Too much calcium can have a negative effect on a chinchillas health as excessive amounts can cause calcium stones. Like most rodents, chinchillas love to chew things. Specialties: The Wishbone Pet Company has the largest selection of raw diets in Santa Cruz, CA with a strong emphasis on holistic natural care. Reasons Why Theyre Smart. Always check the quality of your tap water at home before choosing this option. Two such posts that we have recently published are. Copyright tagDiv. Food Options. The answer to this question is no, Cat foods are not suitable for chinchillas and there are many reasons why you should avoid feeding it to them. Similarly, pet chinchillas should be offered food twice a day but may consume food throughout the day, as they tend to eat more slowly than other small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. The chinchilla will be stressed out by calm cats too. The short answer is yes, chinchillas can eat rabbit food. Chinchillas in the wild tend to consume most of their food early in the morning and late at night. Chinchillas enjoy dandelions because they have an interesting . You can give them raisins, carrots, sultanas, and basically all the things that were mentioned above in the list. This is made worse by the fact that chinchillas dont have the ability to pass gas and therefore the situation can become extremely painful and in some cases, it has actually caused death. You will only find the best in customer service and pet care at The Wishbone Pet Company . Gastrointestinal Disorders. (Later in this post, we will share the exact brand of timothy hay we recommend you purchase as well as the cheapest place to get it from). Made in USA; On Sale; Up to 25% Off: Select . This is especially vital in the first days when youll be able to closely supervise your cats behavior around the chinchillas cage.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'smallpetshq_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',186,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Here are some steps you need to take when introducing these two pets. They are very sensitive animals but can be great friends if you know how to take care of them. Semi-dry foods consist of dried milk and grain. Homeopathic and herbal remedies. It is the purest type of water available and it does not contain any bacteria. [4] You can buy hay at most pet stores or online. This is all too situational and it depends on the character of the pet. Please do not leave them alone at any moment as our pets security is our topmost priority. Even though this might sound really confusing, if you follow the feeding guide later in the post then you should have no issues with over or underfeeding greens to your chinchilla. However, in many cases, this is easier said than done. But here is a pretty extensive list of what is safe for chins and most can be found in the bulk section of a health food store for cheap. Chinchillas and cats can get along just fine, but this depends on your cats personality and demeanor. It should be bright green and smell fresh, or else it can be harmful to your chinchilla. Foods to Avoid (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Pumpkin? Thats why they need to have toys and accessories in their houses. They love to play and interact with humans which makes them excellent pets. Take a look at the guide below that details what foods your chinchilla should eat and in what quantities. As such, it can cause kidney damage and other health problems. They also need to have access to fresh water at all times. Greens especially leafy greens are a food group that you can and should offer to your chinchilla on a regular basis. Those products can be harmful to your digestive system in large quantities, so keep small portions in hand. I would suggest to avoid fruits like Apples. Theyve become the subject of fascination for many animal lovers who enjoy their antics. Additionally, chinchillas can be fed a small amount (1-2 tbsp/day) of a commercial pelleted diet formulated for chinchillas. These exotic animals need chinchilla food pellets every day, a well but in a much more controlled quantity. With this being said, as an owner, there is one nutrient that you will notice your chinchilla seems to need more than anything elseand thats fibre. Plain Cheerios. Its important to understand that this is a guide only. From their increased curiosity and affection to their unmatched affordability, chinchillas will always be amazing pets. Chins have a high metabolism and can eat constantlyideally, they shouldn't go without food for more than 12 hours, but 24 hours is doable if absolutely necessary. Provide hay in your chinchilla's cage at all times so it has something to graze on. Only a couple of tablespoons (1-2 tablespoons) of pellets should be given as daily amounts to a baby or adult chinchilla. This means your cat gets to see your chinchilla but isnt in a position to touch it.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smallpetshq_com-portrait-1','ezslot_19',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-portrait-1-0'); You also need to make sure that this area is just as comfy as where your chinchilla is to avoid your cat from wanting to stretch inside the cage bars.