Anyone else’s bunny do this?

[Cloversmom]

Still being so new to the bunny world I’m just curious if anyone else’s bunny does something similar to this. My sweet little bun has started jumping up on the couch I sleep on and demande pet/cuddle time when I first lay down to sleep and then again first thing in the morning when I wake up. She’s been doing this every day for about a week. Literally melts my heart every time and I love our cuddle time. But now the past two nights she has started waking me up in the middle of the night demanding pets haha. So the first night she did it she did it twice. She woke me up around 3:00 in the morning by nibbling on my scalp and when she could tell I woke up she assumed her petting posistion haha. And as I was petting her I started dozing off so the petting stopped and she turns around and nibbles my scalp again until I wake up again to keep petting her. And she literally did this for like an hour haha. So then finally I leaned my head against her as like a cuddle and that satisfied her and she let me fall asleep cuddled against her. About two hours later I feel two little paws and my head and two little teeth on my scalp and it started all over again haha. Then last night she did the exact same thing but she did it like 4 times. Its hard because I am waking up tired haha but ultimately I love this little bunny and her big heart so much that it really just melts my heart even though it’ll be 3 in the morning and I’ll be drowsy haha. And it’s only been two nights in a row so I don’t know if it will be a regular occurrence. But does anyone else’s bunny purposefully wake them up for pets? She’s not attention starved by any means. I only work 3 days a week so every other spare moment is spent at her disposal. She doesn’t seek me out for pets as much during the day. She usually likes to play a lot during the day when me and my husband are both home. I think she’s happy we’re both there to watch her so she runs around and entertains us with binkies. Then she’ll flop in her usual spot under my husbands computer chair and nap there for a bit. During the day if I walk by her and lean over for a pat she might flop down nice and flat for me to give her more pets. When she does that I try to sit with her a while and give her pets. And again we have our pet/cuddle time first thing in the morning and last thing at night that lasts like 30 Minutes usually. So I think I’m giving her enough attention. She’s free roam so it’s not like she’s sick of being cooped up in a cage. I think she just really really likes pets haha. Anyway I want to hear all your opinions on this behavior! Let’s hope it doesn’t get too out of control because mom does need some sleep I might just take a nap! Thanks everyone for reading!

[Beegirl]

My bunny hasn’t yet started demanding cuddles and petting but she does jump up to say hi on the sofa, she panics when I pet her and jumps down. I don’t think she is used to being loved just yet haha.

You are one lucky bunny mum!

[Sirius&Luna]

That sounds super cute! If you don’t want to keep getting woken up though you should stop reinforcing the behaviour – now she knows she gets what she wants if she nibbles your head at night you might not mind, but if you do then I would stop petting her when she wakes you up.

[sarahthegemini]

That sounds adorable! 

[Deleted User]

oh my god so much yes to the fact that you shouldn’t reinforce it unless you want it to be a permanent thing! I was so happy when Ophelia would come up on the bed and want snuggles, but now she literally wakes me up throughout the night when she wants attention, and EVERY morning between 5:30-6am she has to come up and get snuggles before we wake up and get pellets and salad.

Don’t get me wrong, I just love it! I have trouble sleeping so I don’t mind being woken up because I am so used to it anyway. My husband on the other hand…. is not too happy about her constant presence on the bed… and he’s especially dissatisfied when I say “fine then, you can sleep on the couch!” haha

[Wick & Fable]

To dissuade it, minimize reciprocating behavior and just put her on the ground. It’s a common rabbit behavior due to their sleep/active times.

Thankfully Wick is synced with me now so we go to bed at the same time and wake up the same as well, though he licks me to feed him veggies, not for pets. I am a food vending machine.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Cloversmom]

I think i feel like this is so new because She’s 14 weeks old now and i got her when she was 8 weeks and it has taken her that time to warm up to affection and pets. Which ultimately For a new bunny is not long at all and I truly do feel like a lucky bunny mom to have this precious little being seeking out so much affection. But I guess I still feel like I’m walking on egg shells a bit because this behavior is just starting so while I don’t really want to reinforce her waking me up in the middle of the night 4 times because obviously I need sleep like anyone else I just want to make sure she knows that she can seek me out for affection in general (not at 3 in the morning haha) and I will give it to her because she’s loved. And I don’t want to hinder our before sleep and after waking up cuddle time because I absolutely LOVE that and even though she’s only been doing that for a week she’s done it consistently since she started and now I look forward to that time so much. It relaxes me to sleep and gives me something positive to start my day with. I hope that makes sense haha. I am just all about her viewing me as a safe haven and someone to turn to to have her social needs met and it means sooooo much to me that she is that I just can’t bear to say no. New bunny mom problems haha.

[Deleted User]

Ultimately up to you whether you decide to reinforce it or not. I don’t mind it and I just CAN’T say no to Ophelia

wow, she warmed up to you in no time! I have had Ophelia since last March and only in the last few months has she really been the one to come to me and seek out my attention. Normally it’s the other way around!

[Cloversmom]

And bunnoob I loved your story. Ophelia sounds just precious. I had to laugh though when you talked about your husband because mine actually gets completely jealous that she wakes me up for cuddles but not him haha. She loves him too in her own little way. She always checks on him in the house to see what he’s doing and gives him nudges and nibbles but ultimately she’s mommy’s girl and not going to lie I absolutely love it

And wick I love that he’s synced with you. Maybe it’s bevause she’s still a baby but clovers sleeping pattern is literally alllllll over the place. Sometimes we’ll be up watching tv around 9 or 10 and she decides she’s over it and wants to go to sleep and she’ll go under the couch. Other nights she’ll stay up until 2 in the morning and can’t figure out why we went to bed and she’ll run up and down me trying to play when I’m laying down haha. Maybe when she gets older she’ll develop more of a steady routine.

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