You may be tempted to buy cheap cat food from the supermarket. They should be given very small amounts of chinchilla vegetables like carrots and leafy greens as healthy treats. Second, not all rabbit foods are created equal. Chinchillas also dont like eating cat food. Can Chinchillas Eat Hamster Food? There is, however, no harm in using this type of water providing they get enough minerals from elsewhere. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. No, they can't as they're herbivorous, meaning they eat plenty of grasses or plants. 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. Even though greens are considered healthy or even vital for the majority of the animal kingdom, they are actually less important to the health of a chinchilla so they should only be offered in smaller quantities. Chinchillas cannot eat hamster food. Always offer small amounts of sugar to your chinchillas and seek advice from your vet if you still arent sure. Image Credit: Natalis.ph, Shutterstock. Their access to water and hay or grass should be maintained in a way that they never run out. Special emphasis on nutritional support. Chinchillas can easily get their head trapped in these toys and suffocate. Plain Shredded Wheat. You can give these things in moderation but make sure to avoid nuts and seeds as they are way too high in fat content. Changing the brand of pellets . (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Nuts? A tablespoon or two each day is appropriate for most chinchillas. Over time, your cat might get used to your chinchilla and stop attacking it altogether. head over to our post that shares all you need to know. Its role in highlighting their adaptability to new or specif environments is matchless. For a healthy domestic animal, you need proper food and a diet plan. Some use only meat products while others include vegetables and grains. 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 Many also contain preservatives and additives which arent suitable for your chinchilla. The best way to safeguard your chinchilla from your cat is by placing its cage far from the reach of your cat. The diet that you choose to feed your chinchilla should mostly contain hay. Chinchillas will eat plenty of native plants in the wild to give them a good balance of minerals and vitamins essential for optimum health. As it turns out, chinchillas have an absolutely wide diet that varies considerably in the texture, hardness, nutritional value, etc. I would suggest to avoid fruits like Apples. Studying the plants that chinchillas eat on a regular basis was particularly interesting for those scientists. It is important to remember the natural chinchilla diet is mainly made up of hay and grass, with some twigs and leaves in between. 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. You should also provide them with a dry food that has been specifically designed with chinchillas in mind. 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. Dried dandelions. Merrick dog food is a premium quality food, made with human grade meats and a selection of vegetables. The most obvious reason why you shouldn't feed cat food to a chinchilla is because chinchillas are not cats! You may also be able to give your chinchilla treats like rose petals, rolled oats, or even non-frosted shredded wheat. For instance, chinchillas were observed eating " Puya berteroniana ", a type of succulent plants . Below we have listed the most common greens that your chinchillas can safely eat in moderation as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Provide a steady supply of hay. If you want to ensure that your chinchilla gets enough calcium, then you should add some eggshells to their diet. They have very different nutritional needs. You should also try to avoid giving your chinchilla anything acidic, such as citrus fruits. Therefore, its best if you minimized contact between these two pets. Food items that need to be provided to them continuously are hay and clean drinking water. It is the purest type of water available and it does not contain any bacteria. The chinchilla's digestive system is incompatible with these foods due to their high water content, high acidity, high vitamin C content, high fructose content, and low fiber content, as well as their . It will keep them active and give them the appropriate amount of pellets per day, hay, and other food items per day as well. Hibiscus is known to be a healthy treat for chinchillas if offered in small quantities and is often used in commercial chinchilla treats. It's 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. However, in many cases, this is easier said than done. Give your cat and chinchilla enough time to get used to each other. Dry foods are made entirely from grains and other similar products. Please do not leave them alone at any moment as our pets security is our topmost priority. 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. Although cats and chinchillas might not coexist peacefully at first, there are ways of promoting this to happen. 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. 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. 