Lonely rabbit behavior

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Realize all the lonely rabbit behavior first to better understand whether your new pet rabbit is lonely or simply stressed due to some unusual changes in its environment.

Knowing your rabbit’s lonely behavior will aid you to prevent your house rabbits from further feelings of depression.

I have described in this article several actions of rabbits which determines the rabbit is lonely. Unless you understand that your rabbit is lonely you can’t prevent your rabbits from getting stressed or sick.

A bunny has to be lively in order to stay healthy.

Below is an audio file which you can listen to if you do not want to read the full article.

Lonely rabbit behavior: Is my rabbit lonely?

In order to know if your rabbit is lonely or not you have to pay attention to your rabbit’s behavior.

A lonely rabbit may show signs of aggression towards other rabbits or its guardian. Similarly, a lonely rabbit will overeat and pull at its own fur.

A rabbit will act in different ways when they are lonely:

1. A lonely rabbit will seek your attention and nudge at you;
2. It may simply refuse to interact and bond with you. A lonely rabbit will not show any interest when you pet him/her or try to play with your rabbit.
3. A lonely rabbit will show aggression towards other rabbits;
4. A lonely rabbit will become destructive. They will bite furniture and rip off carpets with their tooth.
5. A rabbit that is eating more than usual and pulling on its own far is also a lonely rabbit.

How to stop your pet rabbits from being lonely?

To stop your rabbits from being lonely or depressed, you can do any one of these:

1. Introduce a rabbit of the opposite gender to your current pet rabbit. Allow time for them to become friends and follow the rabbit bonding stages for proper rabbit introduction.
2. OR if you are not willing to bring home another pet rabbit, then make sure you spend plenty of time with your current pet rabbit.

Two above mentioned are the only ways to stop your pet rabbits from being lonely.

As well as you can bond a rabbit with other pets like cats and dogs. In order to bond a rabbit with a cat, you will have to be patient and follow the steps I have discussed here >>> Do cats and rabbits live together?

In case you have a dog as a pet and want your new rabbits to live happily with your dogs >>> Read HERE.

Human interaction to prevent rabbit depression.

A rabbit guardian must prevent their rabbit from getting depressed at any cost.

What shall you do if you do not have any other pet to bond with your bunny?

Do you have plenty of time to spend with your rabbits? If you have enough time to bond with your rabbit and be the best companion of your rabbit you can do as follows:

1. Do not lock your rabbit inside a cage all the time. Rabbits like to run around and explore. Give them a running space and make sure you bunny-proof your house.
   If you cannot bunny-proof your house then choose a play-pen for bunnies to build a bunny running space.
2. Your rabbits will explore themselves and in time slowly they will come close to you. Once they come close to you pet them slowly. Learn here how to pet a rabbit the right way?
3. Do not pick up your bunny. Rabbits are prey animals and if you pick them up they may get scared. Get down to their level and play with them.
4. Use rabbit toys for your rabbits. Toss some rabbit toys and see your rabbits playing with and chewing on them.
5. Do not invade their space or they can think of you as their enemy. Allow your pet rabbits to come close to you.

Lonely rabbit after the death of a bonded partner.

A rabbit will get very lonely after the death of its bonded partner. Rabbits are very social animals and require a companion to remain happy and healthy.

Rabbits build a strong relationship with their partner and the death of their partner will cause severe stress and depression in a rabbit.

What can you actually do to prevent?

To prevent your pet rabbit from further loneliness you have to spend a lot of time with your rabbit. Do not allow your rabbit to remain lonely.

Try to bond with your grieving pet rabbit.

Your rabbit will grief and it will cause extreme stress in your rabbits. Once they are stressed beyond limits they will get sick very fast.

If you can’t spend sufficient time with your rabbit you can help your rabbit to come out of depression by introducing a new rabbit friend to improve the scenario.

However proper introduction is required before doing so. Do not expect your older rabbit to accept a new bunny companion right away.

Without correct rabbit bonding stages, the older rabbit may show signs of aggression towards the new bunny.

Follow the correct steps and perhaps it will help your grieving rabbit come out from depression.

Can rabbits die of loneliness?

YES, rabbits can die of loneliness. There have been several cases where a rabbit passed away after a few days of its bonded partner’s death.

Losing a friend or a bonded partner will cause the rabbit to grieve and depression. As a result, the grieving rabbit will be stressed.

AND in time the stressed rabbit will become unhealthy.

Staying in such a condition may result in the death of a lonely rabbit.

Therefore it is always a rabbit guardian duty to look after a lonely rabbit and do everything possible to keep the pet rabbit in a good shape.

Want your rabbit to be happy and healthy?

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