Food guide
Rabbits food: the complete PetFoodRate 2026 guide
Rabbits are strict herbivores with one of the most fragile digestive systems in the pet world. Their diet should be 80 percent fresh hay, 15 percent fresh greens, and only 5 percent quality pellets. The biggest mistake new rabbit owners make is feeding muesli mixes that encourage selective eating, leading to dental problems, GI stasis, and obesity. PetFoodRate grades rabbit pellets and hays from A to E based on fiber content, hay base, absence of muesli, and overall safety.
What to look for
- Timothy hay or meadow hay as first ingredient (alfalfa for young rabbits under 6 months)
- At least 22 percent crude fiber (rabbits need fiber to keep their gut moving)
- Uniform pellet shape only, never muesli mixes
- Stable vitamin sources (A, D3, E) and no added sugars
What to avoid
- Muesli mixes with colorful flakes, seeds, and dried fruit (rabbits will only eat the sugary parts)
- Pellets with corn, wheat, or molasses
- Yogurt drops, honey sticks, and other sugar treats marketed for rabbits
- Cabbage, lettuce iceberg, and brassicas in large amounts (gas and bloat risk)
Our PetFoodRate top 5 rabbits
- #1 A Oxbow Foin de Fléole Premium 96/100 hay
- #2 A Foin de Crau Foin de Crau AOP 94/100 hay
- #3 B Supreme Selective Junior Rabbit 79/100 seeds and pellets
- #4 B Burgess Excel Excel Adult Rabbit Nuggets 78/100 seeds and pellets
- #5 B Supreme Selective Naturals Adult Rabbit 76/100 seeds and pellets
Selections by type for rabbits
Recommended brands for rabbits
Frequently asked questions
How much hay does a rabbit need per day?
A rabbit needs unlimited fresh hay every day, ideally a pile the size of its own body. Hay should be available 24/7, never rationed. Pellets are limited to about 25g per kg of body weight (roughly 1 tablespoon for a 2 kg dwarf, 80g for a large rabbit). Without enough hay, the molars do not wear down properly and the gut slows, both of which cause life-threatening conditions.
Why are muesli mixes bad for rabbits?
Muesli mixes let rabbits selectively pick the colourful, sugary parts (flakes, peas, dried fruit) and leave the boring high-fiber pellets. This leads to imbalanced nutrition, dental disease (not enough hard chewing), and obesity. Major rabbit welfare organisations including the Rabbit Welfare Association have campaigned for years to ban muesli, and most UK vets now actively advise against them.
What treats are safe for rabbits?
Safe treats in moderation: small pieces of apple (no seeds), banana, strawberry, blueberry, fresh herbs (parsley, basil, mint, coriander), bell pepper, and carrot tops. The carrot itself is high in sugar and should be a rare treat, not a daily food despite the cartoon stereotype. Avoid all human snacks, chocolate, bread, biscuits, and yogurt drops.
Compare rabbits foods side by side
Pick two products from our database and get an ingredient-by-ingredient, sub-score-by-sub-score comparison.