Are Chinchillas Cuddly? 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. It is important to remember the natural chinchilla diet is mainly made up of hay and grass, with some twigs and leaves in between. Chinchillas have an extremely sensitive digestive system as we have already mentioned in this article. They need to have variety in the boring food they eat while also getting all the nutritional requirements met. Their diet should be composed of about 35% carbohydrates, 3.5% fat, 30% fiber, 15% protein, and only 4% sugar. Plain Cheerios. I'm a pocket pet enthusiast and I love sharing my knowledge and passion for these amazing animals. However, this makes them need a lot of physical and mental stimulation. This includes plenty of fresh green leaves and hay. . Filtered water is ideal for use in Chinchilla bottles. The hamster food will not be nutritionally beneficial to them. Hamster food contains ingredients that are high in fats, including seeds and nuts, which could even be toxic to a chinchilla's system. 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. In fact, when given the choice between dry cat food and fresh grass, chinchillas choose the latter every time! Hay and specially . If youre a pet owner, one issue you need to weary off is the compatibility of pets, even though this, to some extent, depends on the pets attributes. Some of the more common culprits include inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infections, viral infections, parasites, ulcers, etc. Fruits and Veggies - Fresh fruits, fresh greens, and other veggies are a healthy part of your chinchilla's diet as well. The most common flowers you can feed your chinchilla include rosebuds, rose petals, calendula flowers and cactus flowers. The diet for chinchillas should be monitored to make sure they follow it daily. We have created a list of common foods that chinchilla owners regularly contemplate feeding their 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. Copyright tagDiv. 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.) The foods below are considered unsafe or too unhealthy to feed to your chinchilla and therefore should be avoided. Here is a breakdown of the nutrients your chinchilla needs in their diet and in what percentages. 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. For any new chinchillas owner, one of the very first questions you need to ask is what can chinchillas eat?. Provide a steady supply of hay. Long-tailed chinchillas are primarily herbivorous. Both critters should be eating a high quality hay as the majority of their diet. Dry foods are made entirely from grains and other similar products. Instead, chinchilla feeds should address the following: Fat: should be between 2% and 5%. Belmore, NSW. This means it should comprise 35% carbohydrates, 30% fiber, 15% protein, 4% protein, and less than 3.5% fat. Raisins and dried cranberries. Furthermore, chinchillas might suffer from stress caused by your cat, which might trigger a sickness, thereby leading to its untimely demise. What Owners Must Know! You can just grab little bits of a few things and make a little sampler jar! 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. If rabbits were to eat chinchilla . Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. No, they can't as they're herbivorous, meaning they eat plenty of grasses or plants. Cats are carnivores (meat-eaters) whereas chinchillas are herbivores (plant-eaters). 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. . Remember that treats are only supposed to be offered sparingly and not in large amounts daily. hay, fresh vegetables, and pellets should still make up the majority of their diet. . They have very different nutritional needs. As you can see from everything weve discussed above, you should never feed cat food to a chinchilla. Because chinchillas teeth grow throughout their lives, when they are not offered enough hay (and consume mainly pellets), the surfaces of their top and bottom teeth collide inside their mouths with such force as they chew that the roots of their teeth become impacted, like a persons impacted wisdom teeth. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Rabbit Food? Hibiscus is known to be a healthy treat for chinchillas if offered in small quantities and is often used in commercial chinchilla treats. When it comes to pellets for chinchillas, its important that you purchase pellets that are specifically designed for chinchillas. C hoosing a pet is not a decision to be taken lightly. 2.1 Fresh Vegetables. Distilled water isnt as easy to get hold of as water from the tap and it, unfortunately, does not contain any minerals which your Chinchilla needs. Reasons Why Theyre SmartContinue, This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. This leads to severe pain as they chew, in addition to drooling and possible eye discharge from upper tooth root pressure on tear ducts. 4. Poppy. 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. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Pecans? This will be possible if your cat has a mellow and calm personality and isnt so much interested in hunting, meaning itll most likely ignore the chinchilla. Chinchillas require a diet high in fiber and low in fat. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. Chinchilla Diapers: What You Need To Know + Pics, 16+ Different Chinchilla Colors: Pictures + Pricing, How Fast Can Chinchillas Run? Some use only meat products while others include vegetables and grains. Foods to Avoid 29493 7 Mile Road . If this is a problem you were undergoing, reading this insightful article has enlightened you to understand better if cats and chinchillas can get along. Protein: should be between 16% and 20%. Therefore, youll want to choose the hay wisely if you dont want, Read More Best Hay For Chinchillas 2023 Reviews and ComparisonContinue. And of course too many raisins can cause diarrhea. [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. In conclusion, make sure to feed your chinchilla with care and monitor their diets properly. Yes, they can, as harmful bacteria can be crossed from your cat to your chinchilla, causing it a severe illness. 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. In addition, wet cat food is often too salty for chinchillas. 2.3 Raisins. 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. Lets now take a look at each of these and see why you need to only offer foods that are high in these nutrients sparingly. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. There are some great hay-based pellets out there on the market that complement your chinchillas hay-based diet and fill in the gaps in your chins nutrition really well. The treats that you choose to feed them should be done in very limited and controlled quantities. 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. If you ask your chinchilla what their fave treats are, dried cranberries and raisins are at the top of their list. Although fruits and nuts are something that can be fed to chinchillas, it is best to avoid them. What Owners Must Know! You can give them raisins, carrots, sultanas, and basically all the things that were mentioned above in the list. You can give these things in moderation but make sure to avoid nuts and seeds as they are way too high in fat content. 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. amongst other things so only a handful are really considered safe enough to eat even in small quantities. Can chinchillas eat cat food safely without any issue? What Nutrients Are Unhealthy If Overfed to Your Chinchilla? so from these numbers alone its clear to see that good quality hay is undoubtedly the most vital part of your chinchillas diet. ; The long-tailed chinchillas will feed on insects, such as moths and grasshoppers, and bird eggs if the opportunity presents itself. Chinchillas love dandelion leaves. List Of Safe Greens & Vegetables For Chinchillas: Fruits should only ever be offered as a treat to your chinchilla. Or, you could hand out small amounts of peanut butter or cheese. Like most rodents, chinchillas love to chew things. They eat Royal Canin special Persian cat food and the kittens are eating kitten food. All Things Dog. Its advisable to have a big enough cage for your chinchilla to jump around should they ever feel threatened by your cat. If you want to bring a chinchilla into your home, you could be worried about their diet and general health. The amount of food your chinchilla needs to eat depends on their age, lifestyle and state of health. The small animals love their leafy snack so much that they can live off it alone. 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. 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. Specific Substrate Needs. Adult chinchillas are recommended to eat timothy hay as this provides all the nutrients your chinchilla needs and in the correct quantities. 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. Reasons Why Theyre Smart. 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. 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. 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;}. This means that chinchillas require a diet rich in protein but low in fat and carbohydrates. Created using the Newspaper Theme. Just like all other animals, chinchillas need good quality food to survive. Please talk to your vet for a detailed diet plan that suits the individual needs of your pet. 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. Chinchilla Sleeping Habits: Are Chinchillas Nocturnal? All of our pet experts are here to help you and . Never change your chinchillas' diet suddenly, as this could upset their digestive system and make them very ill. Its role in highlighting their adaptability to new or specif environments is matchless. For example, if you have horses then you know they're prone to overeating. Chinchillas require a diet that mainly consists of timothy hay with the addition of supplementary chinchilla pellets. 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. Both chinchillas and hamsters are small rodents, so it's not surprising that they have similar dietary needs. . Chinchillas can eat leaves and twigs in captivity, yet these types of food are more difficult to find when not in the wild. They are high in sugar, however, so give sparingly. Hamsters vs. Gerbils: Whats the Difference. An aggressive cat will attack the chinchilla but with patience, you can train the pets to coexist. Too much calcium can have a negative effect on a chinchillas health as excessive amounts can cause calcium stones. 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. If you want to get a pet chinchilla, you should take into consideration some important things before buying them. Chinchillas are herbivorous and do not eat animal-based products. So here is a list of fruits and vegetables that you can feed your chinchillas. 