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'smallpetshq_com-leader-4','ezslot_8',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-leader-4-0'); Moreover, make sure there isnt a bed positioned over the chinchillas cage to prevent your cat from having a post from where it might try and reach the chinchilla. If you want to give them something extra special, then you can include some fruit snacks, peanut butter, cheese, or eggshells into their food bowl every once in a while. Adult chinchillas are recommended to eat timothy hay as this provides all the nutrients your chinchilla needs and in the correct quantities. Chinchillas are among the most intelligent and fun pets to have. For example, if you have horses then you know they're prone to overeating. You should also consider designing hiding spots where your chinchilla can sleep or hide whenever its feeling tensed due to the cats presence.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smallpetshq_com-leader-3','ezslot_6',187,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-leader-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smallpetshq_com-leader-3','ezslot_7',187,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-leader-3-0_1'); .leader-3-multi-187{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. Cat with can food. A good quality pellet usually contains vitamins such as vitamins A, B12, D3 & E. In contrast to hay, where you should provide it in large quantities, pellets should be offered in smaller amounts and make up more of the remaining 10% of your chinchillas diet. Approximately 75% to 80% of your chinchilla's diet should be made up of fresh hay. The good thing is that even though chinchillas dont eat a vast selection and variety of foods, they get most if not all of the nutrition they need from this basic diet. One of the questions we were asked recently was whether Chinchillas were territorial and we felt compelled to delve into this subject a bit deeper and provide you with some more useful information How Often Should Chinchillas Have Dust Baths? On the flip side to this, if your chinchillas have more phosphorus than calcium in their diet then this can also, cause health problems with muscle development, bones health and growth. Please talk to your vet for a detailed diet plan that suits the individual needs of your pet. Treats such as dried fruit, grains, nuts and seeds should not be offered, as they are not easily digested and may lead to tooth damage. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. Now, lets talk more about the healthy treats that you should feed these exotic animals. Not only that, chinchillas are similar to other animals, such as cats or dogs. hay, fresh vegetables, and pellets should still make up the majority of their diet. Again, you can head over to our dedicated page herewhere we share all of our recommended food products for your chinchilla and the best place to purchase them from. Chinchillas in captivity often require a balanced diet of low fat, low moisture, low carbohydrates, and high fiber. If you are thinking of becoming a new pet parent, having a chinchilla will be the ultimate solution. The recommended ratio for calcium to phosphorus is 2:1 so thats two parts calcium to every one part phosphorus. Hay which is sweeter and has more nutrients, should be mostly given to young chinchillas and only occasionally to adult chinchillas. . It is important to remember the natural chinchilla diet is mainly made up of hay and grass, with some twigs and leaves in between. head over to our post that shares all you need to know. If you want to know what age baby chinchillas are weaned then head over to our post that shares all you need to know. You can either purchase wood sticks from a store or collect your own. You can find out exactly which variety of Cheerios is safe to feed to your chinchilla right here, then check our easy to follow guide here. This is because chins can get ill if they are exposed to large amounts of water on their fur. Unlike cat food or dog food, this will contain many of the nutrients that a chinchilla needs to stay fit and healthy. Some use only meat products while others include vegetables and grains. While long term overfeeding of sugary foods can cause problems such as tooth decay and obesity, even overfeeding sugary food just once and cause diarrhoea and gas. Cats are carnivores (meat-eaters) whereas chinchillas are herbivores (plant-eaters). They have very different nutritional needs. Much like many other rodents, a chinchillas teeth continue to grow throughout their life, so they need food that will help to stop them from overgrowing. Are Chinchillas Territorial? Fruits and Veggies - Fresh fruits, fresh greens, and other veggies are a healthy part of your chinchilla's diet as well. Persians (the Chinchilla is in the Persian or Longhair cat family) can carry a gene that leads to kidney failure (called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease) through the development of cysts in the kidney. Or, you could hand out small amounts of peanut butter or cheese. The most important thing is to provide chinchillas with additional water, especially in summer, and monitor their daily water intake. link to How Often Should Chinchillas Have Dust Baths? Cat food comes in many different varieties: wet, semi-dry, and dry. The worry is that the chinchilla will refuse to eat unless being served the ingredient (even if a health condition requires them not to eat it anymore.) In addition to that, if you have two or more chinchillas, they can become quite protective of the feeding bowl, which can cause fights between the chinchillas, and also, one might eat more than the other. Chinchillas are rodents and behave in pretty much the same way as a squirrel would. Either way, you need to be careful when offering your chin both fruit and dried fruit and always check to see if the fruit is recommended for chinchillas and what quantities it should be offered in. Studying the plants that chinchillas eat on a regular basis was particularly interesting for those scientists. So, for a chinchilla to have healthy digestion and be free of illnesses like dental disease and digestion troubles, you need to choose the best chinchilla food that is healthy and appetizing. chinchillabreeders.