How to Tell If Your Rabbit Doesn’t Like You

When I first brought my rabbit home, I couldn’t wait to bond with them. I pictured them hopping into my lap, eagerly seeking out my affection, and being the loving companion I always imagined. But instead of warm cuddles, I got cold avoidance. My rabbit wouldn’t come near me, and when I reached out to pet them, they’d either run away or thump their foot in frustration.

I was crushed and wondered if they didn’t like me.

It wasn’t until I started learning more about rabbit behavior that I realized they weren’t necessarily rejecting me—they were just expressing their discomfort in ways I didn’t yet understand. Rabbits are prey animals, so their body language is often subtle and easy to misinterpret. If you’re feeling unsure about whether your rabbit likes you or not, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Here are the key signs to watch for and what you can do to build a better bond.

1. They Run Away When You Approach

I still remember the first few weeks after adopting my rabbit. Every time I entered the room, they’d dart to the opposite side of their enclosure or hide in their favorite corner. I thought, Why don’t they want to be near me? It was hard not to take it personally.

But as I soon learned, rabbits don’t run away out of dislike—they’re just scared or unsure of you.

If your rabbit consistently bolts when you approach, it’s a sign that they don’t feel comfortable or safe yet. This doesn’t mean they hate you; it just means trust hasn’t been established. At the time, I realized I needed to slow down, give them space, and let them come to me on their own terms. Over time, this small change made a huge difference.

2. They Thump Their Foot Around You

Thumping is a rabbit’s way of saying, “I don’t like this!” or “I feel threatened!” When my rabbit thumped at me for the first time, I had no idea what I’d done wrong. I was just sitting nearby, but my sudden movement must have startled them.

Rabbits thump to warn others of danger or to express frustration. If your rabbit thumps whenever you’re near, they might be feeling stressed or annoyed by your presence. I realized that every time I moved too quickly or hovered over my rabbit, they felt like I was a predator. By learning to approach them calmly and at their level, the thumping gradually stopped.

3. They Nip or Bite You

One day, while trying to pet my rabbit, they turned around and gave me a little nip on the hand. At first, I was shocked. Why would they bite me? But after doing some research, I realized that rabbits use nipping as a form of communication.

Sometimes, a nip can mean, “Back off!” Other times, it’s a way of expressing irritation or setting boundaries. For example, my rabbit once nipped me when I tried to pick them up—something most rabbits don’t enjoy. I learned to respect their boundaries and only handle them when necessary, and the biting stopped.

If your rabbit bites you frequently, try to identify what’s triggering the behavior. Are you invading their space? Moving too fast? Once you figure out the cause, you can adjust your approach.

4. They Turn Their Back on You

One of the most passive-aggressive things my rabbit ever did was turn their back to me after I’d accidentally startled them. I didn’t even realize this was a sign of displeasure until I started researching rabbit body language.

When a rabbit turns their back to you, it’s like they’re saying, “I’m ignoring you” or “I’m upset with you.” It can feel like a snub, but it’s actually a normal way for rabbits to express annoyance or distrust. Whenever this happened, I gave my rabbit some space to cool off before trying to interact with them again.

5. They Avoid Eye Contact

Rabbits that trust you will often make eye contact and even come up to you for attention. In the beginning, though, my rabbit would actively avoid looking at me. If I tried to get their attention, they’d turn their head away or focus on something else entirely.

This avoidance was their way of saying, “I’m not comfortable with you yet.” It took time, patience, and a lot of quiet bonding sessions for them to feel relaxed enough to engage with me directly.

6. They Refuse to Take Treats from You

I vividly remember holding out a piece of parsley for my rabbit, only to have them sniff it and hop away. I felt so rejected, especially since I knew how much they loved parsley. But what I didn’t realize was that taking food from someone requires a level of trust that my rabbit didn’t have yet.

Rabbits that don’t feel safe around you may refuse treats, even if it’s their favorite snack. To build trust, I started placing treats near my rabbit instead of offering them directly. Over time, they began eating the treats in my presence and eventually started taking them from my hand.

7. They Lunge at You

Lunging was one of the scariest behaviors I encountered with my rabbit. The first time it happened, I was cleaning their litter box, and they suddenly charged at my hand. I was startled and confused—why would they attack me like that?

Lunging is often a sign of territorial behavior or fear. In my case, my rabbit felt like I was invading their space. To fix this, I started moving more slowly and talking to them softly while cleaning their area. I also gave them plenty of time to adjust to me being in their space. Gradually, the lunging stopped as they realized I wasn’t a threat.