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. 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. Another important thing that they eat is pellets. The diet of chinchillas should ideally be high in protein and fiber while containing low moisture and fat content. 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. 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. Chinchillas in captivity often require a balanced diet of low fat, low moisture, low carbohydrates, and high fiber. Hamster food is made largely of things that would be harmful for a chinchilla to 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. Hay should account for anywhere between 80-90% of your chinchillas food intake so from these numbers alone its clear to see that good quality hay is undoubtedly the most vital part of your chinchillas diet. Oxbow Essentials Deluxe Chinchilla Food. When cared for and fed properly, chinchillas can make great pets. Chinchilla/Hedgehog; Ferrets; Guinea Pigs; Gerbils/Hamsters; Mice/Rats; Rabbits; Featured Shops. Because of the sensitive nature of a chinchillas digestive tract, sugar can be extremely harmful even if its fed in moderate quantities. So, if you decide to make a purchase through one of the links on this site, I receive a commission for it. This is because wet cat food contains a lot of moisture and, as such, its difficult for chinchillas to digest. Good hays include alfalfa hay, timothy hay, orchard grass, and blue grass. In addition to this, the chinchilla may choose to hide, seeking safety from the cat, thereby making it hard to locate. As such, its impossible for chinchillas to eat the same diet as cats. link to How Often Should Chinchillas Have Dust Baths? You will only find the best in customer service and pet care at The Wishbone Pet Company . Well, you should try to distribute the appropriate amount of food around their cage instead of handing them their feed in a bowl. While it depends on your cat's personality, many will seek out to hunt chinchillas. Poison Ivy. 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. It will keep them active and give them the appropriate amount of pellets per day, hay, and other food items per day as well. such as elevated levels of calcium and in turn, cause health issues. However, they eat mostly vegetation and seeds. Yes, cats do attack chinchillas as their rodents, which they see as prey. All four have unique and beautiful personalities & are ready for forever homes. Providing your chinchilla with safe wood for them to chew on is the best and most convenient option. Avoid feeding dried fruits. Chinchillas and cats can get along just fine, but this depends on your cats personality and demeanor. Note: Its important to understand that this is a guide only. As you know, chinchillas are very sensitive animals, so you need to be very careful with what you feed them. Chinchillas cant eat cat food. Approximately 75% to 80% of your chinchilla's diet should be made up of fresh hay. Occasionally, they will eat insects and bird eggs. All cats drink filtered water from the water fountain. 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. In addition to this, a lot of fruit can actually be harmful to chinchillas and they certainly cant just eat any and all fruits. Offering too much or too little of one food group can cause your chin to have digestive and even health issues. Oat grass. They can easily get an upset stomach and have a limited capacity for digestion. 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. So, what should you feed a chinchilla? These exotic animals need chinchilla food pellets every day, a well but in a much more controlled quantity. So, can rabbits eat chinchilla food? With all things considered, the best 2 hay choices for your chinchilla are. 3 Human Foods For Chinchillas: Final Thoughts. 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. This acrobatic animal eats food with a sweet smell as they are very picky. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. All greens and veggies should be offered in limited quantities and in moderation. 4. 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. Wet foods are usually made up of milk and water. Some owners are allergic to hay, so what should they do? 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. 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. Fruit is a food that can be offered to your chinchilla as a treat. [Top Speeds], Is My Chinchilla Fat? 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. 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. Dried Herbs. 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. They should be given very small amounts of chinchilla vegetables like carrots and leafy greens as healthy treats. The most crucial behavior factors about cats you need to know about them is that they are: On the other hand, the personality traits of the chinchilla are: With such divergent personality traits, its now evident why your cat and chinchilla might struggle to get along just fine. Strong expertise in both dogs and cats. This leads to problems including diarrhea, weight loss, and stomach ulcers. While chinchillas and hamsters may seem similar, their diets couldn't be more different, and that means you . What Nutrients Are Important For Chinchillas?