Isn’t snuggling with a bunny lovely? That is until you realize there’s a big old hole in your favorite top or brand-new pair of jeans. So, what can you do? Aside from waiting until pet-chewed clothing becomes a fashion statement, the best thing you can do is try to figure out what’s causing this behavior and take steps to change it depending on the cause.
In all seriousness, it’s important to address this issue, because, if your rabbit actually swallows fabric from your clothes, they could end up with an intestinal blockage. In this post, we’ll share 15 possible reasons your rabbit may be taking their chewing urges out on your poor, innocent togs along with some tips on how to prevent this behavior.
The 15 Possible Reasons the Rabbits Bite Your Clothes
1. Natural Urges
It’s instinctive for rabbits to chew because their teeth are constantly growing. If the urge strikes and there’s nothing else to chew on in the vicinity, your rabbit may get their gnashers out on your clothes. Try providing a rabbit-safe chew toy when this happens to distract your rabbit.
2. Attention-seeking
Another reason your rabbit may nibble or bite your clothes is that they’re trying to get your attention. This is more likely in extroverted rabbits or those with a tendency to be clingy. Your rabbit may also be feeling a bit lonely. If your rabbit isn’t already in a pair, consider getting them a friend, as rabbits are sociable animals and may become more dependent on you for attention if they’re alone.
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3. Nest-building
If your rabbit likes how your clothes feel, they might chew them in an attempt to rip them up or arrange them into a cozy nest. Try tempting them away by providing a super cozy bed in your rabbit’s hutch or their favorite chill-out spot. A quick hint—polar fleece is one of the safest materials to use for rabbit bedding.
4. Stress
Stress can cause a rabbit to chew more. If in the hutch, the rabbit may chew at the bars, but if they’re out of the hutch, they may bite and chew at whatever’s available. They could even be trying to bite their way into your clothes to shelter from whatever is making them feel stressed or afraid, like a noisy environment or another pet, for example.
5. Boredom
Rabbits are intelligent animals, and a lack of mental stimulation can cause them to turn to destructive behaviors like biting and chewing inappropriate items. The biting may or may not be accompanied by other behaviors like digging or just generally making a mess of their environment.
Boredom is typically caused by issues like the rabbit not having enough space to exercise and roam, having no playmates, and/or not having enough stimulating toys. Your rabbit could also need a bit more human interaction. Think about how you can offer more enrichment and create a living space your rabbit can truly enjoy.
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6. Dislike of a Certain Smell
Even if your clothes are fresh out of the washing machine and smell lovely, to your rabbit, strong smells can be overwhelming and even feel threatening because rabbits have very sensitive noses.
Another possibility is that you’ve been cooking with ingredients like garlic or onions. If your rabbit feels threatened by a certain scent, they may act out their frustration by biting the offending article. This could be an attempt to get rid of it or let you know they’re not pleased.
7. Not Enough Hay
If your rabbit doesn’t have enough hay and other appropriate items (like grass mats) to chew on, they may turn to items like your clothes. Rabbits need to eat their body size in hay every day, so it might be time to assess whether or not you’ve been providing enough.
8. Grooming
Like cats, rabbits groom one another to bond and show affection. They’ll sometimes demonstrate this behavior to their human companions by licking, nibbling, and nuzzling at you. It’s possible that, if your rabbit is trying to groom you, your clothes are an obstacle they want to get rid of!
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9. Illness or Pain
If your rabbit isn’t feeling the best, even if they’re really friendly as a rule, they may become more aggressive than usual and bite. If you’re lucky when this happens, you’ll be wearing thick sleeves that protect your skin from the teeth, but if this behavior is out of character, it’s best to monitor your rabbit and get them checked out by a vet as they may not be doing so well health-wise.
10. Hormones
During the spring especially, rabbits experience heightened hormone levels due to it being the breeding season. During this time, they may become slightly more active and/or aggressive than usual and perform behaviors like digging, burrowing, chinning, and, possibly, chewing or biting to mark their territory.
11. Age
While in the adolescent stage of their lives, rabbits become very curious about the world and want to get their teeth on things to explore. This may lead to unsavory behaviors like chewing and digging things they shouldn’t. Other adolescent behaviors include mounting, circling, and spraying. Speak to your vet about getting your rabbit spayed or neutered, as this may reduce the behavior.
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12. Irritation
While some rabbits would happily snuggle under your sweater all day if you let them, others have enough after a while and are ready for some alone time or exploration. If, mid-cuddle session, your rabbit starts attacking your clothes, it may be that they want you to let them go.
13. Playfulness
Your rabbit might be nibbling you to entice you to play with them or give them that scratch behind the ears they’ve been craving. This should be a gentle nibble rather than a full-on bite, and your rabbit may also nudge you with their nose.
14. Affection
As with being playful, rabbits show affection in a variety of ways, including nibbling, licking, nuzzling, and bopping you with their noses. If your rabbit is nibbling gently at your sleeve, they may just be trying to let you know that they like you or that the cuddles you promised are long overdue.
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15. Curiosity
Young rabbits in particular like to explore new objects with their teeth and paws, so it’s possible that your rabbit is intrigued by the texture of your clothes. If this happens, redirect their curiosity onto a more appropriate object, like a chew toy.
Fortunately, common reasons for rabbits biting clothes are simply that they’re curious, want to play, or want to show you affection. However, it’s important to try your best to tune in to what your rabbit is trying to tell you with this behavior, as it could signal something more serious like a health condition, stress, or boredom.
The latter two can be improved with environmental changes and by creating a calm, peaceful, and enriching living space for your rabbit. However, if you suspect an underlying health condition, please contact your vet and get this checked out.
