How to hold a rabbit: picking up, building trust and children
The rabbit most of us picture is a soft animal sitting calmly in someone's lap. Real rabbits, though, often don't like being picked up. The reason goes back a long way: in the wild, rabbits are prey animals, and anything that lifts them off the ground is usually a predator. According to the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF), when rabbits are lifted off the ground they can feel as if they've been caught by a predator, and they often react aggressively. The good news: with the right approach and patience, your rabbit can learn to trust you.
- Stay low: According to the RSPCA, working with your rabbit close to the ground reduces both fear and the risk of a fall.
- Support it: One hand should always support your rabbit's back and bottom, with all four feet resting against your body.
- Never hold it by the ears.
- Never turn it onto its back: Staying still doesn't mean it's calm; according to the RSPCA, it's playing dead out of fear.
- Children: Only adults or responsible older children should pick up a rabbit.
Trust comes first
According to the RSPCA, getting a rabbit used to people early on is important for it to feel comfortable around them, while rough handling at any age can make a rabbit uneasy around people. Before you pick up your rabbit, let it come to you:
- Sit on the floor. Get down to your rabbit's level and wait for it to come over.
- Move slowly and speak softly. According to the RSPCA, this keeps your rabbit from getting startled.
- Use rewards. According to the RSPCA, only positive methods should be used, such as clicker training followed by a reward. Rewards should come out of your rabbit's daily food allowance.
- Never punish. According to the RSPCA, shouting can make a rabbit tense and frightened.
If you need to pick it up
Sometimes you'll need to pick up your rabbit, for example for a health check or a vet visit. The method the RSPCA recommends:
- Close to the ground: Hold your rabbit as close to the ground as possible; this reduces the risk of a fall and fear.
- Gentle but firm: Hold your rabbit gently but firmly; one hand should always support its back and bottom.
- All four feet against your body: Hold your rabbit with all four feet resting against your body, so it feels secure.
- Slippery surfaces: If you're on a slippery surface, lay a towel underneath.
- To calm it: According to the RSPCA, a towel placed over its eyes or holding your rabbit in the crook of your arm can help it relax, but its nostrils must always stay uncovered.
- Only as long as needed: Hold your rabbit only for as long as necessary. How long depends on its temperament, its health and the task at hand.
Never do this
- Holding it by the ears: According to the RSPCA, this is stressful and very likely to cause injury.
- Turning it onto its back: According to the RSPCA, a rabbit held on its back may lie still and look calm, but it's actually "playing dead" out of fear.
- Shouting and punishment: They make its fear worse.
Children and rabbits
According to the RSPCA, children should always be supervised around rabbits, and only adults or responsible older children should pick a rabbit up. The nicest way for young children is to sit on the floor, wait for the rabbit to come over on its own and gently stroke it while it's on the ground.
According to the RSPCA, baby rabbits shouldn't be touched before they are 10 days old; touching them earlier can cause the mother to reject her babies. After 10 days, gently handling the babies for a few minutes every day helps them link people with positive experiences.
If it's always afraid of being held
Some rabbits, especially those that have had bad experiences in the past, find it much harder to get used to being held. According to the RSPCA, past experiences affect how a rabbit reacts, and patience helps build its trust. If the problem continues, the RSPCA recommends talking to a vet to find out whether there's an illness or injury behind it.
To understand how your rabbit is feeling, look at its body language: rabbit body language.
Frequently asked questions
My rabbit kicks when I pick it up. What should I do?
This can mean your rabbit doesn't feel secure. Work close to the ground, support its back and bottom with one hand and rest all four feet against your body. Hold your rabbit only for as long as necessary; as it gains trust, it will become more relaxed.
Is it okay to hold a rabbit by the scruff?
Our sources don't recommend scruffing. The method the RSPCA recommends is holding your rabbit close to the ground, supporting its back and bottom with one hand and resting all four feet against your body.
My rabbit gets very calm when I lay it on its back. Is that bad?
Yes. According to the RSPCA, a rabbit held on its back may look calm, but it's actually "playing dead" out of fear. Never turn your rabbit onto its back.
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Sources
- RSPCA · Handling rabbits
- Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund · Think you want a rabbit?
- RSPCA · Rabbit behaviour
By Tüylüm · Published and last checked: October 24, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to [email protected] and we'll fix it right away. Photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the license shown below each photo.
