Why Does My Rabbit Climb on Me? 6 Likely Reasons
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When you choose a rabbit as a pet, you might be curious to know what types of behaviors they have; this can include how they show affection, what they like to do to have fun if they get along with other pets and more. Rabbits, similar to any other pet, also have specific needs related to their health, their socialization, and their environment.
Usually, people have a few different assumptions about having a rabbit as a pet, like they always stay on the ground, they don’t like too much affection, they’re meant to live in the wild, and they mostly eat leaves. Well, this article will explore another question some may have!
Continue reading to learn about why rabbits might be climbing on their owners.
The 6 Reasons Your Rabbit Climbs On You
1. For Affection or Attention
Against popular belief, rabbits do enjoy affection from their owners like other pets. One way they may ask for attention is by climbing up on you! Because rabbits don’t have a bark or meow that is typically used to ask for a pet, rabbits will get close to you when they’re feeling particularly needy. You might notice that they start to groom you, which for rabbits, can be shown by licking or giving you a slight nibble.
2. Out of Fear
Another reason your rabbit might be getting close to you and trying to climb you is that something is making them nervous or scared. Rabbits seek out their owners if they are nervous, not feeling well, or if something has made them feel unsafe. Usually, rabbits will be seen snuggling up to each other, but when they have a trusted owner, this behavior is geared toward them instead. They naturally like feeling comforted by others when they are scared, so it is normal behavior for your rabbit to climb up on you.
3. Curiosity
Rabbits are similar to any other pet in the sense that they will get curious about their surroundings, whether it’s a new person or environment. Their environment does involve you as their owner, so your rabbit will get as close as possible to you to “sniff” you out (pun intended). Especially when your rabbit is a new pet, they want to get to know you as much as possible and will want to climb up onto you to do this. Be aware that they might also try to nibble on your clothes or a hair tie!
4. Showing Dominance
Rabbits are also like other pets in the sense that they like to show their dominance and assert their power over their space. Adult bunnies will begin to show this behavior as they reach maturity. This will include behaviors like getting up on high surfaces (i.e., climbing up a couch, chair, or other surfaces), which also includes climbing up you to reach a higher level. When rabbits feel they are higher than you are, it makes them feel more dominant in their environment and that they can even dominate you!
5. Breeding Season
Another similar behavior to other pets we see is that rabbits also go through a period of their body alerting them to breeding seasons. This means that they will behave like other pets, such as dogs trying to climb or hump your leg. Surprisingly, rabbits will also see your leg as an opportunity to express their breeding needs, and you may notice them trying to climb up it. Rabbits go through heat and may show some aggressive behaviors, such as biting, a natural behavior they’d use for mating in the wild.
6. They Enjoy It!
Lastly, rabbits may be climbing you because they’re just in a playful mood and want to express it. This behavior may be seen more in younger rabbits, but this is similar to any younger pet with more energy. Rabbits can get hyper and feel like they need to blow off some steam by running around, hopping up on you, and then jumping off. Don’t be alarmed when your rabbit is running and jumping around, because if they aren’t biting others or getting hurt, it’s a good thing!
Conclusion
It may be a common belief that rabbits aren’t the most fun pets to have, but they are intelligent and playful little ones. They also enjoy affection from their owners and are not afraid to ask for it!
Although some behaviors may leave you asking questions, there’s no reason to worry for your furry bud when they make contact with you by climbing up on you. They are either looking to you for comfort, asking for some affection, or telling you they need something. Rabbits are communicative with their actions, so we hope this article will help you recognize some of them.
Featured Image Credit: Dean Clarke, Shutterstock
