2010

My male rabbit Leon, is quite nervous but getting better. He runs away if I try to pick him up, but when I put my hand up to him, he'll rub his face up to my fingers, similar to a cat when they're being affectionate/scent marking you. He'll also nibble my fingers but doesn't bite. Is rubbing up to me a sign of affection? My other rabbits have never done it. Or is he marking his scent on me? Or is he looking for treats?

I find it very very sweet, and he lets me rub his chin afterwards, so I hope it's a friendly thing. He's such a cute bunny, and I hope I can win him over

elrohwen · Mar 17, 2010

It sounds like he's trying to get you to pet him. I don't know that rabbits try to get their scent on you except with their chins - so if he's touching you with his chin, he may be marking you as his property ;-)

CiaraPatricia · Mar 17, 2010

Well he does seem to want his chin rubbed, but won't let me rub his back, I think he thinks I'll pick him up! He's kinda rubbing me with the side of his face, just like cats do. It's very cute anyway

kirbyultra · Mar 17, 2010

Lots of hormonal rabbits (unaltered) will "chin" up anything they want to mark as theirs. Altered rabbits do it too, but less likely to do so.

Most rabbits don't like to be touched under their chin though. It's a prey species reaction. They get very frightened. Cheeks and above the nose/between the eyes are good spots to rub though

juliew19673 · Mar 17, 2010

Yeah, buns for the most part - hate to have their feet off the ground; my male bun comes at my hand like a dog and nuzzles his nose underneath it as if saying "Pet me!" But if I pick him up to cuddle - once he is back on the ground he's running off foot flicking me the entire way back to his pen..

CiaraPatricia · Mar 18, 2010

He's not neutered so maybe he is marking me as his property, which is ok cos that's a good sign really. I'll try rubbing his nose instead of his chin and see if he likes that