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Therefore, if you own these two pets, its crucial to have them slowly introduced to each other or else risk your cat attacking the chinchilla. Timothy hay should be offered in unlimited quantities so your chinchilla can graze and feed on it continually throughout the day, again, more on the exact amounts of food to offer your chin each day later in the post. The body of an average chinchilla grows to about 10 inches long, but it can range from 8 inches to 12 inches, and its tail will typically be about 5 inches in length. If you want to bring a chinchilla into your home, you could be worried about their diet and general health. In fact, the hamster food is likely to be harmful to them. Give your cat and chinchilla enough time to get used to each other. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Rabbit Food? 4. While chinchillas and hamsters may seem similar, their diets couldn't be more different, and that means you . Stay on top of the latest news about canine behavior, nutrition and health. Yes, the chinchilla that you have been eyeing for quite some time now. Chinchillas in the wild will eat a variety of plants, shrubs, and grasses. But if you want to own both of these pets, the question running in your mind right now is, do chinchillas get along with cats? Chinchillas require a diet that mainly consists of timothy hay with the addition of supplementary chinchilla pellets. This might not sound that bad at first, however, the fact that a chinchillas digestional tract isnt adapted to processing large amounts of sugar means that it can be left to ferment and cause gas. You should never feed a chinchilla hamster food, as it is one of the worst blends of ingredients for chinchillas to consume. Belmore, NSW. As with all pets, a proper diet is key to health and long life in chinchillas. Cats with a chinchilla coat pattern have white undercoats and tipping on the back, tail, head, and flanks. They can easily get an upset stomach and have a limited capacity for digestion. It is also coarse enough to keep their teeth short and stop them from overgrowing. As we mentioned earlier, hay is the most important part of a chinchillas diet. Chinchillas can eat leaves and twigs in captivity, yet these types of food are more difficult to find when not in the wild. Hey is extremely high in fibre which is important as the dietary tract of a chinchilla requires constant movement and large amounts of fibre are essential to help with this process. Feeding adult chinchillas too much alfalfa hay can cause obesity and even calcium stones as the level of calcium and other nutrients is too high and out of balance. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Nuts? Even though your chinchilla and cat might get along just fine, its advisable never to leave these two pets unsupervised or unattended when interacting with each other.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smallpetshq_com-portrait-2','ezslot_20',176,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-portrait-2-0'); With that said, for your cat and your chinchilla to get along are two different things you must consider before getting these two pets living in the same house. As such, its best to look for a reputable brand of dry food made specifically for chinchillas. But guinea pigs are actually really good at eating slowly and reading their body. To try to mimic this rough vegetation, the mainstay of pet chinchillas diets should be hay offered in unlimited quantities. Chinchilla/Hedgehog; Ferrets; Guinea Pigs; Gerbils/Hamsters; Mice/Rats; Rabbits; Featured Shops. Some owners are allergic to hay, so what should they do? If rabbits were to eat chinchilla . By contrast, cats require a diet high in both fat and carbohydrates. and always check to see if the fruit is recommended for chinchillas and what quantities it should be offered in. Doing this is vital because your cats natural hunting instinct might kick in at any moment. You can either purchase wood sticks from a store or collect your own, Wash The wood Thoroughly (remove all visible dirt), Ensure Sticks Are Totally Dry (should easily snap under pressure), Timothy or Orchard Grass Hay Always Available. Once again, this boils down to the fact that chinchillas dont need the nutrition from fruits to be healthy so they are only a luxury. Its important to offer your chinchillas an unlimited amount of fresh hay in their cage daily so they can continually consume the large amounts of fibre they need. They should be given very small amounts of chinchilla