Where do Rabbits Sleep? – Bunny Beds

We already have an article on rabbit furniture, but beds are important enough to deserve extra attention. There are many options out there and the right one depends on each rabbit and its living arrangements. Whether a rabbit is free range like ours or in an enclosure, a bed plus hidey house will make your bun feel safe, comfortable, and at home.

If you have chosen a bed for your rabbit and it’s not met with the expected enthusiasm, try placing it somewhere else after a few days. Sometimes it’s not the new bed that offends, it’s the location.



Bunny Beds
Plush/Fabric Beds: These beds are soft, cuddly, and available in various sizes, shapes, and designs. Most pet stores offer them, if only in the cat/dog isles. They can usually be washed or feature a removable, washable cover. While some rabbits may like them, the very plush beds are generally too soft and bunnies may pee instead of nap on them. We recommend trying the flatter ones first.

Towels/Blankets/Rugs: A cheap, washable alternative to beds are 100% cotton towels, rugs, or fleece blankets. Both can be rearranged with a little bit of digging (you know those humans never lay them out right) and they provide a soft, cuddly spot without creating an unstable plush surface a rabbit can’t properly stand on. Towels can be washed at high temperatures and replaced if necessary without breaking the bank. Ikea’s Signe rugs are washable and 100% cotton as well. Fleece fabric or blankets are great, because they don’t fray and can simply be cut to the desired size – no sewing necessary. Look for anti-pill fleece – it is usually higher quality and will last longer without pilling.

Ikea Duktig BedWooden Beds: By now we’ve all seen adorable photos of rabbits sleeping in doll beds. Especially Ikea’s version is very popular among pet owners, but there are many others. If you have an old American Doll or Melissa & Doug bed around the house, it’ll do the trick. Most of these are not soft enough to be mistaken for litter boxes, so that’s a definite plus!

BasketsBaskets: If your rabbit doesn’t chew or pee on furniture, then a basket may be a great option. There are willow/wicker, sea grass, or even plastic ones. Some are oval, some have a top, some a little entrance. Either way, it’s a good idea to go with one meant for pets rather than decoration. Pet furniture will most likely be untreated or coated with a water-based finish only (when in doubt, always ask). Try placing a towel or fleece blanket in the basket for extra comfort. They often come with synthetic ones and at least our bunnies don’t like those kinds of cushions.

Grass Mats/Beds: Some pet stores have them and we do, too! Grass mats are a popular item, because they are somewhat soft, edible, and many rabbits love them! Not just to sleep on, but to tear apart slowly in between naps. Bunny loved his grass mat until his single days were over. Then we had to throw it out, because Bailey preferred to use it as a toilet… Interestingly, she didn’t do that with the grass bed. It’s been sitting in the living room for months now and doubles as a hay rack.

Rabbit Hammock

Image found here.

Hammocks: While neither one of our bunnies would ever willingly hop onto a moving surface, some rabbits enjoy the comforts of a hammock. There are different versions out there, but we like the one that looks like a mini side table with a hammock underneath. That way the rabbit can sit on top of the frame, too! The hammock itself can easily be sewn by hand or purchased from various sellers on etsy. Most hammocks use a simple metal hook on each end to securely fasten it to the frame. The grass mat we have in the shop also comes with 4 strings for this exact purpose, although it would only be big enough for small rabbit breeds.

Pee Pads: Our bunnies love to sleep behind the couch, so we placed a washable pee pad on the floor for added protection. Bailey rarely has accidents, but they do occur, so the pads protect the carpet and double as a comfortable sleeping spot.

Ugli Donut

Ugli Donut from The Hare Apparent

Alternative Ideas: We found several unique rabbit beds on etsy and our favorite is the Ugli Donut by The Hare Apparent. We haven’t tried it yet (!), but it looks comfortable, solves the pee-problem, and seems to meet a rabbit’s needs. Plus, the proceeds go to a rabbit sanctuary! They also have fun beds for single and/or disabled rabbits and ship to the US as well.

Other beds on etsy included an up-cycled jean jacket, various pillows, blankets, and hammocks, as well as the MiniBun, a pet bed for small dogs, cats, or rabbits.


If all else fails, there is always the litter box to sleep in or the human’s bed! Where do your rabbits like to sleep?

Nap

Author: Bunny Approved

4 Comments

  1. ray
    ray On June 20, 2015 at 11:59 am

    How do you litter train an unspayed bunny?

    • Bunny Approved
      Bunny Approved On June 20, 2015 at 2:43 pm

      You can try to do it in the same way as you would a spayed/neutered rabbit, but it might be more difficult and in some cases impossible. Unfixed bunnies have a greater tendency to mark their territory. For her own happiness and health, consider getting her spayed (at a proper age, of course). If you want to attempt it now, you might have to try several methods before you find one that works for your bunny. They are all so different! Here is an article that mentions methods that we tried with our Bunny and what eventually worked: https://bunnyapproved.com/training-bunny/

  2. Mara
    Mara On August 14, 2015 at 5:05 pm

    Thanks so much for this article! It was very helpful. I’m looking into beds for my bunny, and I was wondering what Bunny’s and Bailey’s favorite beds are. Do they sleep together?

    • Bunny Approved
      Bunny Approved On August 14, 2015 at 5:22 pm

      Glad you like it! Our bunnies have several sleeping spots and their favorite one changes. Right now they love their new fleece blanket and their Ikea Signe rug, but Bailey sometimes pees on them, too, so they get washed often. I honestly don’t know what they do at night… They start off together and when we get up they are also cuddling, but who knows what happens in between!? :) They don’t stay together during their afternoon naps. Each bun has a favorite sleeping spot for that time. Bunny used to sleep on the Ikea bed all the time, but lately he hasn’t used it as much.

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