Why
Kale is a common rabbit green. The House Rabbit Society lists kale of all types among its leafy greens, the Royal Veterinary College lists curly kale, and PDSA and the RSPCA include kale among safe greens.
Veterinary sources add a limit on kale. The Merck Veterinary Manual places kale among foods to give in limited amounts, VCA Animal Hospitals lists kale among vegetables to give rarely, and Pasadena Humane suggests kale one or two times a week. A Rabbit.org nutrition article written in consultation with a veterinarian asks owners to use kale sparingly and notes that kale may be high in oxalates.
Risks to watch for
- Kale as the only or main green every day
- Kale together with spinach, mustard greens or other limited greens on the same day
- Rabbits with a history of bladder sludge or stones
- Kale chips and other seasoned or baked kale
- Soft droppings after kale is introduced
How to share safely
- Wash the leaves well and tear them into pieces.
- Mix a few pieces with at least two other greens.
- Feed kale for a few days, then leave it out for a while.
- Introduce kale on its own and watch the droppings over the next day.
How much?
Kale should be one part of the daily greens, which Rabbit.org and the Merck Veterinary Manual put at about 1 cup per 2 pounds (about 1 kg) of body weight per day. Pasadena Humane suggests kale one or two times a week, about 1/4 to 1/2 cup.
Why the advice on kale differs
Kale sits in a gray zone. Rabbit charities and the House Rabbit Society list kale without warnings, while the Merck Veterinary Manual and VCA Animal Hospitals advise limiting it.
The sources do agree on one point: no source used here describes kale as toxic to rabbits. The difference is about frequency, and rotating kale with other greens satisfies both sides.
Kale, collards and other greens to limit
The Merck Veterinary Manual's table of plants and foods harmful to rabbits has a separate column for foods to give in limited amounts. Kale is listed there with several other common vegetables:
- Collard greens
- Mustard greens
- Turnip greens
- Broccoli leaves
- Cauliflower
- Sweet potato
- Fruits
- Alfalfa hay
A simple kale rotation
A Rabbit.org nutrition article offers an easy method: feed kale with other vegetables for several days until a bunch or two is gone, then avoid buying kale again for a week or so.
The same article stresses variety above all. Feeding a different mix of greens through the week avoids giving too much or too little of any one food, and the House Rabbit Society recommends at least three different leafy greens each day.
Common questions
Is kale good for rabbits?
Only in limited ways. Kale is a common rabbit green. The House Rabbit Society lists kale of all types among its leafy greens, the Royal Veterinary College lists curly kale, and PDSA and the RSPCA include kale among safe greens.
Is kale bad for rabbits?
It can be. Risks to watch for: kale as the only or main green every day; kale together with spinach, mustard greens or other limited greens on the same day.
Are rabbits allowed to have kale?
Only in small amounts and the right form. Wash the leaves well and tear them into pieces.
Is kale toxic to rabbits?
Kale is not toxic to rabbits. The House Rabbit Society, the Royal Veterinary College, PDSA and the RSPCA list kale among safe greens, while the Merck Veterinary Manual and VCA Animal Hospitals advise giving it in limited amounts.
Is kale or romaine better for a rabbit?
Romaine is the easier everyday green, since rabbit guides list romaine for daily feeding without limits. Kale is a good addition a couple of times a week as part of a varied mix.
Sources
- House Rabbit Society. Healthy Rabbit Diet.
- Rabbit.org. Natural Nutrition Part II: Pellets and Veggies (Elizabeth TeSelle, in consultation with Cindy McBee, DVM). Originally published in House Rabbit Journal.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Diet for Rabbits (Laurie Hess, DVM, DABVP).
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Spotlight: Bunny Care Basics.
- Royal Veterinary College Exotics Service. Feeding Your Rabbit (Rabbit feeding guidelines, 2022).
- PDSA. Feeding Your Rabbits.
- RSPCA. What Do Rabbits Eat? Rabbit Diet Advice.
- Pasadena Humane. Rabbit Safe Vegetable and Fruit List.
- House Rabbit Society. Healthy Rabbit Diet.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Disorders and Diseases of Rabbits.
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.