vegetables like carrots and leafy greens as healthy treats. Small pets like chinchillas have very specific dietary needs. Therefore, you need to make sure your chinchilla is safe in the cage placed in a different room your cat cant go into. One thing thats worth pointing out is that orchard grass hay is slightly more coarse than standard timothy hay and will do a better job of keeping your chinchillas teeth short if they are starting to look overgrown. These commissions help to keep the rest of my content free, so thank you! In the wild, chinchillas live in cold mountains, crevices of rocks, moving from rock to rock to escape from predators and to find food. This leads to severe pain as they chew, in addition to drooling and possible eye discharge from upper tooth root pressure on tear ducts. Water should be provided in the form of a water bottle rather than a bowl as this is much more hygienic for your chinchilla. Greens and veggies that would usually be considered really healthy choices for most animals can be harmful to chinchillas as nutrients such as calcium can cause unwanted health problems if consumed too often and in large quantities. Although fruits and nuts are something that can be fed to chinchillas, it is best to avoid them. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Hard objects, such as branches from non-toxic fruit trees (like apple, pear, and peach trees), can be given to promote chewing and teeth wear, but toxic trees (like cherry, cedar, plum and redwood) should be avoided. Chinchillas have an extremely sensitive digestive system and the large amounts of sugar that are usually present in fruit can be harmful to your chinchilla. Take a look at this guide that shares the types of water your chinchilla can drink, If you want to know everything you need to know about chinchilla water bottles in less than 3 minutes then check our easy to follow guide here. Reasons Why Theyre SmartContinue, This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. By doing this, you can be confident that your chinchilla doesnt suffer any physical harm plus is safe from any stress. This acrobatic animal eats food with a sweet smell as they are very picky. Chinchilla Pet Animals and Pets. Keeping in mind that chinchillas cant eat fatty food, there are some treats that they like that contain fat, but chinchillas love them. This is because wet cat food contains a lot of moisture and, as such, its difficult for chinchillas to digest. You have to be very careful with what you feed these animals, so here are some food items that you should never feed your chinchilla. Fat - 2-5%. The hamster food will not be nutritionally beneficial to them. Just 1 Persian chinchilla left male ( boy ) so playful and friendly and smart, eating dry and wet full trained ,indoor cats living with they parents free all over the house born on new year D.O.B : 01//01/2023 looking for for ever lovely house will b Age Age: 7 weeks; Ready to leave Ready to leave: in 1 week When it comes to pellets for chinchillas, its important that you purchase pellets that are specifically designed for chinchillas. Chinchillas are quite possibly at their happiest when using a dust bath and it is important we provide them with this little delight regularly to keep them content and in good health. 4. Most customers said their chinchillas can't get enough of these treats. [What Owners Will Want To Know], Can Chinchillas Get Fleas? Chinchillas love dandelion leaves. You dont need to panic about the role that calcium and phosphorus play in the health of your chinchilla, instead, simply stick to a basic and recommended diet of fresh hay, supplemented with pellets and a small number of fresh greens or vegetables. 2.5 Dried Cranberry And Apple. Strong expertise in both dogs and cats. Yes, they can, as harmful bacteria can be crossed from your cat to your chinchilla, causing it a severe illness. Specific Substrate Needs. Can Chinchillas Eat Cat Food? Chinchillas also need their diets to be supplemented with pellets to round off and balance their nutritional needs. 2.2 Dried Fruits And Herbs. You must always do this even after these two pets are acclimatized to each other and coexist peacefully. 2.2 Nutritional requirements. Chinchillas cannot eat hamster food. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Pecans? As well as knowing what foods chinchillas can eat, its also important to understand what common foods your chinchilla should be staying away from too. 2 Human Food Chinchillas Can Eat. kathson 35oz Hanging Automatic Food Water Dispenser Gravity Pet Auto Feeder Waterer Set for Rabbit Cat Dog Chinchilla Guinea Pig Hedgehog Ferret Rating Required Select Rating 1 star (worst) 2 stars 3 stars (average) 4 stars 5 stars (best) Occasionally, they will eat insects and bird eggs. Food items that need to be provided to them continuously are hay and clean drinking water. As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. Chinchillas only need to consume around 3-5% fat in their diet which is easily attainable from their base diet so foods such as nuts and sunflower seeds need to be avoided. Chinchillas will eat plenty of native plants in the wild to give them a good balance of minerals and vitamins essential for optimum health. . Raisins. A few hamster owners were concerned that their buddies would have trouble eating it because of its size and shape .