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 PDSA. 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. 4. What is more, this intelligence defines how much they will learn about their, Read More Are chinchillas Smart? You can find out exactly which variety of Cheerios is safe to feed to your chinchilla right here(We researched all popular varieties and only recommend feeding your chinchilla these 2 varieties). From allergies to zoomies, we have dogs covered like fur on a sofa. Loose mixes may be nutritionally balanced while in the bag but only if your chinchilla eats all of the parts of the mix. | Learn More >> You are shopping: Livonia, MI Livonia. The chinchilla's pellets should be put in a food bowl, and they should be given fresh pellets every day. Do have hay constantly as well; keep a rack with hay and replace it routinely before it gets moldy. You need to ensure your cat has a comfortable sitting area thats far from the chinchillas cage. If you can imagine for a moment what that would be like, it is much easier to see why they need dust baths instead of w. 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. 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. Both critters should be eating a high quality hay as the majority of their diet. As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. Therefore, you need to make sure your chinchilla is safe in the cage placed in a different room your cat cant go into. You can give these things in moderation but make sure to avoid nuts and seeds as they are way too high in fat content. Image Credit: Natalis.ph, Shutterstock. A . 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. Always check the quality of your tap water at home before choosing this option. 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). 3. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Rabbit Food? These commissions help to keep the rest of my content free, so thank you! Besides, Read More Are Chinchillas Cuddly? 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. The foods below are considered unsafe or too unhealthy to feed to your chinchilla and therefore should be avoided. Keeping in mind that chinchillas cant eat fatty food, there are some treats that they like that contain fat, but chinchillas love them. Chinchillas are herbivorous and do not eat animal-based products. 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. Like most rodents, chinchillas love to chew things. Here is a breakdown of the nutrients your chinchilla needs in their diet and in what percentages. Hamster food is made largely of things that would be harmful for a chinchilla to eat. 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. Our main focus is helping owners to better understand and care for their pets with both straight forward and actionable advice. Because of the sensitive nature of a chinchillas digestive tract, sugar can be extremely harmful even if its fed in moderate quantities. (Benefits/Risks), Norwegian Lundehund: What You Need To Know. such as elevated levels of calcium and in turn, cause health issues. No fruits, seeds, nuts or vegetables. By contrast, cats require a diet high in both fat and carbohydrates. 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. This is important because these two pets have brains that are programmed to act differently. Yes, cats do attack chinchillas as their rodents, which they see as prey. The tipping can come in various colors, including blue, red, cream, and more. Feeding greens and vegetables in large quantities can upset the nutritional balance of the hay and pellets you are providing to your chinchilla. Collect. This can lead to blockages and other health issues. 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. 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. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Romaine Lettuce? 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. Basic nutrients such as sugar, fat and even calcium can all cause health problems to chinchillas if they are overfed. Every formula uses industry-leading volume of protein, glucosamine, and chondroitin. Cats are carnivores (meat-eaters) whereas chinchillas are herbivores (plant-eaters). 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. Purebred Chinchilla's. $1,200. You can preset the desired amount of food amount for your cat to eat and keep it healthier. In the wild, chins consume very small amounts of fat in their diet so offering them a high-fat diet that their gastrointestinal tract isnt used to can lead to more digestive problems. 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 a chinchilla is not active, it can in fact be bad for their health and cause an array of chinchilla health problems. Dried dandelions. After all, it wont cost much and it might even taste good. Chinchillas in the wild will eat a variety of plants, shrubs, and grasses. The chinchilla will be stressed out by calm cats too. So, excessive feeding can lead to diarrhea and urinary problems. Specialties: The Wishbone Pet Company has the largest selection of raw diets in Santa Cruz, CA with a strong emphasis on holistic natural care. 2.2 Dried Fruits And Herbs. So, what type of hay do chinchillas eat? Here are useful tips you should follow to ensure peaceful coexistence between these two: Whereas your cat and chinchilla might eventually learn to live with each other, dont expect them to be best friends. Humans have food, and chinchillas have hay. 2.6 No Sudden Dietary Changes. Eggshells are rich in calcium and, as such, theyre an excellent source of nutrition for your chinchilla! [Top Speeds], Is My Chinchilla Fat? Another important thing that they eat is pellets. Foods to Avoid Bread and Dairy Products. 