Rabbits are very similar to cats. They are meticulous groomers and maintain a high standard of hygiene. You will often see them licking their feet, rubbing their ears and cleaning their bottoms. They may also ingest a particular type of poop when grooming their bases. Although it may seem like a bad hygiene practice, rabbits do this for a reason.

What is coprophagia?

When feces are consumed, coprophagia is a condition. This behavior may seem strange to most people. However, rabbits eat their feces because it is healthy. While coprophagia can be a healthy behavior in rabbits, it is not common in other animals like dogs. It is discouraged in these animals because of the lack of health benefits or disgust from their owners.

What kind of poop do rabbits eat?

Rabbits, like all other animals and humans, eliminate waste material regularly. A rabbit’s normal excretion of fecal matter is a small, round pellet. However, it can change shape if sufficient fiber and water are not taken in. While the fecal matter is constantly produced by rabbits while hopping around or visiting their litterbox, it is not what they eat.

Rabbits excrete a special kind of poop at night in addition to regular fecal pellets produced during the day. Cecotropes are also known as night feces. They are a special type of poop not found in stable rabbit stools. Cecotropes can be softer and stickier than regular rabbit stools. They are often not seen by rabbit owners because they are consumed almost immediately after leaving the rabbit’s body. By fermentation, cecotropes are made in the cecum (a portion of the intestinal tract that a rabbit eats). These cecotropes are only produced at night, so you won’t see them eating rabbits at night. Cecotropes are rarely found in a rabbit’s fur or cage.

Why do Rabbits eat poop?

Cecotropes contain all the nutrients that a rabbit requires. Cecotropes are rich in vitamins and protein, which is why a rabbit can eat them along with a healthy diet. Cecotropes are eaten at night and early morning by rabbits. However, it is not a normal habit for them to consume their normal stool during the day.

Signs that your rabbit is eating its poop

Some key indicators will help you determine if your rabbit is eating its poop.

Check your rabbit’s hind ends first. Because cecotropes can be sticky and soft, a rabbit should have a clean back. Your rabbit shouldn’t have any small sticky, moist poops on its fur.

The second step is to inspect your rabbit’s cage’s litter box and floor. If the poops are normal-sized and appear round, your rabbit may be eating its cecotropes.

Third, keep an eye on your rabbit at night and in the morning. If your rabbit is spending more time below its tail licking its tail and cleaning its hind end, it may be eating its cecotropes.

Do You Want to Prevent Your Rabbit from Eating Its Poo?

No! No!

What if your rabbit isn’t eating its poop?

There may be a reason your rabbit is not eating its cecotropes. Transformation may be an option if your rabbit isn’t eating its cecotropes. Transformation is when cecotropes taken from a healthy rabbit can be given to a sick rabbit to help re-establish a healthy intestinal tract.