Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
| Safe? | No |
| How much | None, wet or dry |
| How often | Never |
| Best served | Not at all: keep the cat's bowl out of reach |
| Watch out for | Eating less, fewer or smaller droppings, hunched posture |
Why can't rabbits eat cat food?
Rabbits and cats sit at opposite ends of the menu. Cats are strict meat-eaters. Rabbits are strict plant-eaters whose gut is built to process large amounts of fibre: PDSA puts hay and grass at about 85% of a rabbit's diet, and the House Rabbit Society asks for pellets with at least 18% fibre. Cat food is meat, fish, fat and often grain, with very little fibre. Fibre keeps a rabbit's gut moving and its teeth worn down, and a gut that slows is a real danger, which is why the RSPCA lists meat, eggs and dairy among foods to avoid. Our rabbit diet guide shows what a rabbit's day should look like instead.
Is wet or dry cat food worse?
Both are a no. Dry cat biscuits are the ones rabbits usually find, because they sit in a bowl all day at floor height and are crunchy like pellets. Wet food is just as unsuitable and spoils fast. Neither has any place in a rabbit's diet, even as a one-off.
My rabbit ate cat food: what should I do?
- Remove the food. Take the bowl away and check for scattered biscuits.
- Offer hay and water. Put out a fresh pile of hay and clean water to keep the gut moving.
- Watch for 24 hours. Check that your rabbit is eating and passing normal, round droppings.
- Ring your vet if anything changes. PDSA says to contact your vet straight away if a rabbit is eating less than normal, and treats a rabbit that has stopped eating as an emergency.
How to stop your rabbit eating cat food
- Feed the cat on a worktop, shelf or windowsill the rabbit can't reach
- Lift the cat's bowl as soon as the meal is finished
- Use a baby gate or a cat flap into a room the rabbit can't enter
- Store cat food in a sealed tub, not an open bag on the floor
- Make sure the rabbit always has fresh hay, so there is something better to graze
What to offer instead
If your rabbit loves crunch, a measured portion of plain rabbit pellets is the answer: PDSA suggests about one tablespoon a day for an average adult. For treats, see our pages on apples and carrots, and why biscuits and cheese are a no too. The rabbit safe food list, rabbit health guide and rabbit care guide cover the rest.
Cat food and rabbits: questions
Can rabbits eat dog food?
No, for the same reasons as cat food. Dog food is built around meat and grain, with far more fat and protein and far less fibre than a rabbit needs. The RSPCA lists meat among foods rabbits should avoid. Keep dog bowls out of reach and treat a raid the same way as one on the cat's bowl.
Why does my rabbit keep eating the cat's food?
Cat biscuits are rich, crunchy and smell strong, and a curious rabbit will try most things at nose height. It is not a sign they are missing something, as long as they have unlimited hay, daily greens and a measured portion of rabbit pellets. Move the bowl rather than trying to train the habit away.
My rabbit ate a few cat biscuits. Will they be OK?
Most likely, but watch them. Take the rest away, make sure there is fresh hay and water, and check over the next 24 hours that they are eating and passing normal round droppings. PDSA says to contact your vet straight away if a rabbit is eating less than normal.
Can a rabbit share a bowl with a cat?
No. Each animal needs its own food, and a shared bowl means the rabbit can reach cat food and the cat can reach rabbit pellets. Feed the cat up high or in a room the rabbit can't enter, and lift the cat's bowl as soon as the meal is done.
