Chinchillas in the wild typically eat most of their food in . Milk and other dairy products are animal products and not appropriate for herbivores. It is important to remember the natural chinchilla diet is mainly made up of hay and grass, with some twigs and leaves in between. Most customers said their chinchillas can't get enough of these treats. 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. 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. Chinchilla's natural environment is the Andes mountains. No, they cant as theyre herbivorous, meaning they eat plenty of grasses or plants. Many also contain preservatives and additives which arent suitable for your chinchilla. Best Hay For Chinchillas 2023 Reviews and Comparison. 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. 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. These exotic animals need chinchilla food pellets every day, a well but in a much more controlled quantity. 2.6 No Sudden Dietary Changes. 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. Dry foods are made entirely from grains and other similar products. 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. Its important to understand that this is a guide only. 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. djvstock. It is not a suitable food for them to have, even in small amounts. You must always do this even after these two pets are acclimatized to each other and coexist peacefully. 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. Either way, you need to be careful when offering your chin both fruit and dried fruit and always check to see if the fruit is recommended for chinchillas and what quantities it should be offered in. Overfeeding of fresh greens also can lead to soft stool or diarrhea. Cats with a chinchilla coat pattern have white undercoats and tipping on the back, tail, head, and flanks. Answer (1 of 2): Why would you want to do that? Because of the sensitive nature of a chinchillas digestive tract, sugar can be extremely harmful even if its fed in moderate quantities. The food has to be given in a timely fashion and should have wholesome nutrition that can fulfill your pet chinchillas required dietary requirements. This ensures its overall wellbeing is guaranteed, meaning your chinchilla gets to enjoy a peaceful life. Fresh Apple. There are chinchilla hay pellets and hay cubes available as well. 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. They won't go hunting for insects, but if they see one, they will eat it. Grapes and raisins have shown to be toxic to dogs, ferrets and cats. 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. For a healthy domestic animal, you need proper food and a diet plan. Oxbow hay (low dust/hypoallergenic) In this post, we will share the foods your chinchilla should be eating on a daily basis, how much they should be eating as well as what foods they need to stay away from. Merrick dog food is a premium quality food, made with human grade meats and a selection of vegetables. Chinchillas have a rounded ears, plump furry bodies, short legs, and long tails. 2 Human Food Chinchillas Can Eat. Limit fruits and sugary vegetables (e.g., carrots) to <1 teaspoon/day. Some owners are allergic to hay, so what should they do? [Top Speeds], Is My Chinchilla Fat? Only a couple of tablespoons (1-2 tablespoons) of pellets should be given as daily amounts to a baby or adult chinchilla. Buy Merrick Dog Food online in Canada from Canadian Pet Connection. The foods below are considered unsafe or too unhealthy to feed to your chinchilla and therefore should be avoided. As a general rule of thumb, chinchillas dont need fruit to be considered healthy and they dont need it in their diet. All four have unique and beautiful personalities & are ready for forever homes. . Can chinchillas eat cat food safely without any issue? 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. So what can chinchillas eat? Fruits and Veggies - Fresh fruits, fresh greens, and other veggies are a healthy part of your chinchilla's diet as well. As you can see from everything weve discussed above, you should never feed cat food to a chinchilla. Chinchillas in the wild tend to consume most of their food early in the morning and late at night. Their mum is a chinchilla Persian Semi-long haired silky & soft coat and their Dad is a red . Eggshells are rich in calcium and, as such, theyre an excellent source of nutrition for your chinchilla! So here is a list of fruits and vegetables that you can feed your chinchillas. The rest can be a mix of pellets, fruits and vegetables, herbs but it's different for each species, as . So, what should you feed a chinchilla? head over to our post that shares all you need to know. 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. So, if you decide to make a purchase through one of the links on this site, I receive a commission for it. Why You Shouldnt Feed Cat Food To A Chinchilla, The Risks Of Feeding Wet Cat Food To A Chinchilla, Can Chinchillas Eat Pretzels? 