8. They Hide When You’re Around

There were days when it felt like I’d never see my rabbit because they’d spend all their time hiding in their box or tunnel. It was frustrating, but I learned that hiding is a natural behavior for rabbits, especially when they’re feeling scared or overwhelmed.

If your rabbit hides whenever you’re nearby, it’s a sign that they don’t feel secure yet. I found that sitting quietly near their hiding spot and letting them observe me without pressure helped a lot. Eventually, they started venturing out more and even hopping over to investigate me.

9. They Don’t Respond to Your Presence

When rabbits trust you, they’ll often perk up or come to investigate when you enter the room. Early on, though, my rabbit would act like I wasn’t even there. They’d continue grooming themselves or nibbling on hay, completely ignoring me.

At first, this felt discouraging, but I realized it wasn’t necessarily a bad sign—it just meant my rabbit didn’t know me well enough yet. To change this, I made an effort to interact with them in positive ways, like offering treats or sitting nearby. Slowly but surely, they started acknowledging me more.

10. They Won’t Let You Pet Them

One of the most obvious signs that a rabbit doesn’t trust you is if they refuse to let you touch them. In the beginning, my rabbit would hop away the moment I reached out to pet them. I was so disappointed because I wanted to bond with them, but I realized I was moving too fast.

Rabbits need to feel safe before they’ll accept physical affection. I started by letting my rabbit sniff my hand and then gently resting my hand near them without trying to touch them. Over time, they became more comfortable, and now they love getting head rubs.

How to Turn Things Around

If you’ve noticed any of these signs, don’t worry—there’s plenty you can do to improve your relationship with your rabbit. Here’s what worked for me:

1. Give Them Space: Let your rabbit come to you on their terms. Don’t force interactions.

2. Move Slowly: Avoid sudden movements or loud noises that might scare them.

3. Offer Treats: Use treats to create positive associations, but be patient if they don’t take them right away.

4. Respect Their Boundaries: Don’t pick up or handle your rabbit unless necessary. Most rabbits prefer staying on the ground.

5. Be Patient: Building trust takes time. Celebrate small victories and don’t get discouraged.

FAQ: How to Tell If Your Rabbit Doesn’t Like You

1. How can I tell if my rabbit doesn’t like me or is just scared?

It’s easy to confuse fear with dislike because rabbits express both emotions in similar ways. Here are some clues to help you figure it out:

• Signs of Fear: Running away, hiding, thumping, or avoiding eye contact usually indicate that your rabbit feels scared or threatened. They may not dislike you but simply don’t feel safe yet.

• Signs of Dislike: Aggressive behaviors like lunging, biting, or turning their back on you may suggest frustration, irritation, or mistrust.

I found that my rabbit’s behavior improved significantly once I created a calm and predictable environment. Giving them space and moving slowly helped them overcome their fear, which I initially mistook for dislike.

2. Why does my rabbit run away from me?

When a rabbit runs away, it doesn’t necessarily mean they dislike you. More often than not, it’s a sign that they’re scared or unsure of your intentions. Rabbits are prey animals, and their instinct is to flee from potential threats.

In my experience, my rabbit ran away every time I entered the room at first. I started sitting quietly in their space without making any sudden movements. Over time, they began to approach me out of curiosity, and the running away stopped.

3. Why does my rabbit thump their foot when I’m near?

Thumping is a rabbit’s way of communicating alarm, fear, or annoyance. If your rabbit thumps when you’re nearby, they might be startled by your presence or unhappy with something you’re doing.

When my rabbit thumped at me early on, it was often because I’d moved too quickly or made a loud noise. I learned to approach more slowly and speak softly to reassure them. Eventually, the thumping behavior decreased as they grew more comfortable around me.

4. What should I do if my rabbit bites me?

Biting can be a sign of irritation, fear, or even a way for your rabbit to set boundaries. It’s important not to react aggressively or punish them, as this can damage trust. Instead:

• Stay calm: Don’t shout or pull away too quickly—it can make your rabbit more fearful.

• Identify the cause: Were you invading their space? Were they startled? Try to figure out what triggered the bite.

• Respect their boundaries: If biting happens when you’re handling them, limit handling to only when necessary.

My rabbit once nipped me because I reached into their enclosure too suddenly. After that, I started moving more carefully and letting them approach me first, which resolved the issue.

5. Why does my rabbit turn their back on me?

Rabbits turning their back on you is a classic sign of displeasure or annoyance. They may be saying, “I don’t want to deal with you right now.”

