Behavior FAQ

My bunny always scratches me when I pick him/her up. How do I make her stop?
Most rabbits do not enjoy being picked up. Rabbits are prey animals and associate their feet off the ground with being eaten. We advise that you do not continue to try to pick her up except for emergencies and vital care such as placing your bun in a carrier or trimming his nails. There is no need to continuously pick up your rabbit. If you need to pick him up to get him in and out of his pen or cage, please invest in another type of pen or cage. Take a look at our Housing article for more information.

But to answer the real question, to protect yourself from scratches when picking your rabbit up, there are several options. The simplest way is to protect yourself with long sleeves and gloves when handling your rabbit. Another option is the popular bunny burrito. In this instance, you would wrap your bunny in a blanket or towel when picking him up and hold his legs close to his body so that he is unable to kick out.

Another concern is proper bunny handling. You should be properly supporting your rabbit so that he feels as secure and safe as he can while being picked up. This means holding him against your chest or snuggled in your hard with contact together all along his body.