This leads to problems including diarrhea, weight loss, and stomach ulcers. Overfeeding of fresh greens also can lead to soft stool or diarrhea. As it turns out, chinchillas have an absolutely wide diet that varies considerably in the texture, hardness, nutritional value, etc. 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. 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. Can Chinchillas Eat Cat Food? However, its still possible for these two pets to get along, but this doesnt mean that youll find the chinchilla cuddling on the lap of your cat.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'smallpetshq_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_14',179,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-narrow-sky-1-0'); Yes, cats and chinchillas can live in one house. The 7 Best Deals on Chewy This March - AZ Animals 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. 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. What Nutrients Are Unhealthy If Overfed to Your Chinchilla? A few hamster owners were concerned that their buddies would have trouble eating it because of its size and shape . Please talk to your vet for a detailed diet plan that suits the individual needs of your pet. As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. Just like all other animals, chinchillas need good quality food to survive. If your cat does this, theres a high likelihood of it ignoring the chinchilla, which in turn doesnt get so stressed by the cats presence.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smallpetshq_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',181,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); However, if you have an overly active cat, it might not be a good idea to have these two pets live in the same house. Can Chinchillas Eat Dog Food - Ask Pet Guru Chinchilla Animal Facts | Chinchilla Lanigera - AZ Animals 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. 2.2 Dried Fruits And Herbs. However, they eat mostly vegetation and seeds. Their diets should consist of 30 percent fiber, 14-16 percent protein, 35 percent carbohydrates, 3.5 percent fat/oil, 4 percent sugar, 6 percent minerals and 7 percent moisture/trace elements. Chinchilla Diapers: What You Need To Know + Pics, 16+ Different Chinchilla Colors: Pictures + Pricing, How Fast Can Chinchillas Run? Homeopathic and herbal remedies. amongst other things so only a handful are really considered safe enough to eat even in small quantities. However, this makes them need a lot of physical and mental stimulation. They also need to have access to fresh water at all times. Chinchillas cant eat cat food. Chinchillas are so cute and such intelligent animals that make great pets. Can Chinchillas Eat Cheerios? What You Need to Know! Fat - 2-5%. It is not a suitable food for them to have, even in small amounts. 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 other hand, the natural hamster diet is mainly . So the treats that you choose to feed them should be given only occasionally. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If rabbits were to eat chinchilla . When cared for and fed properly, chinchillas can make great pets. What Treats Can I Give My Chinchilla? Healthiest Treats for Chinchillas and how to get rid of it, The Best Chinchilla Toys (Review) in 2023, Are chinchillas Smart? We have created a list of common foods that chinchilla owners regularly contemplate feeding their chinchilla. Grapes and raisins have shown to be toxic to dogs, ferrets and cats. Eggshells are rich in calcium and, as such, theyre an excellent source of nutrition for your chinchilla! We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. An aggressive cat will attack the chinchilla but with patience, you can train the pets to coexist. It is also built with a speaker for remote interaction with pets. Chinchillas in the wild typically eat most of their food in . 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. You can barely overlook the significance of animal intelligence. We have created a list where we share our recommended timothy hay and orchard hay products to feed your chinchilla as well as the best place to purchase them from and you can access the list right here. Do take your chinchilla to the vet if it is vomiting or showing any unexplainable symptoms. There are animals who have a harder time controlling their eating (we're not alone humans!). Note: Its important to understand that this is a guide only. However, in many cases, this is easier said than done. By Laurie Hess, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice). Always keep an eye on your cat even after your chinchilla and cat have started getting along. Bread and Dairy Products. 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. Having said this, both hay varieties will do a great job of keeping your chins teeth short and providing them with the nutrients they need to be healthy. As a pet, chinchillas can eat the same dried herbs and benefit from the nutrients. As a general rule of thumb, chinchillas dont need fruit to be considered healthy and they dont need it in their diet. Answer (1 of 2): It is not so much that they are 'fragile', but have different habitat requirements than we are used to. Page 2 | Chinchilla animal Vectors & Illustrations for Free Download They can easily get an upset stomach and have a limited capacity for digestion. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. If you're looking for a reasonably priced cage that comes with a variety of accessories, try the Habitrail Cristal Hamster Cage with Wheel. 