This happened to me often when I accidentally startled my rabbit or did something they didn’t like, such as cleaning their enclosure while they were nearby. I learned to give them some space and approach again later with a more gentle and respectful demeanor.

6. What does it mean if my rabbit won’t take treats from me?

Rabbits that refuse treats may not trust you yet. Taking food from someone requires a level of comfort and safety. To build trust:

• Start small: Place the treat nearby instead of offering it directly.

• Be patient: Let your rabbit take their time.

• Offer their favorites: Use high-value treats like a small piece of banana or apple (in moderation) to encourage them.

At first, my rabbit wouldn’t take treats from my hand, but after a few weeks of consistent effort, they started accepting them and even approaching me for more.

7. Why does my rabbit lunge at me?

Lunging is often a defensive behavior, indicating that your rabbit feels their space is being invaded or they’re trying to protect something, like their food or litter box.

I used to encounter lunging whenever I cleaned my rabbit’s litter box. To fix this, I started talking to them softly while cleaning and moved more slowly. I also waited until they were out of their enclosure before doing any cleaning, which significantly reduced the lunging.

8. My rabbit hides all the time. What should I do?

Hiding is a natural behavior for rabbits, especially when they feel unsafe or overwhelmed. If your rabbit hides constantly:

• Evaluate their environment: Are there loud noises, sudden movements, or other stressors nearby?

• Give them time: Let them adjust to their space and observe you without pressure.

• Sit quietly nearby: This allows them to become familiar with you while feeling secure in their hiding spot.

When my rabbit spent most of their time hiding, I made sure their space was calm and quiet. Over time, they began to venture out more frequently and even approach me.

9. How can I rebuild trust with my rabbit if they seem to dislike me?

Rebuilding trust takes time, but it’s absolutely possible. Here’s what worked for me:

• Start with their space: Make sure their environment feels safe and secure. Add hiding spots like tunnels or boxes.

• Give them space: Avoid forcing interactions—let them come to you when they’re ready.

• Use positive reinforcement: Offer treats and praise during calm interactions.

• Be consistent: Rabbits thrive on routine, so stick to a predictable schedule for feeding and playtime.

In my case, it took several weeks of patient effort, but eventually, my rabbit started to trust me again and became much more affectionate.

10. Can rabbits dislike specific people?

Yes, rabbits can show preferences for certain people based on their past experiences and interactions. For example, a rabbit might feel more comfortable around someone who moves slowly and speaks softly, while avoiding someone who’s loud or unpredictable.

My rabbit initially preferred my partner over me because he was quieter and more patient. I had to adjust my approach—moving slower, speaking gently, and spending more quiet time with my rabbit—before they started warming up to me.

11. Are rabbits naturally affectionate, or does it depend on their personality?

Rabbits can be affectionate, but it largely depends on their individual personality and how much trust they have in you. Some rabbits are naturally shy or independent, while others are more outgoing and cuddly.

One of my rabbits was very reserved and only showed affection after months of bonding, while another was immediately friendly and curious. It’s important to respect your rabbit’s personality and work with their unique temperament.

12. How do I know if my rabbit is starting to trust me?

Signs of trust include:

• They approach you willingly.

• They allow you to pet them, especially on their head or cheeks.

• They relax around you, flopping onto their side or stretching out.

• They make eye contact or groom you (licking your hand, for example).

• They stop hiding and spend more time in your presence.

When my rabbit flopped over next to me for the first time, I knew I’d earned their trust. It was such a rewarding moment!

13. What’s the biggest mistake people make when trying to bond with their rabbit?

The biggest mistake is moving too quickly or forcing interactions. Rabbits are prey animals and need time to feel safe and comfortable around you. Forcing pets, handling, or chasing them can damage trust and make them more fearful.

I learned this lesson the hard way when I tried to pick up my rabbit too soon. They became even more skittish, and it took weeks to rebuild the trust I’d broken. Now, I always let my rabbit set the pace for our interactions.

If your rabbit is showing signs that they don’t like you, it doesn’t mean they’ll never warm up to you. It just means you need to take things slow and work on building trust. I’ve been through this journey myself, and while it was frustrating at times, the bond I eventually formed with my rabbit was worth every ounce of effort.

Rabbits are complex creatures, and earning their trust is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a pet owner. With patience, understanding, and a little bit of persistence, you’ll soon see your rabbit’s attitude start to change—and that’s when the real magic happens.