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 . No fruits, seeds, nuts or vegetables. You can give them raisins, carrots, sultanas, and basically all the things that were mentioned above in the list. Fruit is a food that can be offered to your chinchilla as a treat. They also need to have access to fresh water at all times. Just 1 Persian chinchilla left male ( boy ) so playful and friendly and smart, eating dry and wet full trained ,indoor cats living with they parents free all over the house born on new year D.O.B : 01//01/2023 looking for for ever lovely house will b Age Age: 7 weeks; Ready to leave Ready to leave: in 1 week 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. They are very sensitive animals but can be great friends if you know how to take care of them. 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. such as elevated levels of calcium and in turn, cause health issues. 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. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. 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. Food Options. A few hamster owners were concerned that their buddies would have trouble eating it because of its size and shape . 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 can easily get their head trapped in these toys and suffocate. 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 means it should comprise 35% carbohydrates, 30% fiber, 15% protein, 4% protein, and less than 3.5% fat. . They should be given very small amounts of chinchilla vegetables like carrots and leafy greens as healthy treats. They can easily get an upset stomach and have a limited capacity for digestion. Chinchillas can consume a wide variety of human foods, most notably vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, and grains. 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. 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. If a chinchilla is not active, it can in fact be bad for their health and cause an array of chinchilla health problems. Botanical hay. The list below contains the fruits that chinchillas can eat in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. Some dos and donts for having chinchillas as pets are listed below. There are a lot of food items that a chinchilla owner should never feed their pets. 3. Another important thing that they eat is pellets. Chinchillas have an extremely sensitive digestive system as we have already mentioned in this article. 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. To try to mimic this rough vegetation, the mainstay of pet chinchillas diets should be hay offered in unlimited quantities. However, they eat mostly vegetation and seeds. 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. We have created a list of common foods that chinchilla owners regularly contemplate feeding their chinchilla. This is a question many pet owners ask themselves, and if you fall into this category, youre in luck.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smallpetshq_com-banner-1','ezslot_11',173,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-banner-1-0'); Heres a detailed article on the compatibility of chinchillas and cats to make you better informed on whether owning these two pets is a good idea. 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. Here is a breakdown of the nutrients your chinchilla needs in their diet and in what percentages. The chinchilla should be given fresh hay every day. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Rabbit Food? Please talk to your vet for a detailed diet plan that suits the individual needs of your pet. As such, its impossible for chinchillas to eat the same diet as cats. I blog about their care, where to buy them, breeders, and more. Water should be provided in the form of a water bottle rather than a bowl as this is much more hygienic for your chinchilla. Yes, cats do attack chinchillas as their rodents, which they see as prey. Hay which is sweeter and has more nutrients, should be mostly given to young chinchillas and only occasionally to adult chinchillas. . You should thus monitor it at all times to make sure it doesnt hunt down your chinchilla. 1. 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? Chinchillas enjoy dandelions because they have an interesting . What Do Chinchillas Eat: Diet & Food Guide. Provide a steady supply of hay. Their access to water and hay or grass should be maintained in a way that they never run out. As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. Image Credit: Natalis.ph, Shutterstock. These adorable kittens are loving , caring and very affectionate. Some other healthy treats include rosehips and mountain ash berries. Chinchillas require large amounts of fibre in their diet for their digestive system to function correctly. This leads to severe pain as they chew, in addition to drooling and possible eye discharge from upper tooth root pressure on tear ducts. Reasons Why Theyre SmartContinue, This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. 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. Chinchillas are also known to love flowers. This is usually the case for cats and chinchillas, which can be stressful for you as a pet owner. Cats are carnivores (meat-eaters) whereas chinchillas are herbivores (plant-eaters). Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. One of the Pocket Pets Forever is a website for lovers of pocket pets. Caring for a Chinchilla: What You Need to Know, Overgrown Teeth and Dental Issues in Chinchillas. Please remember that there are hundreds of greens and vegetables from around the world. Again, you can head over to our dedicated page herewhere we share all of our recommended food products for your chinchilla and the best place to purchase them from. This acrobatic animal eats food with a sweet smell as they are very picky. Source: The teeth of a chinchilla are also constantly growing and coarse hay is a must to keep their teeth short and shaped correctly. 