Terrified bunny!

[Bellamay]

Last night Clio must have heard something and it really freaked her out! She stays in a cage in my bedroom at night while I sleep (only while she’s toilet training, can’t deal with washing my bedding every night lol) and she woke me up by running around her cage hitting the sides and even trying to jump out. I let her out and she went under my bed and stomped for ages. I sat on the ground and she eventually came out and sat next to me, I gave her some pallets which she ate and moved her water bowl there too. She was absolutely in a mess, shaking and breathing so fast I didn’t no wat to do for my poor baby! I spoke softly which she seemed to find calming but she’s now a few hours later still so on edge.. I’m keeping her in my room and left her alone for a bit but I’m worried what ever spooked her might have tramitized her :'( is this a normal reaction for prey animals? Because it is absolutely tramatizing for me!!

[Wick & Fable]

Yes. Stomping and sputtering around is normal for sensing danger. Coincidentally, Wick did this for the first time last night. I was grooming him in the living room when he suddenly popped up, turned to face me and stomped. At first I thought he was mad for grooming his butt, but I was concerned because he doesn’t express emotion through stomps. Then he did it again and ran into the bedroom. Then I comforted in the bedroom and he did it again and sprinted under the bed! I suspect Wick heard a sound I couldn’t and it was really spooking him.

Whatever was bothering him stopped after 10min, but I think in those cases, you calmly pampering the rabbit in safety will help to let your rabbit know whatever it is, it won’t hurt her.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[joea64]

Rabbits have far sharper hearing than humans, so it seems pretty plain Clio heard something quite some ways off that you didn’t that spooked her, or else a small sound closer by that’s too soft-pitched for human ears but which triggered her instincts (a fox or raccoon or some other such predator, perhaps). The best thing to do in such circumstances is what you did, comfort and reassure her as best you can. Maybe you could make a “hidey box” for her, if you don’t already have one, and put it in her cage if there’s room for one, or somewhere in your room that she can easily get to. Cardboard cartons with doorways cut out in two sides – bunnies like to have multiple entrances/exits for their hideouts – are ideal for the purpose, and they work wonders to help a bun’s sense of safety and security. I have three hidey boxes for my Panda and Fernando, two more or less permanently set up on the upper deck of their bunny condo and the third which is set up every evening in their X-pen during playtime, and they love ’em.

[sarahthegemini]

It’s very upsetting to see our rabbits so frightened but unfortunately, sometimes it does happen as they have exceptional hearing and pretty good sense of smell. Mine sometimes freak out, I suspect they have either heard something or they can sense predators outside (sometimes foxes are around the neighbourhood)

Best thing to do is talk softly to them, and try not to grab them – pet them if they allow it but don’t force it. Give them a treat. That’s what I do

[Author]

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