Rabbits want to reciprocate the love and attention they get from you. So, they interact with humans in several different ways. If you are a rabbit owner, you probably know the particular behavior of licking their owner. This gentle act is a normal behavior of these furry animals, showing they have developed a strong bond with you.
Rabbits lick you to show love or affection, communicate, relieve stress, mark territories, and taste their environment. In addition, they are habitual to do so from young age for survival, but sometimes lick their owners without any reason. It can be a part of their grooming ritual that continues on interaction with humans because they groom fellows.
Rabbits are the favorite pet animals of many people due to their adorable faces and gentle behavior. Their cute gestures are primarily based on instincts, while their behavioral responses depend on situations.
They show belongingness to their owners by interacting with them in different ways that can only be understood and reciprocated if you know the reasons behind them.
Most new pet owners and a few pet enthusiasts try to find out the reasons for their licking behavior, so let’s dig into the reasons to understand their fascinating and alluring behavior better.
Why do rabbits like to lick you?
Many of you have seen rabbits licking their owners’ feet, but a few feel afraid to see them closer as they think they will get bitten by these furry animals. However, they rarely approach to cause harm because they are naturally docile.
Reason # 1: Social grooming
Like primates, they cannot use their paws to clean themselves, so they primarily rely on their tongue for grooming. In the wild, they live in groups and groom each other by licking.
It helps them keep their fur free from dust, debris, and food particles that remain attached to the body. It is a sign of developing social connections with other rabbits in the cage or habitat.
They thrive on companionship and try to make you friends by providing grooming services. When a rabbit rubs its tongue on you, it is a sign that they trust and care for you.
Just like these bunnies groom each other to foster social bonds, they extend this behavior to their human companions. They convey a message, “You are part of my social group.”
Grooming has numerous benefits for both of you, as it helps build a trustworthy bond. Secondly, it gives a comforting and relaxing sense to both the owner and the pet.
Doing the same with your bunny by gently petting and interacting with it is essential. This mutual grooming helps strengthen the bond between you and the pet rabbit, creating a happy relationship.
So, do not be afraid to see them coming towards you and licking, as it is a sign of love and acceptance from their side. You should deepen the bond by giving them a treat.
Reason # 2: Tasting their environment
It is a natural behavior of rabbits that depicts their curious nature and exploration of their environment to avoid risks. They like to explore their surroundings to live in comfort.
They have sensory receptors on their tongue that detect and taste their surroundings and owners, too. This ability helps sense potential threats and risk of predator attacks.
They smell and lick a new object to determine its safety. I placed a rubber ball near my bunny and noticed it was licking and tasting it more frequently than those in the cage.
Their curious nature and instincts force them to determine the nature of objects for safety purposes.
It is good to understand that licking is not always related to love, as it can be an instinctual response to the world around them. So, it can be a strategy to know if your furry friend tries to taste you.
Building a strong bond with them takes time, patience, and understanding. You should give a new pet bunny more time, as they take time to make a bond with an unfamiliar person.
Reason # 3: Means of communication
It is not just a cute gesture of rabbits, but a way of communicating with their owner and other fellows. You can consider it their friendly handshake and a sign of love and trust for others.
It releases endorphins while licking, which gives a sense of pleasure, comfort, security, and asking for fulfillment of their needs. They do so to seek your attention and tell you about their needs.
It is their way of saying, “Hey, I want to interact with you or need something from you!.” So, they probably need cuddles, food, water, or something else when they start licking your feet.
They do not engage in such behavior with every person, as they are mostly seen rubbing their tongues on their owners’ body or other family members of the house.
You can also communicate with your rabbit by gentle strokes and petting, as this physical contact helps strengthen the bond. You should always be gentle and respectful to your pet bunnies.
Reason # 4: Relieve stress
They relieve stress and anxiety by licking you because friendly interaction promotes well-being. Relaxing or happy hormones are released in living organisms by this loving interaction.
The rhythmic motion of their tongue creates a calming effect, causing them to relax and unwind. They are probably seeking reassurance like a child seeking comfort from a parent.
If your rabbit is showering you with licks, it is a sign that they trust you and feel safe in your presence. Provide a calm and nurturing environment to your furry friend in return.
It is essential to notice that excessive licking can be an indicator of stress or underlying health issues. Consult a veterinarian for examination after seeing other signs of distress.
Reason # 5: Mark their territory
Rabbits can lick to mark you as a part of their territory, and this process is called chinning. There are special scent glands located under their chin that produce secretions of specific odor.
These bunnies transfer the chemical secretions to your body while touching you with their tongue. They claim you to be their friend or a safe zone to approach without any threat.
Rabbits lick other objects to mark them as their own, such as their toys, food bowls, or living area, as well as their friends and owners.
This process holds great significance in the wild rabbits as they usually mark their boundaries and consider it a safe method to differentiate their friends from foes.
However, this chinning process shows that you belong to them in domesticated rabbits when they leave a familiar scent on your body.
Reason # 6: Survival
It is one of the natural behaviors of rabbits, which starts from a young age and continues throughout their lives until they die. They need to taste and mark things for survival.
They cannot fight off deadly pathogens and contaminating particles without grooming each other’s bodies. So, it becomes their habit due to survival dependency.
In addition, it helps them show emotions to their fellows because they feel safe and relaxed in an environment in which all of them engage in social grooming.
So, they cannot stop taking care of each other and serving as cleaners because it is essential for their survival; otherwise, they would fight if they could manage to live independently.
Where do rabbits lick you more?
Many people share their experiences with pet rabbits when these furry animals try to lick their exposed body parts, as they rarely rub their tongues against the covered body.
Commonly, they rub tongues on the feet and hands that usually remain exposed. Another reason for doing so on hands is that people typically pick them up in hand.
They are also supposed to leave scent marks on your feet while moving around the legs. My bunny usually licks on my feet whenever I sit in the garden to read a book in the evening.
Rabbits tend to touch areas where they feel comfortable and safe, such as your hands, face, or even your clothes if they detect familiar scents or want your attention.
Some rabbits focus more on licking your hands, especially when you are providing food or petting them. This behavior varies among different species, as their preferences are pretty different.
Others might prefer to touch your face or hair because they enjoy the taste or scent of your skin or hair products.
Regardless of where rabbits lick you, it is essential to understand that this behavior is usually a sign of trust and affection from your furry friend but can be an indicator of an underlying health issue.
Do male or female rabbits lick you more?
It is generally observed that females are usually more affectionate than males, but it is hard to say that female rabbits lick you more than their partners because it depends on individual preferences.
Also, it relies on the bond with their owner rather than their gender or sex because some male bunnies are found to lick more sometimes, which means they are affectionate or loving.
Some bunnies also engage in this behavior more often because they are naturally more docile, but it has nothing to do with gender.
However, the age difference affects their licking behavior because adults are friendlier than babies, who hesitate to interact with humans and stay with their parents.
Furthermore, you should spend quality time with your male and female rabbits equally to build trust and strengthen your bond through interactions, as both can provide you with affection.
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