Should I cover my rabbit’s cage at night? Rabbit care is a delicate yet rewarding process. As a pet parent, the most important things are to keep your bunnies happy and ensure they have a good sleep. Generally, rabbits are crepuscular. This means while you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep, your bunnies are wide awake, ready to play. So, you may find that they are restless all through the night. If you’re in this position, you may wonder, should I cover my rabbits’ cage at night?
The answer is yes. It’s okay to cover your rabbit’s cage at night. You can also protect their cage whether you leave the lights on or not.
It makes their home feel like a private territory. The covering will prevent them from being distracted by movements around your home. Moreover, it’s a lot easier to fall asleep when there’s nothing to do.
So, if you are a rabbit owner and you are considering covering your cage, keep reading. This article will give more insight on:
- Is it safe to cover my rabbit’s cage?
- Do rabbits like Blankets over their Cage?
- When should I protect my rabbit’s cage?
- Do rabbits like the dark?
- Do rabbits need Light at Night?
- Can I Leave my Rabbit in the Dark?
Is It Safe To Cover My Rabbits’ Cage?
This depends on how you cover your rabbit’s cage. The housing should have good ventilation and air. So if you cover all the vents or air spaces, you may end up harming your rabbits. When protecting your rabbit’s cage, you should wrap the sides and leave the top open.
This way, their ventilation will not be compromised, and they will stay healthy. Moreover, covering the sides will give them a limited view of what is happening outside their cage. This helps to keep them quiet at night.
Additionally, the material you use to cover your rabbit’s cage goes a long way in determining their safety. Bunnies like to pull and chew away anything that comes their way. So, you must be careful not to use materials that can be potentially toxic for them. Usually, a fleece blanket does an excellent job.
Do Rabbits Like Blankets Over Their Cage?
Usually, bunnies like to sleep or snuggle up in comfy blankets or beddings. They also like dark, poorly lit areas. By nature, these things make them feel safe and very comfortable. So, it will feel like an extra layer of protection if you cover your rabbit’s cage. And rabbits dig that!
How To Cover Your Rabbit’s Cage?
- Leave space for air.
Although you can use a blanket to cover your bunny’s hutch, you should protect it entirely. There will be no space for air if you do, and your rabbit will not breathe correctly.
So, you should leave room in some corners, preferably at the top. Make sure that space won’t undermine the purpose of covering them in the first place. If you are covering the cage because you want them to be quiet, you shouldn’t view distractions.
- Keep them comfortable
Before you cover your rabbits with a blanket, make sure they are comfortable. You should check if your bunny’s litter needs to be cleaned or if it needs water. Comfort is vital in determining whether you should cover your rabbit cage.
If they have suitable bedding and other essentials, they won’t be too restless or skittish. So, when you cover the cage, your pets will lay comfortably and hopefully fall asleep if you need them to.
- Take off the covering during the day.
Rabbits are playful creatures, and they love to have interactions with their environment. This includes you. It is best not to keep them locked away without any opportunity to bond or play with you.
So, if you’re awake or close by, remove the blanket. Your bunnies will be nervous every time they hear a strange noise without being able to see the cause.
You should leave the cage uncovered when they are not asleep. It will keep your pets aware of their surroundings and make them feel a lot more comfortable.
- Keep the temperature cool.
If the blanket is too thick, it may cause the cage to be too hot for your rabbit. You should ensure that the covering does not affect the temperature of the hutch.
On the other hand, if you intend to keep your outdoor bunnies warm with the blanket, make sure that it works well.
When Should I Cover My Rabbits’ Cage?
Unlike you, your bunnies cannot tell the hour or time of day. However, they recognize night and day, and that’s how they organize their sleep and play schedules.
If you raise your rabbits without regular exposure to light and darkness, their bodies will become confused. This means that they will not coordinate their bodies or differentiate between their active hours and sleep time.
Since rabbits are comfortable with sleeping under a cover, you should only cover their cages at night. You can also cover it when they are asleep during the day. They will come to identify that blanket as a signal for sleep, so you must be consistent.
You can also create a boundary between their sleep areas and the space they play in. This way, you can always keep their ‘bedrooms’ dim and cozy.
For outdoor rabbits, using an extra cover on their cages will keep them warm on cold nights. It will also shield them from predators while you are asleep.
Do Rabbits Like The Dark?
You may have noticed that your bunnies like to hide away in dark corners. That’s right, it’s intentional. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they are scared or nervous.
In fact, rabbits like dark, cool places. It makes them feel safe and protected.
So, the answer is yes. Rabbits like the dark. This doesn’t mean that you should only keep them in covered places. They need a balanced exposure to sunlight and darkness to thrive. As you raise your rabbit, you’ll learn what it likes and the most comfortable spots.
Can Rabbits Sleep in The Dark?
Since they often stay up at night, rabbits end up sleeping through the day. They frequently stir in the evening and begin complete activities at dusk. So, their bodies are accustomed to sleeping when there’s light, especially in the afternoons.
So, it’s normal to wonder if they will sleep if you cover their cages.
Yes, they can!
All your bunny needs is a warm and cozy atmosphere, and dimly lit hutches often do the trick. Moreover, your rabbit is less likely to play if it feels exhausted. It is not unusual to fall asleep in comfortable places, and rabbits are comfortable in the dark.
That’s why it’s okay to cover your rabbit’s cage at night. Just make sure you only do that when you want them to feel comfortable or at night. This way, their bodies won’t get confused about the time of day.
Do rabbits need Light at Night?
Naturally, rabbits are active in the evening and early hours of the morning till mid-morning. So, their eyes are adjusted to carrying out activities with very little light. Therefore they can cope quite nicely without you putting out light for them. After all, they cope in the wild.
Some nights, however, you’ll need to leave lights out for your rabbits in the night.
- For guidance
If you allow your rabbits to roam around your home at night, you can leave a little light on. This will guide them as they navigate your home and reduce their skittishness.
The reason for this is that rabbits are sensitive. If they hear sudden movements from you or other pets in the house, they may become anxious and noisy. All they need is a dim light to identify strange sounds while going about their business.
- For safety
Rabbits cannot see in complete darkness. They need a measure of light to be aware of their surroundings. This is why you may indulge your rabbit with a bit of night light, especially if you keep them outdoors.
Often, they can sense movements and even smell other animals or people. If there is total darkness, they will be unable to figure out what it is, making them agitated. In such instances, they will become restless and make noises.
So, it’s vital to help your rabbit feel as safe and secure as possible.
Can I Leave my Rabbit in the Dark?
No matter how long you have raised rabbits, you must not forget that they are different from you. Therefore, they can survive under certain particular circumstances. In this case, rabbits don’t have a problem with darkness.
Unlike you, their bodies become accustomed to it since they are crepuscular by nature. So, the answer is yes. You can leave your rabbit in the dark. That’s why it’s also safe to wonder if you should cover your rabbit’s cage at night.
In fact, bunnies need a good balance of natural light and darkness to thrive. So, you shouldn’t worry about them being terrified of the dark. It’s healthy for them.
So, if you’ve been asking “should I cover my rabbit’s cage at night?” You’ve got the answers you’ve been seeking. We hope the tips in this article will help you in taking good care of your rabbit so that they can live a comfortable life.