Bunny Coprophagy: Understanding the Reasons

Rabbits, much like other herbivorous animals, have a unique digestive system that allows them to extract nutrients from their food. However, one behavior that often puzzles rabbit owners is coprophagy, or the consumption of their own feces. While this may seem unappetizing to us humans, it actually serves several important purposes for rabbits. Understanding the reasons behind bunny coprophagy can help us better care for these furry friends and ensure their health and well-being.

What is Coprophagy?

Coprophagy is the ingestion of feces, and it is a common behavior among many animal species. In the case of rabbits, coprophagy specifically refers to the consumption of cecotropes, which are a special type of feces produced by the rabbit’s cecum. Cecotropes are soft, moist pellets that are rich in nutrients, particularly vitamins B and K, as well as beneficial bacteria. Unlike the hard, round pellets that we typically associate with rabbit poop, cecotropes are not expelled from the body but are instead re-ingested directly from the anus.