Rabbits are herbivores, meaning their diet is strictly plant-based. This classification is a biological necessity rooted in their anatomy and evolutionary history, not a matter of preference. Understanding the rabbit’s true dietary needs is important, as providing the wrong balance of foods can lead to severe and potentially fatal health issues.
The Rabbit’s Dietary Classification
The animal kingdom classifies consumers into three broad dietary categories. Carnivores rely primarily on animal flesh, while omnivores thrive on a mixed diet of both plants and animals. Rabbits belong firmly to the herbivore group, a distinction defined by their specialized digestive tract and nutritional requirements.
As herbivores, their entire system is adapted to process large volumes of fibrous plant matter, such as grasses and hay. This adaptation dictates that their diet must be centered around high-fiber foods to function correctly. The rabbit’s physiology is wholly dependent on a constant supply of forage to maintain health.
The Specialized Digestive System
The rabbit’s herbivorous nature is enforced by its unique gastrointestinal anatomy, built for a process called hindgut fermentation. Rabbits are monogastric herbivores, meaning they have a simple stomach but a greatly enlarged cecum. The cecum is a pouch located at the junction of the small and large intestines, acting as a specialized fermentation vat.
This large organ is home to symbiotic microbes that break down tough plant cellulose that the rabbit’s own enzymes cannot digest. This fermentation process yields volatile fatty acids, which the rabbit absorbs for energy, and synthesizes essential nutrients like B vitamins and amino acids. Because these nutrients are created in the hindgut, they cannot be absorbed directly from the cecum.
To access these vital products, rabbits engage in cecotrophy, which involves producing and re-ingesting soft, nutrient-rich droppings called cecotropes. The cecum selectively retains small, non-fiber particles for fermentation, while large, indigestible fibers are quickly eliminated as hard fecal pellets. By consuming the cecotropes, the rabbit runs the material through the digestive tract a second time, allowing the small intestine to absorb the newly synthesized proteins and vitamins.
Essential Components of a Healthy Diet
Translating the rabbit’s biological need for fiber into a practical diet requires strict adherence to specific ratios. The foundation of a healthy adult rabbit’s diet must be an unlimited supply of fresh grass hay, such as timothy or orchard grass. Hay should constitute 85% to 90% of their daily intake, as its abrasive action is necessary to wear down their continuously growing teeth and keep the digestive system moving.
Fresh vegetables and leafy greens should account for approximately 10% of the daily diet, providing hydration and a variety of micronutrients. A guideline is to feed one to two cups of fresh greens for every four pounds of body weight. High-fiber pellets should make up the remaining small portion, around 5% of the total diet, serving as a concentrated source of balanced vitamins and minerals. Overfeeding pellets or offering sugary treats can disrupt the delicate microbial balance in the cecum, leading to potentially fatal gastrointestinal stasis.