We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Regardless of the type of sleep a rabbit uses, rabbits need to take naps every day to stay healthy, happy, and safe. It’s important to look at your rabbit’s nose and ears to check if they are already dreaming of yummy carrots. They’re naturally on alert a lot of the time, so if they’re relaxed in your presence it’s quite the honor. Since they’re prey animals, rabbits have evolved to have very specific sleeping habits to keep them safe.

It would also allow them to hide in their burrows during the warmer hours of day and the colder hours of the night. The rabbits were in a light sleep – what the scientists termed drowsy – about a quarter of the time. As we stated earlier, rabbits that are comfortably sleeping aren’t worried about predators, which means that you’re providing a stable, safe environment for your furry pet. The rabbits mouth will start to twitch and they will grind their teeth a little, almost like they are trying to eat something yummy.It’s “safer” for wild rabbits to forage for food, burrow, and socialize when it’s dawn and twilight.

At this point, it’s important to note that rabbits are obligate nasal breathers (they only breathe through their nose), therefore, the sound can also indicate an obstruction, dental issues, or respiratory issues (including infections). com is an independent rabbit advice site which aims to provide rabbit owners and enthusiasts with information regarding rabbit care. A rabbit that sleeps with its eyes open is more sensitive to changes in movement and light – even if they are asleep. The way a rabbit sleeps will depend heavily on how comfortable it is in the environment it’s sleeping in.Switch off all the lights before bedtime and ensure that no light enters your bunny’s sleeping area. When reading our posts please remember that every rabbit is different and as such we cannot comment on personal experiences.

Rabbits always need to be on alert for danger and predators, so they've evolved to do that even when they sleep. Rabbits that sleep with their eyes open look awake and ready to run, which wouldn’t really deter a hungry predator, but it does make it easier for light to reach the rabbit’s eyes as soon as the predator makes a move.

I’ve looked after everything from gerbils to guinea pigs, rabbits to hamsters, and fish to dogs of all shapes and sizes. During the REM phase, there is fast EEG activity in the motor cortex, with rapid eye movements and phasic activity of the facial and limb musculature. These fascinating animals have a clear third eyelid (the nictitating membrane) that does all the blinking to prevent the eyes from going dry and closes when the rabbit is sleeping. And, even worse, there’s nothing we can really do as pet parents except make their sleeping space as calm and soothing as possible.