How To Hold a Rabbit Safely

The goal of safe rabbit handling is simple: Keep the spine aligned and prevent the back legs from kicking freely. 

Whenever possible, use gentle restraint. Many rabbits stay calmer when they don’t feel tightly contained. However, if your rabbit suddenly struggles, you’ll need to increase your support immediately to keep them from twisting or kicking. 

The safest way to carry a rabbit is often called the football hold. In this position: 

• Your rabbit’s head rests near the crook of your elbow. 
• Your forearm supports the length of their body. 
• Your hand cradles and controls the hindquarters. 
• Your rabbit stays tucked securely against your chest. 

Holding your rabbit close to your body helps them feel more secure and gives you better control if they try to jump. 

1. Approach your rabbit calmly. Whenever possible, get down to your rabbit’s level rather than reaching from above. A hand coming down from overhead looks like a predator and may trigger fear.  
2. Watch your rabbit’s body language before trying to pick them up. A relaxed rabbit may approach or continue exploring. A frightened rabbit may freeze, hide, grunt, or repeatedly move away from you. 
3. Place one hand under the chest. Slide one hand beneath your rabbit’s chest just behind the front legs. This supports the front half of the body before you lift.  
4. Support the hindquarters. This is the single most important step. Use your other hand to scoop underneath your rabbit’s rump and support the back legs. The feet should be contained rather than dangling freely, which reduces the chance of a forceful kick. 
5. Lift gently while keeping your rabbit close. Lift your rabbit smoothly toward your chest rather than away from your body. Keeping them close provides stability and helps prevent sudden jumping. 
6. Use a bunny burrito if needed. If your rabbit is especially nervous or difficult to handle, wrapping them in a towel before lifting can help keep the legs safely tucked against the body. A towel wrap, often called a “bunny burrito,” can make handling easier while giving medication or during examinations and help prevent sudden kicking. Be careful never to cover your rabbit’s nose, as rabbits breathe only through their nostrils. 
7. Hold your rabbit securely against your chest. Once lifted, keep your rabbit snug against your body with continuous support under the hindquarters. If your rabbit begins struggling, lower them safely to the floor or another secure surface as soon as possible instead of trying to hold onto a twisting rabbit in midair. 

Some handling techniques can cause serious injury and should never be used. 

Never pick up a rabbit by the ears. 
Rabbit ears contain delicate cartilage, blood vessels, and nerves. Lifting by the ears is painful and can cause permanent damage. 

Never lift by the scruff. 
​​​​Rabbits should never be supported only by the loose skin over the neck or front-end support only. Without hind-end support, the rabbit can twist violently and fracture their spine. 

Don’t let the back legs dangle. 
If the hind legs are unsupported, rabbits often kick forcefully to try to escape. This is when serious spinal injuries most commonly occur. 

Avoid loose holds. 
A rabbit who gains momentum during a struggle is much more likely to leap from your arms or injure themselves. 

Most rabbits show discomfort through body language long before they bite, so you may be able to avoid getting to that stage if you watch for the following signs of your rabbit becoming stressed: 

• Kicking or struggling 
• Rapid breathing 
• Flared nostrils 
• Freezing with a rigid body 
• Wide, bulging eyes or a visible third eyelid 
• Grunting 
• Thumping the back feet 
• In rare cases, a loud scream, which can show extreme fear or severe pain 

If you notice these signs, calmly end the handling session if it’s safe to do so. 

If your rabbit becomes extremely stressed or aggressive during handling, talk with your veterinarian before continuing to practice at home. They can show you safe restraint techniques and help find any painful medical conditions that could be contributing to the behavior. 

Many rabbits become easier to handle with patience and positive experiences.  

Try these strategies: 

• Let your rabbit come out of their carrier on their own before attempting to pick them up. 
• Handle your rabbit ​​​​on non-slip surfaces, such as a towel or rubber mat, to prevent slipping. 

• Hold your rabbit close to your body rather than away from you. 
• For nervous rabbits, gently tucking the head under your arm or lightly covering the eyes with your hand may help them feel more secure. 
• Reward calm behavior with a favorite treat after handling. 
• Practice short, positive handling sessions rather than waiting until you need to trim nails or give medication. 

Most rabbits don’t naturally enjoy being picked up. 

As prey animals, being lifted off the ground triggers instincts that tell them they’ve been captured by a predator. Even well-socialized rabbits often only tolerate handling rather than seeking it out. 

That said, many rabbits can learn to become much more comfortable with gentle, consistent handling. Many rabbits become more accepting of handling with frequent, brief, positive exposure. 

Instead of measuring success by whether your rabbit enjoys being carried, focus on helping them remain calm and confident during necessary handling. 

Sometimes, it’s safest to not pick your rabbit up unless necessary. 

Avoid lifting your rabbit if they: 

• Recently had surgery and pressure could affect the cut 
• Are having difficulty breathing 
• Are actively lunging, charging, or repeatedly thumping in fear 
• Are struggling so violently that handling creates a high risk of injury 

If your rabbit needs medical care but cannot be safely handled at home, contact your veterinarian for guidance. 

Current veterinary recommendations advise against this method for routine handling. Although veterinarians may occasionally use this position briefly during specific medical procedures when needed, it should not be used for bonding or routine handling at home. 

Kicking is your rabbit’s natural escape response. When rabbits can’t find solid ground beneath their feet, they instinctively kick harder to escape. Unfortunately, those powerful hind legs can twist the spine if the back end isn’t properly supported, which is why holding up the hindquarters is so important. 

For particularly nervous rabbits, a towel can make handling much safer. Place a large towel gently over your rabbit and wrap it snugly around the body, leaving the nose completely uncovered. The towel helps contain the limbs, limits sudden kicking, and often makes rabbits feel more secure during handling. If that doesn’t help, talk to your veterinarian.