How rabbits sleep: how much and how often, features of sleep

Sleeping rabbits has features that often surprise new owners. At first it may seem that the animal is always awake. Do not worry and find out if new pets are sleeping at home.

Features of rabbits sleep

In the natural environment, these animals are very careful, because they must be wary of various predators. The animal’s eyes are wide apart, which is why maximum space enters the field of vision, and the danger is immediately noticeable.

Did you know? The rabbit sees well around, but objects right in front of the face do not fall into his field of vision. The sensitivity of vision and hearing makes the pet’s sleep disturbing, intermittent and sensitive to the slightest noise. Whether rabbits can sleep with their eyes open or not depends on the degree of relaxation and confidence in the environment. A guarded animal will not close its eyes for the possibility of a quick flight. In a dream, the eyes may be slightly squinted.

How to fall asleep?

In a new place, the animal will be alarmed and for sleep will choose the moment when it is left alone. It is necessary to provide the pet with peace and a secluded place.

Important! Choose the quietest place in the house for the cage and equip a closed corner there so that the pet feels completely safe. After a period of addiction, the animal will fall asleep in various poses:

  • lying down;
  • half sitting
  • on the back, including raising its paws;
  • burying one’s nose at something.
Having found your pet sleeping for a long time with your eyes closed, be sure that he is used to the new house.

How much and how often do they sleep per day?

The average sleep rate is 9 hours. Young individuals are awake more actively, and with age the animal walks less and less. An increase in the duration of a sleeping state may indicate a probable pet disease.

We recommend that you learn how to cut a rabbit's claws at home.

At first, the rabbits sleep often and intermittently, but after getting used to the owner, they can fall asleep for a long time.

When do you go to bed?

This type of mammal is characterized by daytime sleep. In nature, they go out to feed with the onset of the evening, when the risk of being caught is reduced. They are also active at dawn. Domestic individuals have been observed to sleep at a time when the house is empty.

Can a rabbit sleep in the same bed as a human?

At night, the rabbit will feel better in the cage. If the pet is in the same bed with the person, it can be accidentally crushed. The peculiarity of this species is uncontrolled defecation and the possible eating of feces, which is hardly suitable for keeping it in bed. Some breeds hardly jump from a height (for example, lop-eared), which can also harm the animal when sleeping together.

Read about rabbit life expectancy.

What to do if the rabbit does not sleep at night?

Most likely, your pet will not observe the regime of silence, since he is a night beast. Noise at night is a common occurrence for the life of a pet, it can nibble and rustle the contents of the cell. Unfortunately, this will be a problem for people with sensitive sleep.

To reduce noise, you can cover the cage with a dense blanket from above or hang it so that it sways a little when moving. In no case should you knock on the bars of a cage or shout at an animal, this will only exacerbate the problem.

Thus, before you start a new pet, you need to consider the behavior and sleep patterns of decorative rabbits. Knowing the nature of the animal, which leads mainly a nocturnal lifestyle, you must first decide whether you can put up with the noise at night.

Video: How rabbits sleep

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