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.) What Can Chinchillas Eat? - Pet Food Guide For a healthy domestic animal, you need proper food and a diet plan. To be more precise, these furry animals are mainly folivores, preferring a diet made up of vegetation.Some of the food items that make up most of their diet are seeds, grass, grains, nuts, and leaves. Small pets like chinchillas have very specific dietary needs. They have very different nutritional needs. Feeding your chinchilla excessive amounts of pellets does not supply enough fiber for their gastrointestinal tracts (which require high fiber for fermentation of food) and doesnt provide the roughage to wear down their continuously growing teeth. Basic nutrients such as sugar, fat and even calcium can all cause health problems to chinchillas if they are overfed. Dry foods are made entirely from grains and other similar products. cute cat; Cat cartoon; cat eat; 1. Acidic foods can upset the pH balance of your chinchillas stomach and, as such, can cause stomach ulcers. Due to their opportunistic nature in the wild, most chinchillas will eat any leaves, seeds, fruits, and nonpoisonous insects that it can come across, and because they are endangered . This is all too situational and it depends on the character of the pet. You should also try to avoid giving your chinchilla anything acidic, such as citrus fruits. 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. You should do this by giving your cat ample time to become used to the new smell while making sure your chinchilla remains in the cage. Chinchillas are among the most intelligent and fun pets to have. 3 Spot-clean soiled bedding daily, and do a full bedding change weekly when you wash everything in the enclosure with mild soap and water. We have two females & two males. Plain Cheerios. 1.1 Rabbit Food; 1.2 Hamster And Gerbil Food; 1.3 Sugary Foods; 1.4 Certain Vegetables; 1.5 Certain Fruits; 1.6 Processed Human Foods; 1.7 Chocolate; 2 What Foods Are Toxic To Chinchillas: Final Thoughts Give your cat and chinchilla enough time to get used to each other. What Greens & Vegetables Can Chinchillas Eat? Providing greens in small amounts and not too often is something you will have to get used to as a chinchillas owner due to the fact that chinchillas have unusual nutritional needs. The food has to be given in a timely fashion and should have wholesome nutrition that can fulfill your pet chinchillas required dietary requirements. 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. Chinchillas can eat a wide variety of natural food like hay, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, berries, dried plants, and herbs. Coprophagy helps to maintain the correct balance of intestinal flora within the gut, and also enables the chinchilla to absorb B Vitamins that are produced in the caecum (part of the gut). What Do Chinchillas Eat in the Wild and as Pets? | Pet Keen Collect. So, what type of hay do chinchillas eat? The most common flowers you can feed your chinchilla include rosebuds, rose petals, calendula flowers and cactus flowers. This is the case when you own a cat and chinchilla because cats are natural predators, whereas chinchillas are rodents and are, therefore, prey. It's safe to give your chin a raisin-size amount 2-3 times per week. What Owners Must Know! (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Pecans? As wet cat food is so soft, itll have absolutely no effect on keeping your chinchillas teeth to a safe length. Like. Fiber: should be at least 15%, preferably up to 35%. Furthermore, chinchillas might suffer from stress caused by your cat, which might trigger a sickness, thereby leading to its untimely demise. If you dont have at least a basic understanding of chinchillas dietary needs, then there is the potential they could become seriously ill as they have extremely strict dietary requirements. This means that chinchillas require a diet rich in protein but low in fat and carbohydrates. Those products can be harmful to your digestive system in large quantities, so keep small portions in hand. Chinchillas enjoy dandelions because they have an interesting . Or, you could hand out small amounts of peanut butter or cheese. 3 Human Foods For Chinchillas: Final Thoughts. Cats are feline predators that are known for hunting rodent prey like chinchillas. Health and welfare issues - other. Its advisable to have a big enough cage for your chinchilla to jump around should they ever feel threatened by your cat. Behavior & Training Food & Nutrition . Chinchillas have a rounded ears, plump furry bodies, short legs, and long tails. Only a couple of tablespoons (1-2 tablespoons) of pellets should be given as daily amounts to a baby or adult chinchilla. Following a healthy diet will maximize your chinchillas lifespan. Chinchillas can't eat blueberries for a variety of reasons. Although it is made from flour, bread has very few nutrients for chinchillas. Fresh Apple. "Hay should be offered free choice 24 hours a day and should be the main component of your chinchilla's diet." Hay should be replaced daily with fresh hay to prevent bacteria and mold growth. The brand that we would recommend using is Oxbow as their pellets are of a high quality and are fortified with vitamins such as vitamin D3. The Wishbone Pet Company - Santa Cruz, CA - Yelp Keeping in mind that chinchillas cant eat fatty food, there are some treats that they like that contain fat, but chinchillas love them. Foods You Can Feed to Your Chinchilla as Treats Include: Rope Hips are considered one of the healthiest