Some people say rabbits can't love or care about their owners, but sometimes when my bun comes up and nudges me for ear rubs and then he binkies around and comes back and flops over on his side I think they really do love or appreciate their owners, even if they mostly like to be left alone.

What do you think?

They definitely feel affection for us, if not love. When Hodari and I were first getting to know each other I would pet her and rub noses with her, and she accepted my friendly gestures; then out of the blue one day, she practically tackled me, climbed onto my chest and shoulders while I was lying next to her, and began to lick my face. She was so enthusiastic about it. Ever since then, she has always lifted her face to groom mine after I have been petting her for a while. It's her way of saying "thank you" and "I like you for being nice to me." I am sure of it.

Anyone who has seen an animals devotion to their owner go to something extreme - braving a fire to save their owner, mourning their owners grave even though it means no food/water for themselves, sitting next to them to guard/keep warm/take care of when they are injured, no matter how long it takes for help to come

Posted By LBJ10 on 12/30/2011 01:27 PM
Mine certainly love each other. I fear though that all I'm good for is food and naners though. =\

Exactly how I feel sometimes 

Posted By RabbitPam on 12/30/2011 02:41 PM
That said, my bunny does not love me TODAY, as I just trimmed her front paws' toenails and it was so hard to do this time that I didn't do the back. I have the scratches to prove it. She has the treat and apple slice to prove that I love HER, and am sorry I upset her.

 ROFL Pam! 

I think animas love in the same way that a small child loves their parents. It's not a "I love you for WHO you are" like with a mate... but a "i love you for WHAT you are". Often times, we are their whole world. They depend on us for food, care, and attention. We are the ones that intereact with them. I think that all animals have a sense of companionship. I think that buns show it by trusting that we will not eat them. They bump us to say "Hi" and they groom us as we groom them. I feel like the best thing a bun can do to say "I love you" is to lick your eye. I read on http://language.rabbitspeak.com/     that cleaning each other's eyes is a very intimate exchange. When I clean the goo from Huckles eyes, she always tooth purrs and licks my hand. Sometimes I get my eye licked too. 

I swear Smokey and ChaCha are twins because she'll nudge me and want pets but right before will growl at me and try to box with me. It makes no sense! "I love you but hate you at the same time" ?

And Smokey is pretty funny since her condo cage is across from my bed, if I take a nap, she usually takes a nap too but facing me. And when I eat she'll usually stare at me, then hop over to her hay and veggies and begin munching.  Whenever I walk by her cage she'll jump up and follow me around too. Or thump. One or the other. I can never tell if it's love or displeasure I'm receiving that day!

I love reading your stories.   So sweet.

Yes I think Cotton  loves me he only comes to me and allows me to pet him.  With other people he boxes or runs off.   Cotton has recently started giving me kisses.  I think he is saying thank you I love you  for his lip being well again.

He stretches n yawns now his mouth doenst' hurt thats great.  I was gone all day.   He was anxious to see me.  I took his run off his cage and he hopped up next to me for pettings for a little bit then he went to eat some.  

I think they do have feelings and can love unconditionally.  Though with rabbits I am not sure about the unconditionally.   If the owner scares them or doesnt' take good care of them they are not happy and probably don't trust that person,

When Cotton goes to the vet and the vet is done Cotton leaps into my arms and tooth purrs.  So sweet

Then when I do his nails after he runs off n cleans up he comes to be petted and gives tooth purrs.  Lucky me

Posted By RabbitPam on 01/01/2012 06:52 AM
I agree that it boils down to the "what is love?" question. Humans have been hard pressed to answer that one, so it's even harder to assess what it is for animals. I happen to believe it exists for them. But since humans experience it in different ways that are subtle, it will remain a mystery to us. I think that the young, hormone-charged Eros type experienced by teens and up is not just a concept, but chemical designed to propagate the species. What's really mysterious is what is felt by humans that can't or no longer need to breed. Why feel love at all if it is only the first kind? Maybe bunnies and their slaves fall into Family/Friends-type love. Those you choose to be with and take care of.

You mean like, loooove-love or only like-love

(Anyone else remember that from their school days?)

I agree its hard to define therefore we all see different answers. There's also mannny different kinds of love. The love of a mother is completely different than that of a spouse, or that of a child, or that of a teen. The love of a bunny, who knows

 I think Mr. Bunbun really likes me. I do think Bunny loves me. We have a really close relationship. She is extremely intelligent, so I think we are able to communicate really well.

Posted By LBJ10 on 01/01/2012 04:40 PM

My guess is that what rabbits feel is not something that humans can define in our own terms. Love in a rabbit is likely very different from love in a human.

There was recently a survey on care2 asking the members to define "love" - one in maybe 20 had the same answer, human love is so vastly different from person to person as well, only makes sense bunny love would be different again.