Rabbit Info 101 - Why is my rabbit eating poop

Eating feces is normal for a rabbit. If you look closely, the feces your bunny is eating will possibly look like a clump of grapes. These are cecal pellets and a great source of nutrients for your bunny.

Cecal pellets, also known as Cecotropes or “night feces” are small soft (sometimes very odorous) feces that come from a “pouch” near the intestines called the cecum (this pouch is about 10 times larger than the rabbit’s stomach). The cecum contains special bacteria that help your bunny to extract calories and nutrients from food with low calories and high fiber. Most of a rabbit’s digestion happens in their cecum and large intestine rather than in the stomach. The combination of the large intestine and the cecum is about 40% of your rabbit’s total digestive tract. This type of digestion is known as a “hindgut” digesting.

The cecal pellets that come from the cecum are many times look like a “bunch” of tiny grapes. They also have a strong odor. They are high in minerals, vitamins and proteins that rabbits need to help their digestion. Therefore, you will see your rabbit eating them. Cecotropes are VERY important to your rabbit’s digestion and health, so do not discourage your rabbit from eating them. If these cecotropes fall outside of your rabbit’s hutch, replace them whenever you can.

If your rabbit’s diet contains too much protein and calories, and too little fiber, more cecal pellets than your bunny may need to eat can be produced. If this happens, you may find them smeared on the bottom of your rabbit’s tail, the floor of the cage, and the floor of bunny’s play area. If this occurs often, increase your bunny’s fiber and decrease the protein and calorie intake.