Thumping the back foot is a natural reaction among rabbits to danger that they have smelt, heard or seen.
Rabbits may perceive ‘danger’ from many different novel things: it could be a wood fire in the home, a lit cigarette, rapid or unpredictable movement, the shadow of a bird flying by, or a cat walking past. A rabbit who is exhibiting continual thumping can die from extreme stress and should be removed from the perceived ‘danger’ immediately, and reassured and comforted.
​Some rabbits may also display thumping as a show of disapproval. This may relate to different situations which can be identified by observing the circumstances where this behaviour is displayed. There is no need to stop rabbits thumping unless it becomes excessive and then modifying the environment is the best approach. Never punish a rabbit for undesirable behaviour.