Because of this concentration near the joints, a rabbit is then able to travel long distances without expending much wear on its knees or muscles.Īdditionally, the fur on a rabbit’s hind legs is much denser than its front paws. How Strong Are a Rabbit’s Hind Legs?Īccording to the Journal of Morphology, a rabbit’s hind leg musculature is built for force production and large excursions.īasically, a rabbit’s hind legs are powerful not just because these appendages can produce a large amount of force, but because the bulk of its muscle mass is located in the knees. Again, it is best to back off for now and soothe your rabbit after it has calmed down. This indicates that your rabbit is so angry that it is willing to fight you, or at the least deter you from coming near. Try to give it a little space to cool off or tempt it back into your good graces with a small fruit treat or a relaxing petting session.Īdditionally, a much bolder rabbit will stand up on its back legs and “box” at you with its front legs. When this happens, you should do your best to comfort your rabbit until it calms down again.Ī rabbit hopping around isn’t anything new, but if this is accompanied by a pointed flicking of its back feet as it hops, then your rabbit may be annoyed with you. In the wild, it can also alert other rabbits to danger nearby. This thumping occurs when a rabbit feels afraid or stressed out. The most common of these is when a rabbit will stomp one of its back legs with a very audible thumping sound. Why Do Rabbits Thump Their Hind Legs?Ī rabbit will use its hind legs to indicate other types of behaviors as well, mainly fear or annoyance. Rather than stretch up on its hind legs, it may instead stomp to demonstrate fear or aggression. A rabbit’s breathing might also become quicker in its panic and its eyes might be wide open. This includes a rabbit being comfortable enough around humans to move closer to them, hopping around without a care, and standing on its hind legs to explore the area.Ĭonversely, a rabbit who exhibited fear or alarm laid flat against the ground and hardly moved at all. The University of Georgia found that a rabbit that is raised around humans and encouraged to explore novel environments tends to exhibit bolder behavior. This behavior is usually accompanied by circling around your feet first or standing on its back legs then gently placing its front paws against your leg. It may also be begging for treats or trying to get your attention. If your rabbit’s breathing has not become quicker while it stands on its hind legs, then it is merely curious. This will be accompanied by clicking its teeth or twitching as it starts to fall asleep.

If a rabbit’s ears are pressed flat against its back, it is either annoyed, stressed, or simply tired.If a rabbit’s ears are up and facing forward, this means that it is feeling happy or curious.How a rabbit tilts its ears can also show you how it feels: This not only lets a rabbit pick up on multiple noises from far away, but this also helps it determine where exactly that noise came from. A rabbit’s ears can tilt at around 270 degrees, with both able to move individually from the other. Most of a rabbit’s body language is demonstrated with its ears. How can you tell when a rabbit is standing on its hind legs out of curiosity and when it is doing so because it senses a threat? What Do Rabbits Want When They Stand Up? That being said, some new owners may not know what signs to look for. A rabbit will also stand up on its back legs if it becomes scared by something, so a novice rabbit owner may not be able to tell the difference.īeing able to read a rabbit’s body language is the key to better understanding how it feels about you and its new home. It is also a rabbit’s way of getting your attention because it wants treats or petting.

My cat stands on his back legs