Can rabbits eat tomatoes? The confusion over whether this should be classified as a fruit or a vegetable has left bunny owners with a dilemma. They know most vegetables are okay but most fruits are unhealthy in large doses. So which one is it? Well, as we shall discover, it’s a little of both, but there are a few risk warnings to look out for as well, one of which is centered on tomato leaves.
Can Rabbits Eat Tomatoes?
Small amounts of tomatoes are not going to do your rabbit any harm. But you need to be very careful when giving them these, and for several reasons. One of them concerns the leaves of the tomato plant, which we will discuss shortly. The other issues concern the fruit itself.
Tomatoes are high in sugar. They are not as energy dense as other fruits that we have discussed on this site, including apples and bananas, but there is still a lot sugar in there. Rabbits love all things sweet, just like any mammal, but also just like any mammal, they suffer if they eat too much of it.
Their digestive systems are very sensitive. They are not built to handle a lot of sugar, because in the wild, they just don’t encounter much of it. Pet rabbits are a little more resilient as they have often been raised on regular treats, including dried fruit crisps and processed treats, as well as fresh fruit. But caution still needs to be advised because they still can’t process a lot of sugar.
If you are going to give them a tomato then make sure you’re only giving them small pieces and make sure you’re not giving them other high-sugar foods at the same time.
Do Rabbits Like Tomatoes?
We have tried to feed little pieces of tomatoes to our rabbits and they just weren’t interested. They treated them like they were alien objects, which makes sense when you think abut it. Rabbits are used to grazing. They are used to greenery. In the wild they spend their days eating crops like lettuce and broccoli, grazing grass and hay, and snacking on an occasional fallen fruit.
They do not come across tomatoes in the wild, at least not very often. And when you consider that rabbits and tomato leaves don’t mix (discussed below) they would probably steer well clear of the tomato plant if they did stumble across it in the wild.
Can Rabbits Eat Tomato Plant Leaves?
No! These are poisonous to your bunny. There are many leaves that will do your little friend harm, even though the same doesn’t always apply to the fruit or the vegetable the leaves are attached to. This is one of the main offenders, so if you are going to give your bunny a little tomato, make sure they stay well away from the leaves of the plant.
Focus on giving them the flesh and make sure that they stay away from any greenery connected to the top of the tomato just incase. You can never be too careful.