When our family got our first rabbit, I assumed they were simple herbivores, but then my kids asked me point blank if they were omnivores.
I started to answer confidently, but then I hesitated. I hate telling my kids the wrong information, so we looked it up together.
As a general rule, rabbits aren’t omnivores; they’re herbivores and eat only plant matter in their diet. The only known exception to this rule is the Snowshoe hare, which will eat meat to supplement the long winters when needed. Rabbits, as a rule, can’t digest meat well and will get sick from ingesting it.
Let’s talk about this in some more detail, including what a good pet rabbit diet needs below.
Table of Contents
Are Rabbit Omnivores? (Can Rabbits Eat Meat?)
Let’s be clear:
Rabbits are not omnivores or carnivores; rabbits are herbivores.
Bunnies only eat plant matter.
In the wild, they leave off of grass and other herbs and flowers, such as clovers.
Over the past centuries, all rabbits and hares have evolved to function only on plant matter.
It’s not only ideal for their prey nutrition needs; they need to chew on the thicker fiber of plants to wear down their front teeth, which grow and grow.
This is also why a lot of rabbit owners use toys or other DIY chew objects to help keep them occupied.
In the wild, there is a lot of plant life to find, depending on their environment.
Here are some of the more popular wild green options your pet may love:
- Weeds
- Grasses
- Clovers
- Wildflowers
- Flowers
- Twigs
- Buds
- Bark
What Happens If A Rabbit Eats Meat?
Some owners still insist on learning what happens if they feed their pet some meat.
I’m not sure why this is, but I get to see this question going around a lot more than I’d expect.
Don’t feed your rabbit meat!
If you do feed them meat in a small amount, they will probably be OK, but it won’t be good for them.
Their stomachs can’t digest it properly.
They’ll get little nutritional value, and they’ll have loose stool for a while afterward.
Whatever you do, don’t feed them a lot of meat and don’t give it to them twice. It may be too much for them, and they could die.
If your bunny accidentally eats meat, figure out how much it had.
If it was just a bite, give them a lot of water and regular food, and call a vet.
When it’s more, give your vet a call or take a trip to the vet. This is more dire.
Disclaimer: Don’t consider this hard and fast medical advice. Each situation is different, and the vet has the best information on your pet.
The Exception To The Rule: Snowshoe Hares
Believe it or not, biologists have recently discovered an exception to the no-meat rule: the snowshoe hare.
After observing this Canadian mammal, they discovered it would eat any carcass it could find in the thick of winter if plant food wasn’t available.
It’s unknown if this is harder on their digestive system, but it appears it’s common now that they know what to look for.
As weird as it may seem, they’ll even eat their fellow rabbits!
Fortunately, this doesn’t impact your cute little friends at home.
Basic Pet Rabbit Diet
Now that we’ve established your bunny doesn’t need nor should it have meat, let’s talk about what they do need.
Grassy Hay
The bulk of your pet’s diet should be grassy hay.
These are available at your local pet store or Tractor Supply and quite reasonable in price.
Just make sure you get them from a reputable source; they may be infested or treated with chemicals if you’re not careful.
Let them free graze on hay all day; it’s OK to let them eat as much as they want.
Fiber Pellets
For pets rabbits, most experts recommend supplementing the hay with fiber pellets.
These pellets fill in some of the nutritional gaps they may develop in captivity.
They also are great for the digestive system and for wearing down teeth.
Remember, rabbits’ teeth keep growing, and they need to chew on things to keep them at a reasonable length.
The exact amount of pellets depends on your furry friend’s size and the pellets used. The package will tell you what they recommend, and I’d stick with this.
If you don’t have a clear direction, do 1/4 cup daily for bunnies 6-10 pounds and 1/8 cup for pets under 5 pounds.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are exactly what they sound like: any leaves from plant matter, including natural greens and some vegetables.
Here is a quick list of healthy greens in this category:
- Parsley
- Spinach
- Mustard greens
- Beet greens
- Swiss chard
- Radish tops
- Sprouts
- Arugula
- Carrot tops
- Cucumber leaves
- Endive
- Escarole
- Frisee Lettuce
- Kale (all types)
- Mache
- Red or green lettuce
- Romaine lettuce
- Spring greens
- Turnip greens
- Dandelion greens
- Mint (any kind)
- Basil (any kind)
- Watercress
- Wheatgrass
- Chicory
- Raspberry leaves
- Cilantro
- Radicchio
- Bok Choy
- Fennel
- Borage leaves
- Dill leaves
- Yu Choy
While vegetables we eat are usually OK for bunnies, the leaves are what is naturally the best for your pet.
1-3 cups of leafy greens per day is a good amount for these pets.
You may want to check out our article on rabbit food, including:
Treats/Other Plants Matter
The rest of the diet is simply for fun and variety.
Anything else fits into the treats category.
These are things like fruits, vegetables, and commercial rabbit treats.
Don’t make these a staple part of their diet, but it’s just fine to give your pet something nice.
Plus, they’re super cute to watch eat!
(Check one of mine out nibbling on some romaine.
FAQ
Do bunnies eat their young? – Unfortunately, rabbits will kill their young in specific circumstances as many prey animals do.
This only typically happens when there is a large threat to the family, and they feel like the young threatens the other bunnies.
What animal eats a bunny? – Natural predators of the rabbit include:
- Owls
- Hawks
- Snakes
- Eagles
- Foxes
- Raccoons
- Lynxes
Why do rabbits bite humans? – Rabbits don’t bite people for any hunger-related reason.
They may nip you as part of the grooming process, which is actually a sign of affection.
They may also nip you if they want you to stop doing something.
If they’re panicked, they may bite, but their more typical response is to run and hide.
If your bunny is biting you, make a high-pitched yelping sound. This tells them they’re hurting you, and they need to stop.
Do rabbits eat bugs? – Rabbits ignore bugs almost entirely, so they won’t eat bugs unless you trick them into it.
Like meat, their digestive system isn’t built for bugs, so avoid doing so.
Can I kiss my rabbit? – It’s OK to kiss your rabbit unless they seem nervous or stressed.
In the wild, it’s not good for a larger predator to put its mouth on the bunny.
If your pet is nervous, they may scratch and bite at you, thinking you’re attempting to kill it.
Do so only when your pet is very comfortable with you.
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