By contrast, cats require a diet high in both fat and carbohydrates. 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. Humans have food, and chinchillas have hay. Unfortunately, yes. To make sure that your pet eats food properly, you need to make the feeding time fun. Therefore, you need to make sure your chinchilla is safe in the cage placed in a different room your cat cant go into. This includes plenty of fresh green leaves and hay. Unfortunately, though, this doesnt mean that its going to provide your chinchilla with the nutrients they require. Chinchillas cannot eat hamster food. Instead, they prefer to nibble at their hay or grass. Their access to water and hay or grass should be maintained in a way that they never run out. Belmore, NSW. 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. Always offer small amounts of sugar to your chinchillas and seek advice from your vet if you still arent sure. Chinchillas enjoy dandelions because they have an interesting . 1. You can either purchase wood sticks from a store or collect your own. Chinchillas in the wild typically eat most of their food in . Guide + Chart. Gastrointestinal Disorders. Both chinchillas and hamsters are small rodents, so it's not surprising that they have similar dietary needs. You need to ensure your cat has a comfortable sitting area thats far from the chinchillas cage. All Things Dog. The diet for chinchillas should be monitored to make sure they follow it daily. It is also better to distribute the food all over the cage to make it fun and much healthier for the domestic animal. 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. Yes, they can, as harmful bacteria can be crossed from your cat to your chinchilla, causing it a severe illness. Fresh vegetables and fruits can occasionally be fed to your chinchillas, but only some of the fruit and vegetables your chinchillas digestive system can bear. As you know, chinchillas are very sensitive animals, so you need to be very careful with what you feed them. 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. Chinchillas love treats just like any other animal, but the treats can be deadly for them if you dont know the proper way or amount to feed them. , they get most if not all of the nutrition they need from this basic diet. 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. Specialties: The Wishbone Pet Company has the largest selection of raw diets in Santa Cruz, CA with a strong emphasis on holistic natural care. Chinchillas in captivity often require a balanced diet of low fat, low moisture, low carbohydrates, and high fiber. They have very different nutritional needs. It will keep them active and give them the appropriate amount of pellets per day, hay, and other food items per day as well. When they are let out of their cage, chinchillas Chinchillas come in a wide variety of colors. From allergies to zoomies, we have dogs covered like fur on a sofa. The diet of chinchillas should ideally be high in protein and fiber while containing low moisture and fat content. For instance, chinchillas were observed eating " Puya berteroniana ", a type of succulent plants . If you have to leave your chin alone for up to 24 hours, ensure you leave out plenty of food and water to cover the time span. Give your chinchilla space from the cat, which sees it as a prey. Although cats and chinchillas might not coexist peacefully at first, there are ways of promoting this to happen. . 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. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. While it depends on your cat's personality, many will seek out to hunt chinchillas. Like most animals in the world, chinchillas require a variety of nutrients to be considered healthy and for their organs to work correctly. Chinchillas can eat leaves and twigs in captivity, yet these types of food are more difficult to find when not in the wild. Chinchillas require a diet that mainly consists of timothy hay with the addition of supplementary chinchilla pellets. So, what exactly do chinchillas eat? By doing this, you can be confident that your chinchilla doesnt suffer any physical harm plus is safe from any stress. I'm a pocket pet enthusiast and I love sharing my knowledge and passion for these amazing animals. 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. In the wild, chinchillas live in cold mountains, crevices of rocks, moving from rock to rock to escape from predators and to find food. As for what kind of water chinchillas solid drink, you cant just give them any old water from the tap. Nonetheless, this can be achieved by only slowly introducing these two pets to each other. 2.5 Dried Cranberry And Apple. 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. If a chinchilla is not active, it can in fact be bad for their health and cause an array of chinchilla health problems. You should never feed a chinchilla hamster food, as it is one of the worst blends of ingredients for chinchillas to consume. C hoosing a pet is not a decision to be taken lightly. Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. Raisins and dried cranberries. Actually, a good portion of their diet is already rabbit food. Over time, your cat might get used to your chinchilla and stop attacking it altogether. Rhubarb. This acrobatic animal eats food with a sweet smell as they are very picky. They can also be found in mixed dried dandelion mixtures, which can include dandelion leaves, flower petals, and even roots. Keeping in mind that chinchillas cant eat fatty food, there are some treats that they like that contain fat, but chinchillas love them. [4] You can buy hay at most pet stores or online. What is the reason why Chinchillas are not allowed to consume blueberries? Also, as with people, some chinchillas may not react well to all foods so give new items in small amounts. Chinchillas are herbivorous and do not eat animal-based products. 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. So, what type of hay do chinchillas eat? 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. List Of Safe Greens & Vegetables For Chinchillas: Fruits should only ever be offered as a treat to your chinchilla. Fruit is a food that can be offered to your chinchilla as a treat. Some use only meat products while others include vegetables and grains. You should thus monitor it at all times to make sure it doesnt hunt down your chinchilla. Pelleted diets are better than a mixture of loose items. 