treats you can offer your chinchilla. However, if you are allergic to hay, this is a great option as it greatly reduces the hay dust in your house, which reduces the allergic reaction that you might have to the hay. Just make sure that they are safe. What Can Chinchillas Eat? (The Complete Guide) - Pocket Pets Forever If you want to ensure that your chinchilla gets enough calcium, then you should add some eggshells to their diet. This means that feeding too many greens can cause an unbalanced amount of nutrients such as elevated levels of calcium and in turn, cause health issues. Can Chinchillas Eat Guinea Pig Food? Is it Safe For Them? - Petsvills Loose mixes may be nutritionally balanced while in the bag but only if your chinchilla eats all of the parts of the mix. What Human Food Can Chinchillas Eat? - Fur, Wings, & Scaly Things Look for a pelleted, formulated diet specifically for chinchillas that is 16-20 percent protein, low in fat (2- 4 percent), and high in fiber (15-20 . Always offer small amounts of sugar to your chinchillas and seek advice from your vet if you still arent sure. This ensures its overall wellbeing is guaranteed, meaning your chinchilla gets to enjoy a peaceful life. This leads to severe pain as they chew, in addition to drooling and possible eye discharge from upper tooth root pressure on tear ducts. All four have unique and beautiful personalities & are ready for forever homes. Oxbow Essentials Deluxe Chinchilla Food. Feeding any type of cat food to your chinchilla is a bad idea, however, feeding them wet cat food is one of the worst things you can do. Chinchillas are herbivorous and do not eat animal-based products. Chinchillas will eat plenty of native plants in the wild to give them a good balance of minerals and vitamins essential for optimum health. You can repeat the process for a few days, gradually increasing the time frame. When it comes to pellets for chinchillas, its important that you purchase pellets that are specifically designed for chinchillas. Are Raisins Safe for Chinchillas? | Infolific This is important because your cat might terrorize your chinchilla even when its in the cage by either hissing at it or staying very close to the cage. These exotic animals need chinchilla food pellets every day, a well but in a much more controlled quantity. . Of course, there are some other food items that chinchillas cant eat as well, so it is best to ask a vet if you are unsure about the food item that you could feed your pet. Hibiscus is known to be a healthy treat for chinchillas if offered in small quantities and is often used in commercial chinchilla treats. The chinchilla's pellets should be put in a food bowl, and they should be given fresh pellets every day. In addition to this, a lot of fruit can actually be harmful to chinchillas and they certainly cant just eat any and all fruits. Petscene 6L Automatic Pet Feeder Auto Dog Cat Feeder with 1080HD Camera Best Hay For Chinchillas 2023 Reviews and Comparison. All Things Dog. Hay that is recommended for your chinchilla. Chewing is good for your chinchillas teeth as they continually grow throughout their lives and chewing safe objects will help to keep their teeth short and healthy. Although cats and chinchillas might not coexist peacefully at first, there are ways of promoting this to happen. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Strawberries? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Shoot me an emailif you have a question! Image 1 is the male father & Image 2 is the female mother.. To make sure that your pet eats food properly, you need to make the feeding time fun. These are dried fruits, dried herbs, plantain, and root vegetables. Can Rabbits Eat Chinchilla Food? [Can You Feed It Instead?] - Pet Educate Some dos and donts for having chinchillas as pets are listed below. Chinchilla Pet Animals and Pets. Naturally aloof people might not want to be constantly hounded for canine kisses, just as cuddly types might be affronted by some cat breeds . Consequently, this lowers the stress level of your chinchilla that wont now feel like a target, thereby leading to an environment where these two can live together in harmony.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smallpetshq_com-netboard-2','ezslot_18',185,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-netboard-2-0'); You need to be careful about how you introduce your chinchilla to your cat is you really want there to be any harmonious relationship between these two creatures. Chinchillas are South American rodents that have continuously growing, open-rooted teeth to compensate for the wear that occurs from chewing on very abrasive, high-fiber grass and hay. Theyve become the subject of fascination for many animal lovers who enjoy their antics. The answer is that chinchillas do need fresh water daily and if they dont have access to water they will become dehydrated and eventually become ill and die. After all, it wont cost much and it might even taste good. Foods to Avoid Its always best to check before you offer your chinchilla a new fruit just to make sure its safe and to see just how much you can offer them in one sitting. All you need to hope for is that your cat ignores the chinchilla. This is because wet cat food contains a lot of moisture and, as such, its difficult for chinchillas to digest. Avoid pine and cedar shavings, as they can irritate a chinchilla's respiratory tract. What Do Chinchillas Eat: Diet & Food Guide - Your Chinchilla Pet Care No, they cant as theyre herbivorous, meaning they eat plenty of grasses or plants. link to Are