Binky or Fear?

[Hollypop]

I have a young female bunny who is essentially fearless. vacuum cleaners, other animals, you name it- she doesn’t care. we have 3 cats, 2 of which stay away from her as often as possible. however, we have a little female cat who is pretty much insane, and she constantly harasses my bunny. my bunny never seems to be bothered though. today, they were running around together and holly (bunny) was doing those happy runs and binkying all over the place. part of me, however, wonders if this is a fear instinct. id hate to find out that all this time i thought she was excited to be playing with the kitten and is actually afraid. are the happy runs and binkies sometimes out of fear? help!

[LBJ10]

It’s unlikely. Does she seem relaxed otherwise? Flopping?

[Maddie Rae]

Unless she’s running away from the kitty and has bugged-out eyes I would think those are genuine excited and happy binkies!

[Bam]

Scared bunnies tend to run away and hide. Then they are very reluctant to come out of hiding. They may thump to warn other rabbits (an instinct so it happens just as much when there are no other rabbits to warn.)

[arca9]

Sounds like happy mixed with a bit of play fighting of some kind. If you ever see wild bunnies fighting they spring up really high to avoid each other’s kicks. If she felt really threatened she would probably just run away?

[LittlePuffyTail]

My bun Olivia does that with my younger cat. I interpret it as her trying to instigate play with the kitty.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I learned a trick years ago when socializing my dog. If you aren’t sure if two dogs playing are having fun or if one is getting picked on-you restrain the suspected bully. If the one who was maybe getting picked on, runs to hide or leave -he probably was being bullied. If he runs to the restrained dog and tries to initiate more play, it was mutually enjoyable play.

I think you could apply that here, if you see them playing together pick up your cat and/or give your bunny somewhere to hide. If your bunny just looks disappointed the game ended, then she’s probably comfortable. If she takes the hiding place or looks relaxed with the cat removed it might not be play.

Don’t assume because she’s brave that she enjoys playing with a large predator, but certainly they can be friends!

[HereComesTheBun]

My rabbit and dog are the same way! Though they’ve only interacted through the bars of his playpen and condo, my dog loves prowling for hay and will sometimes rattle the bars to get his attention. Hugo, though, is in love with her. Sometimes, he’ll attempt to play hide and seek with her, and the other day, he was so happy when he saw her that he started binkying all over the place. It was the cutest thing.

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