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 . 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. However, in this list are food items that you should absolutely not feed your chinchilla and if you do, then going to a vet is the best course of action. As long as your chinchillas are eating plenty of their regular food so that they are receiving the right nutrition, there shouldn't be a problem. Additionally, chinchillas can be fed a small amount (1-2 tbsp/day) of a commercial pelleted diet formulated for chinchillas. Once you do this, you can be sure that your cat wont be able to swipe your chinchilla or its cage as they get used to each others company.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'smallpetshq_com-sky-3','ezslot_21',190,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-sky-3-0'); While you might be excoriated to introduce your chinchilla to your entire family, and this includes your cat, its vital first to make sure it first gets used to you. Do you see that furry animal? An aggressive cat will attack the chinchilla but with patience, you can train the pets to coexist. Chinchillas can eat a wide variety of natural food like hay, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, berries, dried plants, and herbs. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The short answer is yes, chinchillas can eat rabbit food. 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. This means it should comprise 35% carbohydrates, 30% fiber, 15% protein, 4% protein, and less than 3.5% fat. The foods below are considered unsafe or too unhealthy to feed to your chinchilla and therefore should be avoided. Changing the brand of pellets . The problem is that the majority of fruits are high enough in sugar to cause your chinchilla digestive problems amongst other things so only a handful are really considered safe enough to eat even in small quantities. Chinchillas are among the most intelligent and fun pets to have. So the treats that you choose to feed them should be given only occasionally. 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. How to feed the chinchilla. They need to have variety in the boring food they eat while also getting all the nutritional requirements met. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Chinchillas can't eat blueberries for a variety of reasons. Following a healthy diet will maximize your chinchillas lifespan. Dry foods are made entirely from grains and other similar products. Foods You Can Feed to Your Chinchilla as Treats Include: Rope Hips are considered one of the healthiest treats you can offer your chinchilla. Made from dehydrated rose hips, Exotic Nutrition Critter Selects Rose Hips Chinchilla Treats are great little chunks that you can even add to a food puzzle. In fact, when given the choice between dry cat food and fresh grass, chinchillas choose the latter every time! Do make sure to feed them every day and check if their droppings are dry and normal. What is more, this intelligence defines how much they will learn about their, Read More Are chinchillas Smart? 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. Too much calcium can have a negative effect on a chinchillas health as excessive amounts can cause calcium stones. Collect. 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. Indigestible bedding, such as wood shavings, also can cause obstructions. Reasons Why Theyre SmartContinue, This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. If they are fed certain foods together frequently, they will become accustomed to them always being served together. 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. Fresh Apple. Best Hay For Chinchillas 2023 Reviews and Comparison. 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. The most important thing is to provide chinchillas with additional water, especially in summer, and monitor their daily water intake. 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. The recommended ratio for calcium to phosphorus is 2:1 so thats two parts calcium to every one part phosphorus. All cats drink filtered water from the water fountain. Chinchillas and cats can get along just fine, but this depends on your cats personality and demeanor. All this time, as you do this, never make the mistake of leaving these two pets unattended because your cat might start startling or hunting the chinchilla.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smallpetshq_com-leader-2','ezslot_4',183,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'smallpetshq_com-leader-2','ezslot_5',183,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-leader-2-0_1'); .leader-2-multi-183{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:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. Plain Cheerios. This leads to problems including diarrhea, weight loss, and stomach ulcers. As we mentioned earlier, hay is the most important part of a chinchillas diet. This is the case when you own a cat and chinchilla because cats are natural predators, whereas chinchillas are rodents and are, therefore, prey. 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. For any new chinchillas owner, one of the very first questions you need to ask is what can chinchillas eat?. Can Chinchillas Eat Hamster Food? 2.4 Certain Breakfast Cereals. There are animals who have a harder time controlling their eating (we're not alone humans!). 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. There is very little difference in the nutrition provided between timothy hay and orchard grass hay. However, in many cases, this is easier said than done. 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. 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. 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. 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. The stomach, chest, and chin are pure white. These commissions help to keep the rest of my content free, so thank you! Remember that treats are only supposed to be offered sparingly and not in large amounts daily. You must always do this even after these two pets are acclimatized to each other and coexist peacefully. An overweight chinchilla is susceptible to many illnesses like diabetes, diarrhea, and liver damage. . 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. 4. Botanical hay. So, what should you feed a chinchilla? 