What Can Rabbits Eat? Food Safety Guide
Rabbits are herbivores whose gut runs on a steady supply of hay, so the answers are often very different from those for dogs and cats. Search or browse to see what your rabbit can have, what needs care, and what to keep out of reach.
- No
Avocado
No. Avocado is toxic to rabbits. The fruit, skin, pit, stems and leaves can all cause poisoning, and the main danger for rabbits is damage to the heart.
- No
Chocolate
No. Chocolate is toxic to rabbits. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, and the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is for an animal the size of a rabbit.
- No
Onions
No. Onions are not safe for rabbits. Onions, garlic, leeks and other members of the onion family are on the do-not-feed lists of rabbit welfare groups, in any form, raw, cooked or powdered.
- No
Potatoes
No. Potatoes should not be fed to rabbits, raw or cooked. Potatoes are starchy food that rabbit welfare groups list among foods to avoid, and the green parts, sprouts and leaves of the potato plant are toxic.
- No
Bread
No. Bread is not safe for rabbits. Bread is a processed, starchy human food that can upset the balance of bacteria in a rabbit's gut, and rabbit welfare groups list it among foods to avoid.
- No
Rhubarb
No. Rhubarb is not safe for rabbits. Rhubarb leaves are toxic, and rabbit welfare groups advise keeping every part of the plant, stalks included, away from rabbits.
- With care
Carrots
Only as a small treat. Carrots are safe for rabbits, but carrots are high in sugar, so rabbit care guides keep them to a few small pieces now and then and recommend the leafy carrot tops instead.
- With care
Bananas
Only a small piece now and then. Banana is safe for rabbits, but banana is one of the sweetest fruits, so rabbit care guides keep it as an occasional treat.
- With care
Grapes
Only as a rare treat. Grapes appear on rabbit treat lists from the House Rabbit Society and PDSA, but grapes are very sugary, so a single grape cut into pieces now and then is the most a rabbit should have.
- With care
Spinach
Yes, but only now and then. Spinach is safe for rabbits, but spinach is high in oxalic acid, so rabbit care guides recommend rotating it with other greens rather than feeding it every day.
- With care
Kale
Yes, in rotation. Kale is safe for rabbits and appears on most rabbit-safe green lists, but several veterinary sources advise limiting it, so kale works best as one of several greens rather than the main one.
- With care
Tomatoes
Only ripe tomato, and only a little. A small piece of ripe tomato fruit is safe for rabbits, but the leaves, stems and unripe green tomatoes are toxic and must be kept out of reach.
- Yes
Celery
Yes. Celery is safe for rabbits in small amounts, stalks and leaves included, as long as the stalk is cut into short pieces so the stringy fibers cannot cause trouble.
- Yes
Strawberries
Yes. Strawberries are safe for rabbits as an occasional treat in small pieces, because the fruit is high in sugar. The green tops and leaves are safe too.
- Yes
Apples
Yes. Apple flesh and skin are safe for rabbits as an occasional treat, but the seeds must be removed, and the core and stem are best thrown away.
- Yes
Blueberries
Yes. Blueberries are safe for rabbits as an occasional treat. A rabbit needs only a berry or two at a time, because fruit is high in sugar.
- Yes
Watermelon
Yes. Watermelon is safe for rabbits as an occasional treat, with the seeds removed. A small cube is enough, because watermelon is both sugary and very watery.
- Yes
Lettuce
Yes, dark leaf lettuces are good for rabbits. Romaine, red leaf and green leaf lettuce are safe daily greens, while pale iceberg lettuce is best avoided because it is mostly water and low in nutrients.
- Yes
Cucumber
Yes. Cucumber is safe for rabbits in small amounts, and cucumber leaves are safe as well. Cucumber is mostly water, so a few thin slices are enough.
- Yes
Broccoli
Yes. Broccoli is safe for rabbits, including the stems and leaves, as part of a varied mix of vegetables. Introduce broccoli slowly, because some sources note it can cause gas in some rabbits.
- Yes
Cilantro
Yes. Cilantro, also called coriander, is a safe leafy herb for rabbits and can be one of the greens in a rabbit's daily salad.
How to read the results
- No Toxic or harmful for rabbits. Keep it out of reach and contact a vet if it is eaten.
- With care Not toxic in itself, but only suitable in small amounts or some forms, or it causes problems when fed often. Read the details.
- Yes Fine for most healthy adult rabbits alongside unlimited hay, introduced gradually and washed before serving.
Hay should make up most of a rabbit’s diet. Add new vegetables one at a time in small amounts, and keep fruit to an occasional small treat.
If your rabbit has eaten something harmful, or stops eating or passing droppings, contact a veterinarian who treats rabbits right away, even if your rabbit seems fine. Rabbits cannot vomit, so do not try to make your rabbit throw up.