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. As such, it can cause kidney damage and other health problems. Its advisable to have a big enough cage for your chinchilla to jump around should they ever feel threatened by your cat. However, this makes them need a lot of physical and mental stimulation. You'll need to make sure you'll be sharing your home with an animal that suits your lifestyle, available space, and even your personality type. Pellets should be hay-based and fortified with additional vitamins. Some people believe that chinchillas can eat dog food, but this is not a good idea. 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. 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. This means that chinchillas require a diet rich in protein but low in fat and carbohydrates. Cat with can food. Specific Substrate Needs. Chinchillas only need to consume around 3-5% fat in their diet which is easily attainable from their base diet so foods such as. Most customers said their chinchillas can't get enough of these treats. Because of the sensitive nature of a chinchillas digestive tract, sugar can be extremely harmful even if its fed in moderate quantities. This leads to severe pain as they chew, in addition to drooling and possible eye discharge from upper tooth root pressure on tear ducts. Chinchilla Diapers: What You Need To Know + Pics, 16+ Different Chinchilla Colors: Pictures + Pricing, How Fast Can Chinchillas Run? Chinchillas are very friendly animals. Line the cage with a few inches of dye-free paper bedding. 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. Pets are adorable, but having different species in your home might bring about some issues with some of them incompatible. The average pet chinchilla lifespan is 15-20 years Raisins and dried cranberries. Read on for everything that you'll need to know. This is all too situational and it depends on the character of the pet. Like most rodents, chinchillas love to chew things. Chinchillas have a rounded ears, plump furry bodies, short legs, and long tails. 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. This is because cats instinctive desire is to hunt down rodents while chinchillas tend to be more reserved and usually love hiding.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smallpetshq_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',177,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0'); Therefore, before you can even test whether your cat and chinchilla can get along, the first thing to do is establish each of these species personality traits. . 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. Avoid using wooden toy balls. Chinchillas require a diet high in fiber and low in fat. Chinchillas have an extremely sensitive digestive system as we have already mentioned in this article. Hay that is recommended for your chinchilla. Small pets like chinchillas have very specific dietary needs. If you want to get a pet chinchilla, you should take into consideration some important things before buying them. Alfalfa hay is usually recommended for young, growing chinchillas as it helps them to put on weight quickly but this is usually only offered until the age of around 9 months old. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Behavior & Training Food & Nutrition . Rhubarb. There are a lot of food items that a chinchilla owner should never feed their pets. 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. If you're looking for a reasonably priced cage that comes with a variety of accessories, try the Habitrail Cristal Hamster Cage with Wheel. In this article, we'll answer the above questions by taking an in-depth look at what kind of diet is best for your beloved pet chinchilla. Specialties: The Wishbone Pet Company has the largest selection of raw diets in Santa Cruz, CA with a strong emphasis on holistic natural care. These adorable kittens are loving , caring and very affectionate. To be more specific, the diet should have 30% fiber, 16% protein, 35% carbohydrates, and the rest should be filled with fat, minerals, and sugar. All of our pet experts are here to help you and . If your hamster has consumed any of these items then please seek veterinary advice. Guide + Chart. Semi-dry foods consist of dried milk and grain. Most tap water is clean, however, dirty water can contain giardia and would not be suitable for use in your Chinchilla Water Bottle. Fat - 2-5%. 2.2 Nutritional requirements. Basic nutrients such as sugar, fat and even calcium can all cause health problems to chinchillas if they are overfed. Fruit can cause problems to chinchillas such as. Our main focus is helping owners to better understand and care for their pets with both straight forward and actionable advice. Cavies Know Their Body and Can Regulate Their Guinea Pig Food Intake. What is the reason why Chinchillas are not allowed to consume blueberries? The only downside to dried fruit is that as nutrients such as fibre increase so does the sugar content and this can elevate the amounts of sugar into alarming levels. A . amongst other things so only a handful are really considered safe enough to eat even in small quantities. Can Chinchillas Eat Cucumbers And Is It Safe? They have very different nutritional needs. So what can chinchillas eat? First off, you should always feed your chinchilla a healthy, balanced diet. Their diet should be composed of about 35% carbohydrates, 3.5% fat, 30% fiber, 15% protein, and only 4% sugar. [What Owners Will Want To Know], Can Chinchillas Get Fleas? The popular cereal Cheerios are also seen as a treat that chinchillas can eat due to their dried nature and high amounts of fibre. Cats are feline predators that are known for hunting rodent prey like chinchillas. Here is a breakdown of the nutrients your chinchilla needs in their diet and in what percentages. 