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. Good hays include alfalfa hay, timothy hay, orchard grass, and blue grass. Its important to know how much food you need to offer your chinchilla each day in order for them to be considered healthy. All of our pet experts are here to help you and . Therefore, its best if you minimized contact between these two pets. As a pet, chinchillas can eat the same dried herbs and benefit from the nutrients. link to How Often Should Chinchillas Have Dust Baths? In addition, wet cat food is often too salty for chinchillas. Commercial pelleted food is also available for chinchillas but should be offered in limited quantities of no more than one-to-two tablespoons per day for an adult chinchilla. Feed them right, and youll have a happy, cuddly pet for many years. You also need to make sure your cat has a mellow personality to lower the likelihood of it attacking your chinchilla. They can easily get an upset stomach and have a limited capacity for digestion. The best way to safeguard your chinchilla from your cat is by placing its cage far from the reach of your cat. Both Chinchillas and Hamsters Are Small Rodents. 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. 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. Growing, breeding, and nursing chinchillas may be fed a larger amount of pellets to provide additional calories, protein, fat and calcium. They should be given very small amounts of chinchilla vegetables like carrots and leafy greens as healthy treats. 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. Can Chinchillas Eat Cucumbers And Is It Safe? Dont make sudden changes in their diets as it can upset their stomach. Later in the post, we will share the exact pellets we recommend you feed your chinchilla so head over to that section of the post if you are looking for good quality pellets. As you can see from everything weve discussed above, you should never feed cat food to a chinchilla. Along with the quality of good that you feed your pet chinchilla, the quantity is just as important. Shoot me an emailif you have a question! Do have hay constantly as well; keep a rack with hay and replace it routinely before it gets moldy. Below we have listed the most common greens that your chinchillas can safely eat in moderation as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Chinchillas can consume a wide variety of human foods, most notably vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, and grains. 2.6 No Sudden Dietary Changes. You may be tempted to buy cheap cat food from the supermarket. From their increased curiosity and affection to their unmatched affordability, chinchillas will always be amazing pets. 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 We ship to everywhere in Canada, and can deliver your package right to your door! You will only find the best in customer service and pet care at The Wishbone Pet Company . 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. When cared for and fed properly, chinchillas can make great pets. 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. 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. It is also coarse enough to keep their teeth short and stop them from overgrowing. Many also contain preservatives and additives which arent suitable for your chinchilla. In this post, we have listed many of the safe fruits for chinchillas although this list isnt conclusive. However, this makes them need a lot of physical and mental stimulation. 1.1 Understanding The Chinchilla Diet. . The chinchilla's pellets should be put in a food bowl, and they should be given fresh pellets every day. So what can chinchillas eat? Oxbow hay (low dust/hypoallergenic) Chinchillas also dont like eating cat food. 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. Purebred Chinchilla's. $1,200. 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. All greens and veggies should be offered in limited quantities and in moderation. In fact, the hamster food is likely to be harmful to them. These are usually made up of timothy or alfalfa hay, so you will have limited options to choose from. Cats with a chinchilla coat pattern have white undercoats and tipping on the back, tail, head, and flanks. It is not a suitable food for them to have, even in small amounts. It's safe to give your chin a raisin-size amount 2-3 times per week. This is because rabbits require higher amounts of protein than chinchillas, which is reflected in the content of their food. They are extremely high in fibre while offering low amounts of sugar. It is an animal that will get you smitten instantly, and its elegance will keep swirling, Read More Can Chinchillas Get Fleas? Most tap water is clean, however, dirty water can contain giardia and would not be suitable for use in your Chinchilla Water Bottle. Chinchillas in the wild will eat a variety of plants, shrubs, and grasses. Please do not leave them alone at any moment as our pets security is our topmost priority. Basic nutrients such as sugar, fat and even calcium can all cause health problems to chinchillas if they are overfed. Just like all other animals, chinchillas need good quality food to survive. Bottles water is safe for chinchillas to use but is an expensive way of providing your Chinchilla with water and some would consider this quite wasteful. Because of the sensitive nature of a chinchillas digestive tract, sugar can be extremely harmful even if its fed in moderate quantities. 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. 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? Eggshells are rich in calcium and, as such, theyre an excellent source of nutrition for your chinchilla! and how to get rid of itContinue. 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). 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. Fruits and Veggies - Fresh fruits, fresh greens, and other veggies are a healthy part of your chinchilla's diet as well. The Chinchillas are often described as adorable, but they're also Is your chinchilla looking a little too plump? 2 Human Food Chinchillas Can Eat. What Do Chinchillas Eat: Diet & Food Guide. All you need to hope for is that your cat ignores the chinchilla. Acidic foods can upset the pH balance of your chinchillas stomach and, as such, can cause stomach ulcers.
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