Rabbits are small mammals easily recognizable due to their short tails, long ears, and bodies like balls of fur.Rabbits and hares both fall under the Leporidae family but are further distinguished on the basis of a number of factors with the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognizing a total of 49 rabbit breeds. Before we delve into rabbits and potatoes, let us take a closer look at these bunnies, which are perhaps one of the most well-liked pets by humans.In the past, rabbits were only found in Europe and Africa but with the increase in travel and gradual globalization, these animals are now found in all corners of the world. Many people perhaps believe wild rabbits to be just like ordinary rabbits that have been left in the jungle or forest but it is much more than just that. Wild rabbits are known to have lived in jungles and forests for centuries now due to which they have adapted to their habitats. Firstly, wild rabbits are not as sophisticated as domestic pet rabbits. For instance, domestic rabbits need to be protected against hypothermia and heat exhaustion, whereas, wild rabbits can make their homes even in extreme temperatures. Some terrains where wild rabbits exist include tundra, forests, meadows, deserts, grasslands, wetlands, and woods. These wild rabbits dig up the ground, creating holes as deep as 10 ft (3 m) and live within them. It’s time we discuss what you can feed your pet bunny and answer the all-important question, can rabbits eat potatoes?If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about can rabbits eat pumpkin and can rabbits eat zucchini here on Kidadl?Are potatoes good or bad for rabbits?A potato might seem like just another vegetable that rabbits eat but it actually is not. There is a long list of greens that are beneficial for rabbits but a potato is not one of them, although rabbits tend to enjoy eating potatoes and would accept them if offered without a fuss. There is a fine line between what rabbits can eat and what they should eat. Rabbits are capable of consuming raw vegetables such as carrots and hay, which also includes a potato, but rabbits must avoid eating potatoes due to a number of reasons.Potatoes contain a toxic compound which is known by the name of solanine. It is especially present in potatoes which are slightly green in color and also in those which have newly sprouted green ’eyes’. Eating a potato that contains this toxic compound can affect the bunny’s digestive system. Although rabbits have a better digestive system than us when it comes to breaking down raw food, their digestive system is not good at passing gas. It might seem like a trivial issue but this problem acts as a catalyst during a digestive issue. In a matter of minutes, a small digestion problem can then turn into a deadly issue. The contents of a potato although are not directly harmful to a rabbit, their impact on a rabbit’s digestive system is dangerous. People must avoid feeding potatoes to their rabbits. Instead, go for vegetables, such as a carrot or bell peppers, or fruits such as pineapple or berries.Can rabbits eat raw potatoes and their skin?Whether it is raw or cooked, it is better if rabbits do not eat potatoes. It might seem weird because being herbivorous animals, a rabbit’s digestive system is supposedly capable of consuming any raw vegetable but the high sugar and starch content of potatoes along with solanine can mess with your rabbit’s digestion. Potatoes are certainly not poisonous for rabbits but it is not a wise decision to include potatoes in a rabbit’s diet.You might have seen or heard wild bunnies eat potatoes. This is only because they are much more active than a domestic pet rabbit, due to which, their metabolism rate is faster and it is better able to digest the high sugar and starch content of a potato. A domestic pet rabbit spends most of its time sitting on the couch or in a cage. Many owners also wonder if bunnies can eat the potato skin. Potato peels, although much more nutritious than the rest of the white potato inside, still contain a lot of starch and your bunny might not be able to digest this without causing abdomen issues. A pet rabbit must not be fed cooked potatoes as well as bunnies do not have a digestive system that can digest anything when cooked.On a positive note, a rabbit’s diet requires a lot of fiber which it usually consumes from hay but potato peels also contain fiber, which is significantly more than the fiber present in the white potato. Potato peel also contains vitamin C and potassium which are big positives. However, the high starch content of potato peel does not allow you to feed your rabbit potato peels. The complex carbohydrates of high starch and sugar level cannot be broken down by a bunny’s digestive system and must be avoided.If you are thinking about potato chips, they are even worse. Potato chips are thin slices of potatoes that have been fried in oil. You must not feed your rabbit potato chips at any cost, even humans must try and avoid potato chips due to their high-fat content which can have adverse impacts on our health. The fat and starch content in potato chips varies depending upon the brand, but they can go as high as 50%. Ideally, the fat content in a rabbit’s diet must be around 3%.Can rabbits eat sweet potatoes?Interestingly, even though the vegetable ‘sweet potato’ has the term potato in it, it is not related to normal potatoes that we eat as part of a staple diet. Unsurprisingly, sweet potatoes too should not be included in the diet of a rabbit. Sweet potatoes, in fact, are much more harmful than normal potatoes for a rabbit.The sugar and fat content in sweet potatoes is higher than that present in normal potatoes, and these high amounts of carbohydrates are difficult to digest for a rabbit which can take a toll on its health. Instead, a rabbit must be fed vegetables and other greens which are easy to digest and can be eaten raw by a rabbit without damaging its health. There is an interesting fact about sweet potatoes though as the vines and leaves of sweet potato plants are safe to be consumed by a rabbit. The content of the leaves present in a sweet potato plant is not poisonous and does not harm the health of a rabbit.However, this does not apply to normal potatoes as the vines and leaves of a potato plant are poisonous for a rabbit as they belong to the nightshade family. This is also a reason why usually a wild rabbit does not live as long as a domestic pet rabbit. Wild rabbits consume these poisonous plants instead of eating food that is rich in fiber or greens which are healthy for them.What vegetables can rabbits not eat and why?There are certain plant products that are regarded as healthy for humans but they may not have the same impact on bunnies. A bunny requires food that is raw, rich in fiber, and healthy for its growth. The best example is hay. Here is a list of vegetables and some fruits too which are not exactly healthy for a bunny even though they are derived from plants.Vegetables such as potatoes, mushrooms, kidney beans, rhubarb, broad beans, and iceberg lettuce must not be fed to bunnies at any cost, not even in moderation. Leafy vegetables such as iceberg lettuce can be harmful to your bunny if consumed due to lactucarium present. There are some other leafy vegetables too which should be avoided by your bunny such as chard and cauliflower. On a positive note, your pet bunnies can consume herbs and leafy vegetables such as kale, mustard greens, broccoli, cilantro, celery, and basil.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked learning can rabbits eat potatoes, then why not take a look at can rabbits eat broccoli, or European rabbit facts?
Rabbits are small mammals easily recognizable due to their short tails, long ears, and bodies like balls of fur.