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. You may also spot tipping on the legs. As such, its impossible for chinchillas to eat the same diet as cats. So, if you decide to make a purchase through one of the links on this site, I receive a commission for it. Chinchilla Sleeping Habits: Are Chinchillas Nocturnal? Its important to understand that this is a guide only. . Read on for everything that you'll need to know. They shouldn't be used in place of a proper diet of chinchilla pellets and hay. I would suggest to avoid fruits like Apples. The average pet chinchilla lifespan is 15-20 years 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. 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. . Again, although this is the common amount of food that your pet needs, you need to contact the pet veterinarian to be sure of ample amounts of food that your chinchilla needs. 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. cute cat; Cat cartoon; cat eat; 1. For any new chinchillas owner, one of the very first questions you need to ask is what can chinchillas eat?. They need to have variety in the boring food they eat while also getting all the nutritional requirements met. so from these numbers alone its clear to see that good quality hay is undoubtedly the most vital part of your chinchillas diet. 2 Human Food Chinchillas Can Eat. Hamsters vs. Gerbils: Whats the Difference. The hay should be dry and fresh-smelling with no trace of mold. Chinchillas can easily get their head trapped in these toys and suffocate. If they are fed certain foods together frequently, they will become accustomed to them always being served together. 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. 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. They also need to have access to fresh water at all times. This means it should comprise 35% carbohydrates, 30% fiber, 15% protein, 4% protein, and less than 3.5% fat. Package Include: PStarDMoon pet automatic feeder set contains 1 food feeder and 1 water feeder and 1 hay feeder bag, a complete set with large capacity, which can satisfy pets' drinking and eating at the same ; Size: The food feeder can hold 1400ml of food and the water feeder can hold 500ml of water, which can meet the supply of food . 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. Why You Shouldnt Feed Cat Food To A Chinchilla, The Risks Of Feeding Wet Cat Food To A Chinchilla, Can Chinchillas Eat Pretzels? (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). We have created a list of common foods that chinchilla owners regularly contemplate feeding their chinchilla. Finally, chinchillas need foods that help to keep their teeth grounded over time. There are a lot of food items that a chinchilla owner should never feed their pets. 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. The treats that these exotic animals eat are dried rose hips, dandelion, and hibiscus leaves, basically dried fruits, and root vegetables should be given to them. While it depends on your cat's personality, many will seek out to hunt chinchillas. It is also better to distribute the food all over the cage to make it fun and much healthier for the domestic animal. Foods You Can Feed to Your Chinchilla as Treats Include: Rope Hips are considered one of the healthiest treats you can offer your chinchilla. In the wild, chinchillas live in cold mountains, crevices of rocks, moving from rock to rock to escape from predators and to find food. Protein: should be between 16% and 20%. If you do this, your chins diet should easily fall into this low calcium and even lower phosphorus model providing you stick to safe and recommended greens and veggies. This will ensure that they look for it, as they had to look for the food in the wild. and how to get rid of it, The Best Chinchilla Toys (Review) in 2023, Are chinchillas Smart? Approximately 75% to 80% of your chinchilla's diet should be made up of fresh hay. No, they cant as theyre herbivorous, meaning they eat plenty of grasses or plants. Read More The Best Chinchilla Toys (Review) in 2023Continue, This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Hay that is recommended for your chinchilla. 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. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. 2.2 Nutritional requirements. Following this diet routine is to make sure your chinchilla doesnt turn into a malnourished animal. I blog about their care, where to buy them, breeders, and more. Because of this, its a good idea to keep their diet simple and stick to their base diet as much as possible and only add the foods that are needed to keep your chinchilla healthy. Hamster food contains ingredients that are high in fats, including seeds and nuts, which could even be toxic to a chinchilla's system. The popular cereal Cheerios are also seen as a treat that chinchillas can eat due to their dried nature and high amounts of fibre. Once this condition occurs, there is nothing that can be done other than to provide pain medication and soft foods. Some owners are allergic to hay, so what should they do? 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. Some use only meat products while others include vegetables and grains. Pics + 7 Signs Theyre Overweight, How Much Is A Chinchilla [Cost & Price Stats]. This is because rabbits require higher amounts of protein than chinchillas, which is reflected in the content of their food. 