Flemish Giant Rabbit Named Winnie Celebrates Seeing Her Mom with Happy Binkies

While it's common knowledge that cats and dogs show excitement when their favorite people come around, rabbits can be just as expressive. A recent TikTok video highlights this through Winnie, a Flemish giant rabbit who is clearly very attached to her mother.

In the clip, Winnie's mom calls out to her from an upper floor, and the rabbit makes her way up the stairs with ease. Upon reaching her mom, she immediately launches into a series of binkies, a clear sign of her delight. After the initial greeting, she picks up a ball and begins to play with it, much like a cat or dog would.

The video was so enjoyable that I watched it multiple times, particularly because of Winnie's binkies. It reminded me of my own mini rabbit, Jack, who is very fond of my daughter. Whenever he sees her, he performs binkies around her feet.

Understanding Binkies

In the video's caption, Winnie's mom explained more about this behavior: "I often get asked if Winnie 'binkies'. The answer is yes, but she doesn't get much airtime compared to smaller rabbits LOL! A binky is when they jump in the air and twist their body. It's an expression of emotion in rabbits – usually excitement or happiness."

A binky involves a rabbit leaping upward, twisting its head and body, and kicking its hind legs out. It's essentially a whole-body display of joy and ranks among the most amusing sights you could witness.

You can think of binkies as the rabbit equivalent of zoomies—those sudden bursts of excitement seen in cats and dogs. Another term you might come across is "popcorning," which is done by both guinea pigs and rabbits. This consists of rapid, small jumps and mid-air twists, similar to an advanced form of zoomies, and it's incredibly endearing.

When you hear "zoomies," dogs running around in excitement might come to mind first. However, this behavior isn't limited to them. I've watched videos of horses, pigs, goats, and cows experiencing zoomies. It was a surprise to find out that squirrels do it as well, which is utterly charming.