Changes in a rabbit’s personality are often a symptom of a larger issue. Likewise, if an otherwise happy rabbit starts hiding 24/7, this can indicate trouble. It will eventually grow comfortable and explore the home.Īfter this settling-in period, your rabbit should not hide all the time. During this time, it may prefer living tucked away in its enclosure or hides. It can usually take anywhere between a week and a month for a new rabbit to feel comfortable in its new home. Before you panic, consider if your rabbit is:īe aware that new rabbits are very timid. On the flipside, if your bunny hides all the time, that may concern you. Of course, if it is injured or ill, you may have to gently coax it out for a closer examination.
It’s important to not force your rabbit out from its hiding place. That may include any small, dark space in the home – which applies to nearly every nook and cranny. Here are the main places domestic rabbits will hide:Ī truly frightened rabbit will cram itself into wherever it deems that predators cannot reach it. As such, they make do with whatever shelter you provide, or what they can find in the home. There is an instinct to find shelter in small, dark spaces, no matter how far removed the individual is from its wild ancestors.ĭomestic rabbits are not able to dig burrows. Such behaviors remain rooted in the DNA of domestic rabbit breeds. Warrens are specifically created for rabbit kits to flee into and hide in. However, it can be affected by the lived experiences of each individual. The University of Aberdeen notes that the covert flight response is an innate instinct of rabbits. A bunny will also retreat to these places if it feels unsafe or unwell, or if it simply wants time to itself. In these hides, they will sleep, play, groom, and relax. Rabbits need small, dark spaces that function as mini-caves to feel safe. These include under sofas, beds, couches, and coffee tables, in corners and hides, and anywhere else they deem safe. Rabbits will also hide in a variety of places. If your rabbit hides itself away and refuses to eat, that may be a sign of illness or injury. A traumatic event, such as accidently being stepped on, can also motivate hiding. Changes to the rabbit’s environment, unfamiliar noises, smells, or people, or injuries can spark an episode of anxiety. Since bunnies are anxious creatures, this can be for extreme or mild reasons. Your rabbit may hide because it doesn’t feel safe any longer. Of course, if a rabbit hides constantly, that’s worthy of concern, as it may indicate a health problem. Understanding a rabbit’s motivations for hiding means understanding these needs and instincts. However, a rabbit will also hide for less worrisome reasons, such as to sleep or relax. As a prey animal, a rabbit’s natural response to fear, pain, and illness is to hide. Hiding is an innate instinct for rabbits.
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