Rabbits are very active creatures and need a lot of sleep to help them stay active. On average, rabbits sleep for around 8 hours each day. This sleep is usually divided into shorter periods throughout the day and night.
Rabbits are known to be active creatures, but they also need their beauty sleep. This leads to the question of how much sleep rabbits need each day.
As a rabbit owner, you want to make sure your furry friend is getting enough rest. The last thing you want is a sleep-deprived bunny!
Let’s look at how much sleep rabbits need and how you can create a comfortable environment for them to slumber in.
What You'll Learn
Rabbits Sleep 6-12 Hours, But Not Always at Night
On average, a rabbit will sleep 8.4 hours daily, but this sleep doesn’t happen just at night.
Rabbits Are Crepuscular
Many people believe rabbits are nocturnal because they seem active at certain times of the night. However, rabbits are crepuscular animals, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk.
Rabbit Sleep Schedule
Rabbits typically sleep in shorter periods during the day and longer periods at night. This means they will take several naps throughout the day and then have a longer stretch of sleep at night, but they don’t sleep a full 8 hours at night. This explains why you may hear your rabbit moving around in the middle of the night. If a rabbit falls asleep at 11pm, it may wake up at 2-3am and stay active the rest of the night.
Rabbits Take Several Naps Throughout The Day
Rabbits will get about half their sleep at night but take several naps throughout the day. These naps usually last between 15 minutes to an hour. Adding up the total nap time plus the time asleep at night will equal about 8 hours.
Rabbits Wake Up A LOT
Although 6-12 hours might sound like a lot of sleep, it doesn’t all happen at once. Rabbits are always on alert and their sleep cycles are shorter than ours. Due to this, they often wake up several times throughout the night and day.
One reason is that rabbits are always on alert and must be ready to run away at a moment’s notice if they feel threatened. The safer a rabbit feels, the longer it will sleep.
Sleep Phases of a Rabbit
Now that you know how long rabbits sleep each night, let’s go over the sleep phases of a rabbit.
Deep Sleep
This is when a rabbit’s body can relax and heal. It lasts about ⅔ of the night and is the most important sleep phase for rabbits.
Light and Paradoxical Sleep
This is when a rabbit’s body is still active, but its mind is at rest. It usually lasts ⅓ of the night.
How to Make Sure Your Rabbit Gets Enough Sleep
Now that you know how much sleep rabbits need, you can make sure your furry friend is getting enough rest.
Provide Them With a Comfortable Space
First, you’ll want to provide them with a comfortable place to sleep. This can be a soft bed or a pile of blankets in their enclosure.
You’ll also want to make sure their sleep space is in a quiet area away from any loud noises or bright lights.
Give Them Some Privacy
Although rabbits are social creatures, they still enjoy having their own space. Ensure their enclosure has a hiding spot where they can sleep without being disturbed.
You can also provide them with a cardboard box or tunnel to sleep in.
Make Sure They Get Plenty of Exercise
Rabbits need to run and play every day to stay healthy. This will also help them sleep better at night.
Provide them with a large enclosure or play area where they can run around. You can also provide them with toys and chew toys to keep them entertained.
It’s All About Safety
Rabbits need about 8 hours of sleep each night, but this doesn’t happen all at once. They usually take several naps throughout the day and then have a longer stretch of sleep at night.
You can make sure your rabbit is getting enough sleep by providing them with a comfortable space to sleep, plenty of exercise, and some privacy. The safer a rabbit feels, the more quality sleep it will get.
