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You play and spend a lot of time with your rabbit and they happen to lick you. This probably got you thinking, why do rabbits lick you?
Does it happen to all rabbit owners? What does it mean? Should you be worried? What is you bun friend really trying to communicate to you?
In this article, we dive deeper into this particular topic, as well as why baby rabbits lick you and why they tend to this mostly when you pet them.
Keep on reading to:
- Understand why rabbits lick you
- Understand why rabbits lick themselves
- And so much more…
Let’s now dive straight into it.
Why Do Rabbits Lick You?
When a rabbit licks you it means that they are being affectionate towards you. This is a positive sign that indicates that your rabbits trusts you and the environment around them and they feel safe.
It also shows that your rabbit loves you and they like being around you. In some instances, it could show that your rabbit is in need of some affection from you. They probably want to be pet.
If your rabbit does not lick you it does not mean that your bunny does not love or trust you. This is because not all rabbits will lick you, some will not. And this behavior can not be forced, the rabbit will do it out of its own will.
If you are close enough with your bun friend and you’ve both grown fond of each other, licking becomes a norm.
It is also important to note that licking is not the only way rabbits show their affection towards you.
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Why Do Rabbits Lick Themselves
Rabbits will lick themselves for grooming. Rabbits are furry animals that love to be clean and will lick themselves several times in a day to maintain the cleanliness.
Although its perfectly normal for rabbits to lick themselves, excessive licking can be a sign of boredom or an underlying sickness.
This will happen when a rabbit is very attentive when licking a particular spot or licks a particular spot until the fur is damp.
This could also be an indication of some sort of trauma on the excessively licked spot. Be on the lookout to ensure your bun friend is all good. In case of anything severe make sure to have them checked by your local vet.
An under-stimulated rabbit will be easily bored and will turn to licking for stimulation. To prevent this from happening pay attention to you rabbit and play with it from time to time.
You could also provide a variety of toys so that your rabbit has options to play with.
If your rabbit pays attention when licking a particular spot it could be infested with parasites or has wounds. Ensure to carefully check your rabbits fur to ensure it does not have parasites or wounds.
Excessive licking can also lead to bacterial infections brought about by the damp fur. Provide enough toys for your rabbits and be sure to regularly check it to ensure that there are no parasites or wounds
If the licking persists be sure to check in with your veterinarian.
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Why Do Rabbits Lick Each Other?
Besides licking you and themselves, rabbits will also lick each other. Below are some of the reasons rabbits will lick each other;
- Bonding- Rabbits will bond with each other and show affection to each other by licking each other.
- Grooming- If rabbits trust each other they will groom each other especially in places where the rabbit is not able to reach some parts of their body.
- Dominance- Rabbits will lick each other to show dominance. The rabbit that often licks the other one is the dominant rabbit. Your rabbit will establish dominance by licking the other rabbit’s eyes and behind its ears
Rabbits can get lonely quite easily so keeping it alone is not quite ideal. Remember female rabbits for instance, once they are four months old, they’ll go into heat throughout their lives.
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Why Do Baby Rabbits Lick You?
Baby rabbits just like their grown counter-parts will lick you as a means to show how affectionate they are towards you. They’ll also lick you a way to show they feel safe in their current environment and trust the people/person around them.
Petting your rabbit’s kitten earlier on in their lives will go a long way in ensuring that you have a much stronger bond with your pet bun. This makes it much easier to feed, pet and take care of them in future.
You may also notice them licking each other early on in their lives as a means to groom themselves and as a show of affection to each other.
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Why Do Rabbits Lick When You Pet Them?
Rabbit’s will use licking as a non-verbal cue of licking you to appreciate the petting as well as a way to show affection. When you pet them, they are more likely to lick you especially if they are very fond of you.
Pet rabbit’s are amazing pets and when treated well tend to reciprocate by licking their owners. Ensuring they are getting the best hutch and cage as well as getting well feed will go along way in driving better affections from them.
You should avoid forcing yourself to them but gradually gain their trust and make them feel safe around you. Any other action, such as trying to pet them when they are scared, could lead to some injuries to your bun friend. So, please do take good care of them.
Is It Normal For Rabbits To Lick
It’s very much normal for pet rabbits to lick you, lick themselves and even lick each other. They tend to do this as a means to show affection towards their human owners as well as to themselves.
Since rabbits use their sense of smell to gauge the safety of their environs, in some cases, they may appear like they want to lick you but in the real sense all they want is to perceive the nature of their current environment.
They may also get into a licking frenzy due to some injury or trauma that they may have experienced in their hutch, be sure to offer them the bedding to prevent any injuries that may be caused by some rough bedding. Hay should do just fine for most pet rabbits.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, rabbits will lick you for a number of reasons. This will range from showing affection, an indication that they feel they are in a safe environment with you and that they also feel safe around you
Rabbits will lick themselves throughout the day. They’ll do this frequently to keep their fur and paws clean.