An unhappy or a frightened rabbit will make his feelings known, often by kicking or biting his cage or pen bars. The rattling of bars in the middle of the night may develop into a habitual problem if not properly addressed. You can keep your rabbit happy and ensure your uninterrupted sleep with several simple tactics.
Respond to Your Rabbit's Thumps
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Your rabbit will communicate with you by thumping his back legs. He may be warning you of danger or telling you he is unhappy or afraid. A rabbit can die from fear so calm your bunny immediately when he begins thumping.
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- Check for any signs of danger and remove the danger if you can.
- Pick your rabbit up gently, petting and softly talking to him.
- Wait until your rabbit calms down to put him back in his cage or pen.
While having your sleep interrupted may be frustrating, do not hit your rabbit. A rabbit will not understand why he is being hit and may become withdrawn or aggressive as a result.
Allow Sufficient Daily Exercise
A bored rabbit is more likely to become destructive -- chewing carpet, digging at furniture and kicking cage bars at night -- than a well-socialized, active rabbit. Your rabbit needs a minimum of four hours of exercise time each day if he isn't free range. Allow your rabbit free run time before bedtime so he can burn off energy and be better able to relax throughout the night.
Provide Plenty of Socialization
Naturally social animals, rabbits love attention. Providing your rabbit with time out of his enclosure will allow him to mingle with family members and to explore his surroundings. If your rabbit spends a majority of the day alone, consider adopting a friend for him. Bonded rabbits keep each other company, especially when the human family is not home.