The crucial question of what do rabbits eat is not simply about what they enjoy, but a fundamental pillar of their health. For a rabbit, diet is not just sustenance; it is the primary factor that determines whether they live a long, happy life or suffer from painful and preventable digestive illnesses.
You see cartoon rabbits happily devouring carrots, a myth that has been perpetuated for generations. You hear from some pet stores that a colorful pellet mix is a “complete” diet. You feel a constant, nagging confusion from the conflicting advice you find online.
You think to yourself,
“Am I providing the best for my bunny? Is their diet truly healthy?”
So, you say and do what seems right you buy the food that looks the most appealing or the one your friend recommended, all while a quiet fear of the dreaded and often fatal “stomach blockage” lingers in the back of your mind.
The Unforgiving Nature of a Rabbit’s Digestion
Before we build the perfect meal plan, it’s essential to grasp one fact: a rabbit’s digestive system is a fragile, continuously moving machine. Improper food is not just unhealthy; it’s a direct threat.
This data confirms that the dietary choices you make every single day are the most important form of healthcare you can provide.
The Rabbit Food Pyramid: Your Daily Feeding Blueprint
Forget the myths. The ideal rabbit diet is simple and can be visualized as a pyramid. Getting the proportions right is the key to a healthy rabbit.
The Base (80% of Diet): Unlimited, High-Quality Hay
This is the golden rule and the absolute foundation of your rabbit’s health.
What is it? Long-strand grass hays like Timothy Hay or Orchard Hay. Alfalfa hay is too rich for most adult rabbits.
Why is it essential? Hay is not just food; it’s medicine. The high fiber content keeps their gut moving, preventing the deadly GI stasis (stomach blockage).
The coarse texture also continuously grinds down their ever-growing teeth, preventing painful dental disease. For you, providing unlimited hay means you are actively protecting your rabbit from their two most common health crises.
How to serve it: There should be a fresh, generous pile of hay available to your rabbit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In our humid Malaysian climate, ensure your hay is stored in a dry, well-ventilated container to prevent mould.
The Middle Layer (10-15%): Fresh Leafy Greens
This is your rabbit’s daily salad, providing essential vitamins and hydration.
What are they? A variety of dark, leafy greens. Think romaine lettuce, rocket, and herbs like parsley or dill. You can find safe local greens like kailan or sawi at most markets, but introduce them slowly.
How much? A good guideline is about one packed cup of greens per kilogram of your rabbit’s body weight, per day. Offer a mix of at least three different types of greens daily to ensure a balanced nutrient intake.
What to avoid: Iceberg lettuce is nutritionally empty and can cause diarrhea. Avoid cabbage and other gassy vegetables in large quantities.
The Top Layer (5%): High-Quality Pellets
Pellets are a supplement, not a main course.
What kind? Look for plain, high-fiber (minimum 18-20% fiber), Timothy-based pellets. Avoid the colourful mixes that contain seeds, nuts, and corn, as these are high in fat and sugar and can cause serious digestive upset.
How much? This is where strict portion control is vital. A general rule is no more than 1/4 cup of pellets per 2kg of body weight daily. Overfeeding pellets is a primary cause of obesity and digestive problems.
The Tiny Tip (0-2%): Treats
This is where carrots finally make an appearance—as a treat, not a meal.
What are they? Small pieces of fruit (like a slice of banana or a single strawberry) or sweet vegetables (a 1-inch piece of carrot).
When to give them? Very sparingly. A rabbit’s system is not designed to handle sugar. Offering a tiny, healthy treat once a day is a wonderful way to bond, but overdoing it will lead to serious health issues.
Ultimately, understanding what do rabbits eat is about unlearning the cartoons and embracing their true nature as tiny herbivores built to graze all day.
Your role as their caretaker is to recreate that natural diet within your home, with hay as the undisputed king of their menu. The most surprising truth that proves this?
Rabbits practice something called coprophagy. The most fascinating secret of their digestive system is that they produce a special type of nutrient-rich dropping called a cecotrope (often mistaken for diarrhea by new owners), which they eat directly from their bottom to absorb all the essential nutrients.
