Why Does My Rabbit Lick Me?

If your rabbit licks you, consider yourself blessed. Not every rabbit trusts their owner enough to put their tongue on them. (Yes, it does sound kind of weird, doesn't it?) Rabbits are prey animals, so their trust is not easy to earn. More often than not, a rabbit lick is a sign of affection. However, this is not the only reason your rabbit might lick you. Licking could also be linked to dominance, food, and health.

Affection

Grooming and Bonding

The most common reason your rabbit licks you is to give you affection. They are just showing they like you! Like licks from cats and dogs, you can think of licks from your rabbit as little kisses. Take this as a sign of bonding with your rabbit. Give your rabbit some head pets if you'd like to return their affection.

Licking is a grooming behavior, which rabbits often do to one another — especially for those difficult-to-reach spots, like behind the head and ears. So, if your rabbit licks you, just know that they think of you as one of their own. (Plus, they think you could use a bath!)

Dominance

Respect

In addition to affection, licking is a sign of respect for rabbits. Like any other species, rabbits follow a social hierarchy. These hierarchies can be observed through behavior — and licking is a submissive behavior, but it can also be mutual. Either way, this means that if your rabbit licks you, it can be taken as a sign that they respect you!

The Taste, Smell, or Texture

Food Residue

If your rabbit licks you after you just had food in your hands, there's a chance they were licking because they can still sense that you were holding a tasty snack. Rabbits have a stronger sense of smell than humans. So, even if you can't smell the remnants of that delicious treat on your hands, your rabbit might.

Alternatively, your rabbit may lick simply because they like the texture. I sometimes catch Petey licking the carpet after he's finished cleaning himself. Does he just like the feeling of the soft carpet on his tongue? Maybe. Sometimes, animals are just a little odd! It's not always connected to some underlying issue or symbolic behavior.

Salt Deficiency

Health Problems

Although mixed evidence supports this reasoning, your rabbit may lick you due to a salt deficiency. In other words, your rabbit might lick you to get salt their body lacks. Licking you will give them a little salt from your sweat. (Gross, I know.) However, if you are feeding your rabbit a proper diet, there is no reason for your rabbit to lack sodium. If you suspect this might be the case, you should take your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible. There, you will likely need to evaluate your rabbit's diet.