According to this research, rabbits have 3 different types of sleep, namely, drowsy sleep, slow-wave sleep, and paradoxical sleep which is similar to REM sleep in humans.

For house rabbits, we’ve personally noticed that their sleeping patterns can take a bit of getting used to. I could not count how many nights I’ve been woken up by a rabbit thumping its feet loudly or two of them chasing each other around the house.

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Remember that rabbits have varying sleep needs. And may need more or less sleep depending on their age and health. As prey animals, rabbits are predisposed to being vigilant in most surroundings. By instinct, they know when a predator is close by.

Rabbits are not that much different from humans. Your average rabbit should be sleeping about 8-hours each and every day. Although, there is no real ‘set’ time that they will do this. Their nose stops twitching. Rabbits’ noses don’t usually twitch in their sleep. The more alert a rabbit is, the faster the nose will twitch. A sprawled-out bunny is a bunny that trusts you and feels safe and comfortable. They don’t have their limbs ready to jump up and run away. The Flopped Sleeping Position Partly it can depend on the weather. In cold conditions, rabbits are more likely to curl up into a ball when sleeping to keep warm. In hot weather, your bunny may stretch out as much as possible to keep cooler. Do rabbits like to sleep with other rabbits? A common misconception is that rabbits are nocturnal creatures. While you may find that your bunny is a bit more active during the evening hours, this is not always going to be the case.Changes in a rabbit’s sleep patterns can indicate stress, illness, or discomfort. Consult a vet if you notice drastic shifts. Is it okay to wake a sleeping rabbit? Slow breathing. If you can get close enough to your rabbit, you’ll notice that its breathing rate drops while asleep. Snoring: Many rabbits snore, though not all do. As they are sleeping, they might snore softly or rasp their ears. The upright position of your rabbit’s ears indicates that it is awake and aware. The ears of a sleeping rabbit are relaxed and rest against the skull.

Rabbits nap frequently during the day and night to make up for their quota. The longest I’ve seen a rabbit sleep (in one stint) is around 20 minutes. (This was a deep sleep with his eyes shut, and I’m going to assume he was dreaming because his legs were twitching). How Do You Know a Rabbit is Sleeping if His Eyes Are Open? Vocalizations: While some rabbits may make soft noises while they sleep, excessive vocalizations or unusual sounds could signal distress or pain. Some people have reported seeing their cute bunny sleeping with their eyes half open! When in fact it’s just that they have a third eyelid – a nictating membrane – that they can close. It appears to us as though their eyes are half open when they are, in fact, closed. When Do Rabbits Sleep? How Long Do Rabbits Sleep? Rabbits are crepuscular, meaning they are active at dawn and dusk. This is when rabbits eat, play, exercise, and generally have the most energy. But they also have short energy bursts in between sleeping periods.Because rabbits are not nocturnal (they are what is known as ‘ crepuscular‘) they are going to be most active during the latter part of the evening, and early in the morning. This means that rabbits will sleep during the rest of the day. Final Thoughts They will continue being active late into the evening, and will then nap for a few hours until dawn to repeat their day all over again. On average, they can sleep up to 11 hours a day. Also, rabbits have different temperature needs from humans. We like warmer temperatures, and use duvets or covers to keep up the temperature. Rabbits prefer cooler temperatures, and already have a coating of fur. What is ideal for you may simply be too hot for your rabbit. Lastly, fruits and other veggies (like carrots and cherries without stems and seeds) should be used as treats in moderation, and make up 10% of daily food intake, together with other veg.