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. Instead, chinchilla feeds should address the following: Fat: should be between 2% and 5%. amongst other things so only a handful are really considered safe enough to eat even in small quantities. 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. As for what kind of water chinchillas solid drink, you cant just give them any old water from the tap. 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. Give your cat and chinchilla enough time to get used to each other. Semi-dry foods consist of dried milk and grain. Guide + Chart. We recommend that you stick to simple and researched greens and vegetables rather than experimenting with all sorts of different options that really arent needed, remember, a chinchilla only needs a simple diet to be both happy and healthy. You will only find the best in customer service and pet care at The Wishbone Pet Company . The Chinchillas are often described as adorable, but they're also Is your chinchilla looking a little too plump? All four have unique and beautiful personalities & are ready for forever homes. No, they can't as they're herbivorous, meaning they eat plenty of grasses or plants. These are dried fruits, dried herbs, plantain, and root vegetables. This means it should comprise 35% carbohydrates, 30% fiber, 15% protein, 4% protein, and less than 3.5% fat. 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. Tomato Leaves. Raisins and dried cranberries. Here Are Safe Wood Options For Chinchillas to Chew On: There is often a lot of confusion about if chinchillas actually need water. Fresh drinking water should be offered daily in a water bowl or bottle. Customer: Hi my name is***** and my granddaughter has a chinchilla and I'm taking care of her her name is ***** ***** her chest got wet because her water bottle was leaking and now her hair is kind of clumped a little bit but she's trying to pull it out what can I do to help her and she is so mad at me because I'm trying to take care of it and she's not happy can you give me some good ideas . But can rabbits eat chinchilla food safely? So the treats that you choose to feed them should be given only occasionally. A few hamster owners were concerned that their buddies would have trouble eating it because of its size and shape . However, in many cases, this is easier said than done. Always offer small amounts of sugar to your chinchillas and seek advice from your vet if you still arent sure. This cage features a plastic and wire mesh construction with a built-in wheel and hideout. 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. Those products can be harmful to your digestive system in large quantities, so keep small portions in hand. Chinchillas can eat leaves and twigs in captivity, yet these types of food are more difficult to find when not in the wild. Providing your chinchilla with safe wood for them to chew on is the best and most convenient option. Chinchillas will eat plenty of native plants in the wild to give them a good balance of minerals and vitamins essential for optimum health. Finally, since chinchillas cannot vomit, small or hard foods such as dried fruit, nuts, seeds, or raisins can get stuck in the back of the mouth or esophagus leading to salivation, gagging, lack of appetite and possible problems breathing. our recommended food products for your chinchilla and the best place to purchase them from. Can Chinchillas Eat Cat Food? 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. Like most animals in the world, chinchillas require a variety of nutrients to be considered healthy and for their organs to work correctly. 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. Those leaves, while not as pretty as daisies, are a healthy and natural food source for your chinchillas. 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. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. Instead, they prefer to nibble at their hay or grass. While hay should be offered in unlimited quantities, feeding large amounts of high-calcium alfalfa hay to non-breeding, adult chinchillas has been associated with the development calcium-based bladder stones. As a Chewy & flexoffers affiliate I earn commissions for qualifying purchases. The stomach, chest, and chin are pure white. Remember that treats are only supposed to be offered sparingly and not in large amounts daily. Cavies Know Their Body and Can Regulate Their Guinea Pig Food Intake. From their increased curiosity and affection to their unmatched affordability, chinchillas will always be amazing pets. We will be constantly adding new dedicated posts where we spotlight popular fruits so you can see in detail if the fruit is safe as well as how often and how much to offer your chinchilla. Oxbow hay (low dust/hypoallergenic) 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. Plain Shredded Wheat. What Owners Must Know! Chinchillas need hay between 14% and 16% plant protein. You can repeat the process for a few days, gradually increasing the time frame. Merrick dog food is a premium quality food, made with human grade meats and a selection of vegetables. Cats are carnivores (meat-eaters) whereas chinchillas are herbivores (plant-eaters). Provide hay in your chinchilla's cage at all times so it has something to graze on. However, this makes them need a lot of physical and mental stimulation. Oat grass. 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.