Molting, or shedding an animal’s fur (or skin, depending on what species we are referencing), allows them to prepare for seasonal changes to enable them to either grow or deal with excessive heat. Given this information, you might be wondering if your rabbit molts. If so, why do they do it, and what are the signs?

Rabbits most definitely molt and itch themselves to help expedite the process. Some tell-tale signs could be loose fur, scratching, or chewing.

While your rabbit is itching, you may notice them exhibiting different behaviors, indulging in odd tactics to get their itchy spots satiated, or even gnawing at themselves. In most cases, the above will end with the same result: a shiny new coat and a happier rabbit.

Throughout the process, your rabbit may have slight mood changes, be less inclined to spend time with you, or even do its best to avoid you entirely throughout. Nevertheless, rest assured, everything will return to how things originally started once their fur situation is sorted, but there are a few things you’ll want to keep an eye on for both your rabbit’s safety and your own.

This article helps you understand why rabbits molt, their symptoms, and how you can care for them while they go through this stage. To learn more, we encourage you to continue reading.

 

What Is Molting in Rabbits?

 

Molting in rabbits is defined as the periodic process that rabbits go through (usually twice a year), where they slowly but surely lose their old coat and replace it with a new one.

They typically only show a deviation from this method when they are very young, starting at five months old, and eventually grow into their adult coat, starting the entirety of the growth cycle to its fullest.

If you are a new pet owner, the situation can be a bit overwhelming, be it differences in behavior or the constant cleaning required to keep your rabbit’s enclosure clean. However, it’s worth noting that this is a temporary lifestyle change and not something you must deal with every few weeks.

As we touched base briefly, when rabbits are molting, they may attempt to scratch themselves in various ways, whether chewing, biting, pushing against their surroundings, or even more bizarre behavior. While doing this, they can brush against sharp edges and corners and unintentionally injure themselves, causing wounds that may become hidden and infected.

To guarantee your rabbit’s safety and happiness, help ease the process by aiding in routine grooming, combing, petting, or minor inspections. These extra steps help your rabbit and give you peace of mind in the long run.

 

Why Do Rabbits Molt?

 

Rabbits molt either because they are growing initially or to deal with temperature changes. This fascinating process involves the rabbit automatically making its fur thicker and more robust to more comfortably endure harsh winters or lighter and more sparse to keep it cool throughout the summer.

Different species of rabbit may experience faster or slower molting, with the amount of fluff and dander growing depending on how large your rabbit is and how dense the fur is on that particular species. Do some research to better familiarize yourself with what you are dealing with, as it may affect the cleaning process afterward and during.

Beyond traditional reasoning, rabbits may also molt for many different reasons. Basic things like damage to the fur or minor scrapes can cause them to have isolated molting, but being in a constant state of stress may also be a contributing factor. Other things like vying for the alpha male position or underlying health issues can be the cause.

Suppose you suspect your rabbit is shedding for reasons that aren’t part of its natural growth process or environmental changes. In that case, you may want to consult a veterinarian to ensure your fluffy friend is in good health and that its dietary and emotional standing are balanced.

 

What Are the Signs of Rabbit Molting?

 

One of the most obvious signs that your rabbit is molting or about to begin molting is patchy or extremely loose fur, most notably because these are visual signs that can be observed from a distance.

Other more subtle behaviors include the chewing mentioned earlier, accompanied by odd movements, constant scratching, or thrusting itself against the walls of its enclosure or other decorative pieces.

If you have free-range rabbits or allow them to roam your home, molting periods can be even more disruptive to you, your rabbit, and everyone in your household. The rabbit’s fur can probably be found dotted throughout your house, giving rise to constant cleaning sprees or random piles of fluff.

While your rabbit is molting, you may be inclined to try your best to keep up with every patch of fur you see, but you would be much better off setting aside time to groom your pet to get ahead of the problem before it begins.

 

Do Rabbits Itch When Molting?

 

It makes sense that rabbits indeed itch when molting, given that their fur is coming out of their skin. Any slight irritation we endure can make us itch. So, yes, rabbits do itch while molting. They are doing minor scratching and biting due to their outermost layer of skin replacing itself, which makes complete sense.

Luckily, your rabbit can reach all its itchy spots because you have nimble fingers and the tools necessary to guarantee they don’t need to resort to outlandish or potentially dangerous behavior to get some relief from that hard-to-reach spot.

Purchasing a rabbit grooming kit will let you aid the process as best you can, but it’s imperative not to do this too often. While the act can grant some relief, it can ultimately prove stressful for the rabbit. Some smaller and more regular grooming sessions may be the way to go, depending on how your rabbit responds.

 

How Should You Care for Your Rabbit While They Molt?

 

Knowing that your fluffy friend will be temporarily losing its fur (and potentially its mind) while it changes gears into a lifestyle more apt to deal with different temperatures, you may find yourself feeling bad or wondering what you could do to help your pet. Rest assured, some quick fixes can make everything go a little faster or, at the very least, smoother.

1. Groom Them

 

Grooming has several benefits for helping your rabbit’s molting journey go faster. The first and most obvious benefit is getting the excess fur off quickly.

Doing so grants your rabbit some immediate relief as the base causes of their itching are alleviated in certain spots immediately. The second boon comes in them, knowing you are sympathetic to their situation and will be there to help them.

