Do rabbits get hay fever? No! But do they love hay? Yes!
 

What Bugs a Bunny? campaign - Hay fever © RSPCA


The first part of our What Bugs a Bunny? campaign is looking at diet – what should rabbits be eating?

A good diet is vital to a pet rabbit, because:

  • the right food will keep them healthy and happy
     
  • the wrong food often leads to problems including:

    1. bad teeth

    2. sick stomachs

    3. flystrike – which can be fatal

    4. boredom if not able to forage and graze.


So what is the right food?

Check out our diet pages to get the lowdown on exactly what rabbits should be eating – and how much.

Here's a clue – it’s not carrots! Thanks to a certain popular carrot-munching cartoon bunny, a lot of people have assumed that rabbits should eat carrots all the time.

But giving carrots to a rabbit is like giving chocolate cake to a child – a nice treat but not something you should do too often!

 

Hay, hay every day! 

Two rabbits being hand fed in run © Philip Toscano / RSPCA Photolibrary

Hay (dried grass) and grass should make up the main part of a rabbit's daily diet. Not only because it is good for them but also because it gives them something to do. 

  • Wild rabbits spend most of their time above ground eating – so if you only give your pets a bowl of pellets they finish in minutes, they'll be bored silly for the rest of the day!
     
  • Giving them hay to eat (and sleep on) will keep them healthy – but takes time to eat so keeps them busy.
     
  • You should also give them some leafy greens every day and you can give them a few pellets too (see our guide). Try hiding the greens and pellets in toys or toilet rolls – it'll give them something to do while you're out.

For more ideas on how to make feeding time fun, check out our dietary enrichment tips. 


Improving lives 

What Bugs a Bunny? is the RSPCA's campaign which aims to improve the lives of pet rabbits.

Based on a 16-month long RSPCA-commissioned study by the University of Bristol, the campaign will be a journey for all of us as we learn more about rabbits – and try to ensure that these sociable, intelligent, inquisitive and playful animals are given the happy, healthy lives they deserve.


Take a look at our happy bunny stories and photos.