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Are Rabbits Ticklish? (How to Tell)

Are Rabbits Ticklish? (How to Tell)

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The purpose of this blog is to share general information and is written to the author's best knowledge. It is not intended to be used in place of veterinary advice. For health concerns, please seek proper veterinary care. In addition, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Keeping a rabbit can be a fun experience, especially if you want a cute animal that you just won’t get bored with. Rabbits are incredibly fun to be around, and they really like to play. Once the rabbit begins to feel at home in its environment and starts to move around freely, it is a lot of fun to watch.

Rabbits are incessant chewers, as you might know. Not only do they use their teeth to ingest the vegetables and other foods they like to eat, but you should know they also chew to express their emotions. When a rabbit is happy, frustrated, or in pain, they will begin to chew.

However, you should know that some rabbits are quite ticklish. In most cases, the underside of a rabbit’s chin is quite ticklish, mainly because the scent gland is located here. People like to gently rub on this area because of the slight bump or irregularity that exists.

Keep in mind that if you try to do this more often, the rabbit might not like it, and it may nip at your hand. However, you should know that this differs from rabbit to rabbit. There are certain rabbits that are quite ticklish when you move your fingers on their chin or on their belly, while there are others that simply won’t respond.

There are several areas of the rabbit that are likely to be more ticklish than others. Here are some common areas that are likely to tickle your rabbit.

Cheeks

Petting Rabbit's Cheeks

Rabbits and bunnies generally have pretty soft and big cheeks, and they are usually quite sensitive. If you have a full-sized bunny in your house and it’s totally comfortable with letting you pet it or hold it, you might want to try generally scratching its cheeks.

If it tickles, you will notice that the rabbit’s ears will move slightly forward. This is a pretty common sign that the rabbit is enjoying it and it’s tickling the animal. Keep in mind that this is going to be a big ask because most rabbits won’t generally feel comfortable with you scratching their cheeks.

You will need to establish a pretty strong bond with the animal before it lets you scratch its cheeks. In some cases, the rabbit might not like it, and it will instantly try to nip at your fingers. This is the animal’s way of telling you that it needs to stop.

You have to make sure that you do not keep the rabbit against its will, and let it go as soon as it tries to get out of your hands.

Underbelly

Petting Rabbit's Belly

Rabbits have incredibly sensitive underbellies, and like most prey animals, they don’t like to expose their underbellies too easily. It is important for you to first make sure that the rabbit is comfortable in your arms. Most rabbits don’t lie upside down, and even if they do, as soon as you approach the animal, it is going to get on its back.

You will have to work very hard on establishing a bond with the animal to let it expose its underbelly to you. Once the animal does, you can try to gently rub your fingers on the belly and see if it responds. If the rabbit enjoys it, you will notice a bit of shaking in its hind legs.

It may also let you rub your fingers for slightly longer, which shows that the rabbit is having a good time. However, you have to maintain a lookout for the signs that the rabbit is uncomfortable and wants to get out. If you are cradling the animal, just check when it tries to get away.

If the rabbit decides to get off your hands, you should let it down easy. It’s a positive sign of building trust with the animal, and it’s going to go a long way in making sure that the animal trusts you. Caring for a rabbit is important as well. If you have brought a rabbit home, you should know that there are several things that you have to do.

Bunny Proofing

Pet Rabbit in a House

The first step is to bunny proof your house to make sure that your rabbit doesn’t sustain injuries. Indoor housing is important, you need to make sure that you find a suitable place where you can keep the rabbit’s cage. It should be a cage of an appropriate size so that the rabbit can stand up on its hind legs and clean itself.

See our Simple Tips for Keeping your Rabbit’s Cage from Smelling.

More importantly, you will have to let the rabbit out of its cage for at least a few hours on a daily basis. That is why bunny proofing is so important. You have to make sure that you set up appropriate tubing around the house to prevent the bunny from going into places that it shouldn’t.

It is recommended that you provide the bunny with a safe and secure area where it can run about. Rabbits, like most other animals, need a couple of hours of exercise. It is best to supervise the bunny when it is let out of its cage so that it doesn’t cause any damage to your property.

Health and Care

Another important thing that you should know about rabbits is that they need to visit the vet on a regular basis. After every few months, you should schedule a trip to the veterinarian’s office. The vet will carry out a medical checkup to determine the health of the animal.

For instance, you probably know that rabbits like to chew almost all the time. That is why they need a steady supply of fresh hay around the clock. As a result of that, their oral health is likely to suffer. You need to make sure that you take them to the vet and get them properly checked.

This is important and will keep the animal in a healthy condition. That’s all you need to know about caring for your rabbit!

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