The grooming process is more than simply brushing your rabbit’s fur. You will typically want to get your rabbit used to the process itself.

However, you will have to learn your rabbit’s fur growth patterns and maybe watch a few videos on proper technique and handling to give your rabbit the best experience possible. 

Keep in mind that this is a difficult time for your rabbit. Despite their dire need for physical contact (especially brushing away the literal mountains of fur), they will probably be a little annoyed about the entire situation and a bit grumpier than usual. This can also be accompanied by an upset stomach, so be patient with them.

2. Provide Plenty of Exercises

 

Constantly stroking and grooming your rabbit can be good on a surface level, assuming your rabbit wants it, of course. However, there are other alternatives you can supplement the brushing with that will yield similar results, perhaps not as effectively, but they will suffice as an alternative method, especially if your rabbit isn’t too keen on how regularly you want to brush it.

Increased levels of activity will not only improve your rabbit’s mood, but the dynamic movements themselves may cause large tufts of their loose fur to become dislodged, allowing them to indulge in these activities with more vigor and providing some welcome stress relief.

Encouraging this behavior can be as easy as keeping their cages clean or dotting the area with some of their favorite toys and objects, potentially even swapping them out so they are more inclined to play with the newer, less-used ones.

 

3. Keep Their Homes Clean

 

As noted before, keeping your rabbit’s home clean will do both it and you a world of good. A rabbit’s stomach issues throughout a molting season can come from a wide variety of things, but ingesting its own hair is one of the leading issues.

Being an animal, you might think that this is commonplace and should be fine, but this couldn’t be further from the truth, as the constant intake of fur and dander can easily complicate your rabbit’s breathing or interrupt their digestive tract, leading to a slew of different problems in the long run.

The final reason you’d want to keep their homes clean is that it’s good for them and also makes things better for you in the long run. Cleaning up fur patches that have become matted with waste or other products can become increasingly disgusting over time, so sparing your stomach and hands some misery can be a very welcomed change of pace, especially for germaphobes.

4. Give Them Lots of Hydration

 

Keeping in step with fur ingestion, we come to one of the most pivotal choices you can make throughout the molting season, and that is keeping your rabbit extremely hydrated. Now, on the surface, this might seem like an odd thing to do, as drinking water might be seen as something that could aid the skin itself, but the true reason is much more simplistic.

The constant intake of water will allow your rabbit to easily rinse both its mouth and body out from the fur it regularly eats while it bites and scratches or, more commonly, just goes about its daily life.

While it may have them going to the bathroom more often, it’s a welcome change of pace from what could only be viewed as constantly having hair in your mouth without a welcome solution on hand.

 

What Is Abnormal Rabbit Shedding?

 

Abnormal rabbit shedding is molting that results from factors other than seasonal changes or temperature differences, such as stressful environments, damage to the skin, or poor reactions to something they’ve recently eaten or been directly exposed to.

If your rabbits are near one another, you could also be dealing with battle wounds. They might have gotten into a fight, and several patches of fur became dislodged in the fight, which can also accompany some particularly nasty scratches.

If your rabbit is shedding for an unknown reason, give it the once-over to the best of your ability to try and discern the reasoning. If it is something that isn’t obvious or you notice wounds, lesions, or other concerning-looking wounds, it’s better to take the safe route and get your pet to a vet to deduce the cause and find a solution quickly rather than letting the issue potentially get worse.

 

Do Rabbits Act Differently When Shedding?

 

Yes, rabbits act quite differently when shedding. Multiple rabbits have been observed exhibiting behavioral changes, mood swings, a disdain for being touched, and general annoyance during a molt.

When your rabbit is going through these changes, it’s easy to feel like you are walking on eggshells with them. You may not feel as if you should be engaging with them as much or as affectionately as you would regularly, and this is perfectly fine, as you are respecting your rabbit’s wishes and knowing that they are going through a tough time.

When your rabbit’s limits for interaction have been reached, anything from potentially trying to scratch you to minor biting can be commonplace. So take some time to carefully observe how your rabbit is acting both in normal play and when you are grooming/petting it to keep both you and your pet safe.

 

Do Rabbits Get Bald Spots When Molting?

 

Yes, bald spots can and will occur while molting, but you shouldn’t fret about them. They will grow back normally and won’t make your rabbit look scruffy in the long run, which is probably welcome news to any first-time rabbit owners.

Bear in mind, however, that when your rabbit is shedding, it is entirely possible for them to knick themselves on things, as noted above. These wounds can cause the fur to grow back more slowly in these spots, so if you feel as if something is out of line in certain areas, this could be the cause.

 

Do Rabbits Drink More When Molting?

 

Yes, rabbits drink more water, more often, while they are molting. The primary reason for this is a desperate attempt to cleanse their palate and body, as the constant onslaught of fur in their mouth has led them to drink more water as an answer to the problem.

Traditionally speaking, this isn’t a big deal, aside from you needing to do more regular upkeep on water, and won’t be something you need to worry about too much. Just keep an eye out to make sure they have water when they need it, and everything should turn out perfectly fine. The only time a problem can occur is if they don’t have access to it.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Being there for your rabbit or animals in general in their times of need is something almost every pet owner has to go through, and molting is just another one of the processes that you’ll both have to endure together.

Thankfully, your pet has you to rely on to make this situation easier to deal with. Now, you are more equipped than ever to be vigilant and know what to do in most situations.