Thumping the back foot is a natural reaction among rabbits to danger that they have smelt, heard or seen. ... Rabbits aren't very vocal so thumping is an important way of communicating. They may remain in the thumping posture until convinced that the danger is gone.

Why do rabbits thump in their cage at night?

Why do rabbits thump at night? Rabbits may thump at night because they are scared, feeling annoyed by something, or even because they know it will get your attention. It isn't always a serious issue, but it can be a sign that your bunny is unhappy or stressed.

Do rabbits thump when they are happy?

You might also notice that thumping can be a part of excited behaviour when your bunny is frisking about; if this is the case, your bunny will continue to play afterwards, rather than being still and alert to danger.