Food safety
Can Rabbits Eat Tomatoes? Ripe Fruit Only, Never the Plant
Rabbits can eat a small amount of ripe tomato, but the rest of the plant is off limits. The House Rabbit Society lists tomato as a vegetable that is high in water and notes that only ripe fruit is safe, while unripe fruit and the greens are toxic. That means no green tomatoes, no leaves, no stems and no access to the vegetable bed. A couple of small pieces of ripe red tomato, now and then, is the most a rabbit needs.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Why only ripe tomatoes are safe
Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family. The House Rabbit Society includes tomato in its list of non-leafy vegetables with a clear qualifier: only the ripe fruit is safe, and the unripe fruit and greens are toxic. The ripe flesh is mostly water with some natural sugar and acid.
The safe part is still a small extra. The House Rabbit Society puts hay at about 80% of a rabbit's diet and fresh vegetables at around 10%, and VCA Animal Hospitals says grass hay should be the bulk of what a rabbit eats.
Keep rabbits away from tomato plants
Leaves, stems and green fruit are the dangerous parts. A rabbit allowed to roam the yard or garden will nibble at tomato plants, so fence beds securely or keep exercise time away from them. Pick up fallen green fruit if rabbits share the space.
Kitchen scraps are a common route too. Tomato tops with the green stem and calyx still attached, or salad scraps containing green tomato, should go in the trash rather than the rabbit's bowl. Remove the green cap before offering any ripe tomato.
How to serve ripe tomato
Choose a fully ripe, red tomato. Wash it, cut away the green stem end completely, and slice a small wedge into bite-size pieces. Cherry tomatoes should be halved or quartered. Serve it fresh; the House Rabbit Society says never to serve spoiled vegetables.
Only plain raw tomato is suitable. Ketchup, pasta sauce, salsa and canned tomatoes usually contain salt, sugar, onion or garlic, and the House Rabbit Society lists onions and garlic among foods to avoid.
Hiding a small piece of a safe food around a small animal playpen lets a rabbit forage, and an outdoor rabbit hutch needs the same daily check for uneaten fresh food.
How much tomato can a rabbit have?
Ripe tomato is watery and slightly sweet, so keep it small. For an average adult rabbit, one or two small pieces, about the size of a cherry tomato in total, once or twice a week is enough. A dwarf rabbit needs less.
The House Rabbit Society suggests leafy greens make up about three quarters of the daily fresh vegetables. Tomato belongs in the smaller remaining share, and on days it is offered, keep other sweet extras out.
Tomato and baby rabbits
Young rabbits have sensitive digestion. The House Rabbit Society advises waiting until about 12 weeks of age before introducing vegetables, one at a time and in very small amounts under half an ounce, while watching for soft stools or gas.
Given the risk from unripe fruit and greens, tomato is not a good choice for a young rabbit's first vegetables. Start with mild leafy greens instead, and add ripe tomato much later, if at all.
If your rabbit ate tomato leaves or green tomato
Remove any remaining plant material and note what was eaten, roughly how much and when. Call a vet who treats rabbits, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. A fee may apply.
Watch for a rabbit that stops eating, passes fewer droppings, has diarrhea or sits hunched. The Merck Veterinary Manual advises seeking veterinary care promptly for a rabbit that stops eating or shows digestive upset, and says GI stasis can become life-threatening if not treated.
Safer vegetables to offer
VCA lists romaine lettuce, bok choy, mustard greens, carrot tops, cilantro, watercress, basil, kohlrabi, beet greens, broccoli and green peppers among good vegetables. These make a better daily base than tomato.
VCA advises avoiding potatoes, carrots and iceberg or head lettuce, and the House Rabbit Society adds potato greens, onions, garlic, chocolate and raw dried beans. Ask your vet before adding new foods.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can rabbits eat tomato leaves or stems?
No. The House Rabbit Society says the greens of the tomato plant are toxic to rabbits. Fence garden beds and remove the green stem before offering ripe fruit.
Can rabbits eat green tomatoes?
No. The House Rabbit Society states that unripe tomato fruit is toxic. Offer only fully ripe red tomato, and call a vet if your rabbit ate green fruit.
Can rabbits eat cherry tomatoes?
Yes, if they are fully ripe and red. Remove the green stem and cap, cut each one into small pieces and give only one or two as an occasional treat.
Can rabbits eat tomato seeds?
The seeds in a ripe tomato are eaten along with the flesh. The concern with tomatoes is the unripe fruit and greens, not the seeds of ripe fruit.
Can rabbits eat tomatoes every day?
It is better not to. Ripe tomato is watery and a little sweet, so keep it to a small piece once or twice a week, with leafy greens and hay as the daily base.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
