Why
Rabbit.org's vegetable guide lists tomato among non-leafy vegetables with a clear condition: ripe fruit only, because the unripe fruit and the greens are toxic. The guide also notes that tomato has a high water content.
The tomato plant itself is the danger. The RSPCA lists tomato leaves and stems among foods rabbits should not eat, and the poisonous plant list republished by Rabbit.org from the University of Illinois includes tomato leaves.
Ripe tomato is not a common rabbit food. The House Rabbit Society, PDSA and Pasadena Humane do not include tomato on their rabbit lists, so tomato is best kept as an occasional small piece rather than a regular vegetable.
Risks to watch for
- Tomato leaves, stems and vines
- Green or unripe tomatoes
- Tomato plants in gardens, greenhouses or balcony pots
- Tomato sauce, ketchup, salsa and pizza
- Large pieces of a watery fruit, which can loosen droppings
How to share safely
- Choose a fully ripe, red tomato and wash it.
- Remove the green stalk and any green parts.
- Cut a small piece of the flesh.
- Offer it as part of the day's non-leafy vegetable allowance.
- Keep any tomato plants well away from where your rabbit roams.
How much?
Ripe tomato falls within the House Rabbit Society's allowance for non-leafy vegetables, about 1 tablespoon per 2 pounds (about 1 kg) of body weight per day in total. A small piece now and then is plenty.
Tomato leaves, stems and green fruit
The green parts of the tomato plant are toxic to rabbits. Rabbit.org's vegetable guide says unripe tomatoes and the greens are toxic, and the RSPCA lists tomato leaves and stems among foods to avoid.
Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, the same plant family as potatoes, and Rabbit.org also warns that potato greens, which are nightshades, are toxic. Treat the leafy parts of both plants as off limits.
Tomato plants in gardens and on balconies
A rabbit that roams a garden or balcony may find the plant before the fruit. Tomato vines are leafy and easy to nibble, and fallen green tomatoes are within easy reach.
Fence off tomato beds and keep potted tomato plants out of the rabbit's space. If a rabbit has eaten tomato leaves, stems or green fruit, call a vet, since rabbits cannot vomit and there is no safe way to empty the stomach at home.
Sauces, ketchup and cooked tomato dishes
Tomato in human food rarely comes alone. Sauces, ketchup, salsa and pizza add salt, sugar, onion and garlic, and the RSPCA lists onions, garlic, processed foods and sugary or salty human foods among the things rabbits should not eat.
A rabbit that licks a little pasta sauce should be watched for changes in appetite and droppings, and a vet should be called if the rabbit stops eating.
Common questions
Are tomatoes good for rabbits?
Only in limited ways. Rabbit.org's vegetable guide lists tomato among non-leafy vegetables with a clear condition: ripe fruit only, because the unripe fruit and the greens are toxic. The guide also notes that tomato has a high water content.
Are tomatoes bad for rabbits?
It can be. Risks to watch for: tomato leaves, stems and vines; green or unripe tomatoes.
Are rabbits allowed to have tomatoes?
Only in small amounts and the right form. Choose a fully ripe, red tomato and wash it.
Can rabbits eat cherry tomatoes?
A ripe cherry tomato follows the same rules as a large tomato. Remove the green stalk and offer a small piece now and then, not the whole tomato.
My rabbit ate tomato leaves. What should I do?
Call a vet promptly and describe how much was eaten and when. Rabbit.org and the RSPCA both describe tomato leaves and stems as unsafe for rabbits, and rabbits cannot vomit, so do not try to make the rabbit bring the plant back up.
Sources
- Rabbit.org. Best Vegetables for Rabbits: A Healthy Diet Guide (Paige K Parsons; adapted from WabbitWiki).
- RSPCA. What Do Rabbits Eat? Rabbit Diet Advice.
- Rabbit.org. Poisonous Plants (compiled by the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences).
- 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.