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. You should never feed a chinchilla hamster food, as it is one of the worst blends of ingredients for chinchillas to consume. Can Chinchillas Eat Cat Food? cute cat; Cat cartoon; cat eat; 1. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. Chinchillas can eat a wide variety of natural food like hay, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, berries, dried plants, and herbs. Chinchillas in the wild typically eat most of their food in . We have two females & two males. This is usually the case for cats and chinchillas, which can be stressful for you as a pet owner. All Things Dog. These flowers should be dried before feeding to ensure that they are crunchy since our little ones love to nibble. 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? Poison Ivy. Chinchillas could be temperate and might be picky eaters, and you should be careful about, Read More Can Chinchillas Eat Cucumbers And Is It Safe?Continue, This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Now, lets talk more about the healthy treats that you should feed these exotic animals. our recommended food products for your chinchilla and the best place to purchase them from. 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. Guide + Chart. 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. The main takeaway here is that you should never give cat food to your pet chinchilla. Botanical hay. 1. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Just because a green on the list below is labelled safe doesnt mean that you can feed your chinchilla unlimited amounts of that green or vegetable. Foods You Can Feed to Your Chinchilla as Treats Include: Rope Hips are considered one of the healthiest treats you can offer your chinchilla. To be more specific, the diet should have 30% fiber, 16% protein, 35% carbohydrates, and the rest should be filled with fat, minerals, and sugar. Long-tailed chinchillas are primarily herbivorous. You can preset the desired amount of food amount for your cat to eat and keep it healthier. Caring for a Chinchilla: What You Need to Know, Overgrown Teeth and Dental Issues in Chinchillas. Make sure to cut these fruits and vegetables into small tiny pieces of cubes to feed them and know the proper quantity that they can handle through your pets vet. C hoosing a pet is not a decision to be taken lightly. 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. . 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.) , they get most if not all of the nutrition they need from this basic diet. You can either purchase wood sticks from a store or collect your own. Chinchillas also require small amounts of fresh greens and can be fed occasional treats such as dried fruit from time to time. Dried Herbs. By doing so, youll be giving your cat and chinchilla ample time to get used to each other behaviors and smells. 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. 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. such as elevated levels of calcium and in turn, cause health issues. Yucca. Acidic foods can upset the pH balance of your chinchillas stomach and, as such, can cause stomach ulcers. This is because chins can get ill if they are exposed to large amounts of water on their fur. Loose mixes may be nutritionally balanced while in the bag but only if your chinchilla eats all of the parts of the mix. Those leaves, while not as pretty as daisies, are a healthy and natural food source for your chinchillas. They also need to have access to fresh water at all times. and how to get rid of it, The Best Chinchilla Toys (Review) in 2023, Are chinchillas Smart? Fruit is a food that can be offered to your chinchilla as a treat. and always check to see if the fruit is recommended for chinchillas and what quantities it should be offered in. This is the case when you own a cat and chinchilla because cats are natural predators, whereas chinchillas are rodents and are, therefore, prey. Source: The teeth of a chinchilla are also constantly growing and coarse hay is a must to keep their teeth short and shaped correctly. As a pet, chinchillas can eat the same dried herbs and benefit from the nutrients. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Timothy Hay? ; The long-tailed chinchillas will feed on insects, such as moths and grasshoppers, and bird eggs if the opportunity presents itself. 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. 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. 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. This is because fatty foods are very harmful to their digestive system. Limit fruits and sugary vegetables (e.g., carrots) to <1 teaspoon/day.