Chinchillas Territorial? such as elevated levels of calcium and in turn, cause health issues. The chinchilla should be given fresh hay every day. [What Owners Will Want To Know]Continue, This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Purebred Silver & White chinchilla. There are so many different hay varieties to choose from and sometimes it can be hard to know which ones will serve your chinchillas nutritional needs the best. 1 The deluxe chinchilla food is made from high-fiber alfalfa meal to promote gastrointestinal health, with added fiber, protein, and fat derived from soybeans. Their access to water and hay or grass should be maintained in a way that they never run out. However, this isnt something they enjoy doing. If you want to know what age baby chinchillas are weaned then head over to our post that shares all you need to know. 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. Cat-for-sale in Leicester, Leicestershire - Gumtree Monitoring your chinchillas' diet. Poison Ivy. The chinchilla will be stressed out by calm cats too. Doing this is vital because your cats natural hunting instinct might kick in at any moment. These flowers should be dried before feeding to ensure that they are crunchy since our little ones love to nibble. . Hi, my namesElena Coolidge, and this is my site. I blog about their care, where to buy them, breeders, and more. You can give them raisins, carrots, sultanas, and basically all the things that were mentioned above in the list. This site 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. By doing so, youll be giving your cat and chinchilla ample time to get used to each other behaviors and smells. Wet foods are usually made up of milk and water. 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. Chinchillas dont need a whole lot of greens in their diet but they are still important in the right quantities. What is more, this intelligence defines how much they will learn about their, Read More Are chinchillas Smart? They eat all sorts of different plants . Some other healthy treats include rosehips and mountain ash berries. Chinchillas can eat leaves and twigs in captivity, yet these types of food are more difficult to find when not in the wild. If you ask your chinchilla what their fave treats are, dried cranberries and raisins are at the top of their list. So, excessive feeding can lead to diarrhea and urinary problems. As rodents, their standard diet tends to follow a more opportunistic model, with chinchillas eating plants, seeds, fruits, and insects that it can get its paws on. Greens especially leafy greens are a food group that you can and should offer to your chinchilla on a regular basis. Guide + Chart. 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. 2.5 Dried Cranberry And Apple. What Do Chinchillas Eat? A Guide to Their Diet - AZ Animals Strong expertise in both dogs and cats. , they get most if not all of the nutrition they need from this basic diet. If you want to get a pet chinchilla, you should take into consideration some important things before buying them. For this reason, we have chosen to list the most common greens and veggies that owners often choose to feed their chinchillas and that we can validate are safe using veterinary sources such as the. Can chinchillas eat rabbit food? - nahf.org This is because fatty foods are very harmful to their digestive system. Approximately 75% to 80% of your chinchilla's diet should be made up of fresh hay. It comes with a water bottle and food dish as well, all priced under $20. . 1. There are several reasons why you shouldnt feed your chinchillas cat food and, below, well explore each of these in more detail. Image Credit: Natalis.ph, Shutterstock. Unfortunately, though, this doesnt mean that its going to provide your chinchilla with the nutrients they require. Reasons Why Theyre Smart. In this post, we have listed many of the safe fruits for chinchillas although this list isnt conclusive. You shouldn't have a chinchilla in the same house or at least keep your chinchilla in a separate room. If you give the chinchilla time to first get used to you and its surrounding before meeting your cat.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'smallpetshq_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_10',191,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); This gives your chinchilla enough time to be comfortable with the surroundings, with this especially crucial as theyre very social creatures. 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. Can Chinchillas Eat Hamster Food? (What to Do in a Pinch) Studying the plants that chinchillas eat on a regular basis was particularly interesting for those scientists. Thank you for supporting us on our journey as we continue to publish content with the aim of helping owners care for their pets in the best way possible! The pets need chinchilla vitamins and nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid, nicotinic acid, vitamin C, natural vitamin E, and many more through adequate nutritional content. The most obvious reason why you shouldn't feed cat food to a chinchilla is because chinchillas are not cats! 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. So here is a list of fruits and vegetables that you can feed your chinchillas. As you can see from everything weve discussed above, you should never feed cat food to a chinchilla. Calcium and phosphorus play an important role in your chinchillas diet, albeit a complicated one. You need to ensure your cat has a comfortable sitting area thats far from the chinchillas cage.