Without a doubt, rabbits are not animals that stand out precisely for being very talkative, less if we compare it with other pets such as dogs and cats. However, if you have or have had a rabbit in your home, surely you should already know that this statement is not entirely true, because rabbits do make sounds, and most peculiar.
Now, why your rabbit makes noises in strange situations, such as sleeping or running, may have caught your attention, as these sounds are unusual and you may be worried. If so, we encourage you to read this article in which we want to help answer your questions.
My rabbit makes noises when eating
In case your rabbit makes sounds when eating or chewing something, you should not be alarmed, as these sweet animals usually make a sound known as clucking. This sound is characterized by being similar to a very slight cackle that they make when they are chewing something that they like a lot, such as food or any object that you have left them to gnaw.
My rabbit makes noises when sleeping
Rabbits are small mammals that are characterized by being prey, and they owe much of their survival to their ability to stay alert. This is the reason why these furry ones hardly have a very deep sleep, because they need to react quickly in case of danger.
Due to this need, when rabbits rest they are in a waking state , in which the brain continues to actively send signals to various parts of the body, which can manifest themselves in agitated breathing, limb movements, eye movements or sounds from the friction of the teeth, among others.
My rabbit makes pig noises or growls
Despite the fact that rabbits have been domesticated, it is not strange that they feel insecure when you hold them in your arms, in case they have not yet gained confidence or simply because they want you to leave them alone at that moment.
For this reason, it is possible that every time you pick up your rabbit, it may feel annoyed and whine asking you to let it go, and even if it feels cornered, it may growl at you as a warning, before trying to bite you in order to run away. Sometimes this growl is mistaken for the noise that pigs make. In cases of intense fear, in which your rabbit sees you as a predator or a raptor that takes him through the air, he can negatively surprise you, even screaming or biting.
He may also growl at you or make pig noises if you approach him and he feels threatened, for example when you reach into the cage to pet him when he still doesn’t feel entirely safe with you.
My rabbit makes noise with his teeth
But not all causes for which your rabbit makes sounds have to be negative. Well, another explanation for this is that your rabbit feels really comfortable in your arms or when you caress him. In this case, it will make a noise similar to a slight purr that it produces when gently brushing your teeth. If you caress its head, you can even notice how it chatters.
My rabbit makes noises when running
If you see that your rabbit runs and jumps while making sounds like purrs, surely he is just happy and wanting you to be for him. Now, if he is afraid of you and runs away from you, he will most likely whine and grunt, and he may hit the ground with his paws. In this case, he is clearly scared or angry and does not want you to approach, so you will have to work on trust with your furry.
My rabbit makes noises when breathing
In case your rabbit makes noises when breathing, this is undoubtedly a good reason to take him to the vet, as it is a clear symptom that he could be suffering from some pathology that prevents him from breathing well, such as pneumonia, one of the most common diseases of rabbits, which is due to the respiratory tract being blocked by mucus or having inflammation.
In this case, look to see if it has mucus in the nose or eyes (which would most likely refer to conjunctivitis in rabbits ), in addition to reflecting if you have seen changes in your rabbit’s usual behavior , such as irritable mood, isolation , lack of energy, and even if you have stopped eating or drinking.
