Are Lionhead Rabbits Nocturnal or Diurnal?

Many new lionhead owners who see their furry pets sleeping a lot during daytime and exploring around at early dusk find themselves asking the same question: are lionhead rabbits nocturnal or diurnal? Well, the answer is actually somewhere in between.

Lionhead rabbits, as all other rabbits, are crepuscular. That means that they are sleeping most of the nighttime but also several hours during daytime, with the exception of being most active during dusks and dawns.

The answer for such behavior lies in them being natural prays to most predators, which are usually either nocturnal or diurnal animals. Dusks and dawns are, therefore, the ideal times to avoid such predators, being too bright for nocturnal animals but also too dark for diurnal ones.

Some rabbits may change such behavioral patterns when held as pets, but it usually depends entirely on how safe they feel around their humans.

Do Lionhead Rabbits Wake Up at Night?

Lionhead rabbits sleep in phases, mostly during the darkest hours of nighttime and the lightest hours of daytime. This means that you can often see them walking around during the remaining hours of the night. Also, they are extremely light sleepers, so hearing two cats fighting in the neighborhood can be just enough to wake them up and stay alert.

If you are considering sleeping with your rabbit, embrace yourself for frequent wake-up calls during the first days. Just when you are in your deepest dreams, your bunny may decide it is now time for play. That is why many owners prefer to letting their pets sleep in a separate room.

Can Lionhead Rabbits See in the Dark?

They can see in the dark, but only partially. This means that lionhead rabbits do not see in pitch darkness, but they see simply fine under dim lights, similar to those occurring during dusk and dawn. Their night vision is surely much better than ours.

Some owners like leaving a smaller dim light on during nighttime, to ensure that their rabbits can move around the house much easier.

However, this is not essential, as nobody leaves a light for them in the wild anyway. They are absolutely used to several hours of complete darkness and it certainly feels more natural.

How Many Hours do Lionhead Rabbits Sleep?

Lionhead rabbits generally sleep around a total of 8 hours each day. However, they do not tend to sleep for several hours in a row, but rather take often naps and brief sleeping sessions. Adult lionheads which feel extremely safe in their environment can sleep up to 12 hours a day.

They mostly enjoy sleeping during the darkest hours of nighttime as well as the brightest daily hours.

If you keep your pet rabbit into a room with windows, which is highly suggested, you can probably often see it laying under the rays of sun during afternoons and appreciating a good nap time.

How do Lionhead Rabbits Usually Sleep?

Mostly, your lionhead rabbit will choose one of the three most common sleeping positions: loaf, sprawl, and flop. Also, their noses will stop wiggling once they fall asleep, or slow down at least.

Another good way to tell if your rabbit is sleeping is to watch for ears. Ears need to be completely relaxed and not moving to follow the sounds across the room. On top of that, rabbits can dream and snore, too.

Returning to sleeping positions, it is good to know that they mostly choose those depending on how safe they feel at that very moment. The loaf, which indicates a rabbit hunkered down with paws tucked in below the body is the best position which keeps them ready-to-react all the time.

Sprawling means that they do not tuck their legs under but rather spread them wide at the front and back. When a rabbit sprawls, especially beside their owners, they are probably being quite comfortable and do not tend to be attentive all the time.

Finally, a flop sleeping position means that your rabbit pet feels super-safe around you. Such position is not really frequent, so seeing your rabbit to flop on one side and fall asleep should be taken as a nice compliment.

Do Lionhead Rabbits Sleep with Open Eyes?

Depending on how safe they feel around their home environment, lionhead rabbits can sleep either with closed or open eyes.

Open eyes are an indication that they are probably not into a deep sleep, but rather taking a lighter nap. Also, they are being fully attentive, and their brains will receive a quick warning once predators (or humans) approach.

Rabbits can keep their eyes open while sleeping because of the special, third eyelid they own. This comes in a form of a thin membrane and it keeps their eyes moist and clean from dust even when they keep them open for several hours.

When sleeping with open eyes, their light receptors are fully functioning, allowing a super-quick reaction when needed.

Can Lionhead Bunnies Sleep in Light?

Lionhead bunnies have no issues with sleeping under natural sunlight, as well as during pitch-black hours of the night. Just as adult rabbits, bunnies enjoy having sleeping sessions in the sunlight. It is highly recommendable to open a window each day so they can absorb their daily portion of vitamin D.

Leaving a light on during nighttime is probably not the best idea. Some owners like doing that, as this brings to their pets being more active, but nighttime is as completely natural and normal to them as daylight is. Keeping the natural source of light is always the best solution.

Wrapping Up

Lionhead rabbits are exceptional little pets. Neither nocturnal nor diurnal, these furry animals like to keep everything in between. And in moderation.

They enjoy sleeping hours under the sun as well as during the darkest times of the night, while their sleeping positions and habits will vary mostly on how safe they feel around their humans.

If you notice your rabbit sleeping beside you in a flop position and with eyes completely closed, you are surely doing an amazing job so far.