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. Although fruits and nuts are something that can be fed to chinchillas, it is best to avoid them. 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. The chinchilla's pellets should be put in a food bowl, and they should be given fresh pellets every day. kathson 35oz Hanging Automatic Food Water Dispenser Gravity Pet Auto Feeder Waterer Set for Rabbit Cat Dog Chinchilla Guinea Pig Hedgehog Ferret Rating Required Select Rating 1 star (worst) 2 stars 3 stars (average) 4 stars 5 stars (best) 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. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Some of the more common culprits include inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infections, viral infections, parasites, ulcers, etc. Shoot me an emailif you have a question! The chinchilla will be stressed out by calm cats too. They shouldn't be used in place of a proper diet of chinchilla pellets and hay. But here is a pretty extensive list of what is safe for chins and most can be found in the bulk section of a health food store for cheap. We love merrick dog food, including dry and canned food, too! Chinchillas also require small amounts of fresh greens and can be fed occasional treats such as dried fruit from time to time. 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. Remember that treats are only supposed to be offered sparingly and not in large amounts daily. The quality of the ingredients used by manufacturers to make cat food varies enormously. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Pumpkin? 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. Chinchillas cant eat cat food. 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. Locust pods. Fresh drinking water should be offered daily in a water bowl or bottle. It will keep them active and give them the appropriate amount of pellets per day, hay, and other food items per day as well. Chinchillas are among the most intelligent and fun pets to have. Chinchillas are herbivorous and do not eat animal-based products. As it turns out, chinchillas have an absolutely wide diet that varies considerably in the texture, hardness, nutritional value, etc. They eat Royal Canin special Persian cat food and the kittens are eating kitten food. As mentioned earlier, chinchillas' dietary requirements are different from other animals, and therefore, they should not eat guinea pig food or gerbil food. If you want to know what age baby chinchillas are weaned then head over to our post that shares all you need to know. If you ask your chinchilla what their fave treats are, dried cranberries and raisins are at the top of their list. Just like all other animals, chinchillas need good quality food to survive. Image 1 is the male father & Image 2 is the female mother.. Chinchillas only need to consume around 3-5% fat in their diet which is easily attainable from their base diet so foods such as. When cared for and fed properly, chinchillas can make great pets. Reasons Why Theyre Smart. amongst other things so only a handful are really considered safe enough to eat even in small quantities. Overconsumption of pellets can also be fattening and can lead to obesity and diarrhea due to excess carbohydrate ingestion. Specific Substrate Needs. You also need to make sure your cat has a mellow personality to lower the likelihood of it attacking your chinchilla. Thats why they need to have toys and accessories in their houses. 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. On top of this, wet cat food has a tendency to stick around in the digestive tract for long periods of time. Chinchilla Image Credit: Veera, Shutterstock. You should also provide them with a dry food that has been specifically designed with chinchillas in mind. A chinchilla that is fully grown typically weighs between 1 and 3 pounds. as their pellets are of a high quality and are fortified with vitamins such as vitamin D3. 1 What Foods Are Poisonous To Chinchillas? 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. Growing, breeding, and nursing chinchillas may be fed a larger amount of pellets to provide additional calories, protein, fat and calcium. The hay should be dry and fresh-smelling with no trace of mold. Can Chinchillas Eat Hamster Food? This leads to problems including diarrhea, weight loss, and stomach ulcers. While it depends on your cat's personality, many will seek out to hunt chinchillas. 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. The popular cereal Cheerios are also seen as a treat that chinchillas can eat due to their dried nature and high amounts of fibre. Also, as with people, some chinchillas may not react well to all foods so give new items in small amounts. As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. Can Chinchillas Eat Cat Food? If you want to get a pet chinchilla, you should take into consideration some important things before buying them. What Nutrients Are Unhealthy If Overfed to Your Chinchilla? Instead, offer your adult chinchilla timothy hay or other low-calcium grass hays, such as orchard or meadow grass. You should never feed a chinchilla hamster food, as it is one of the worst blends of ingredients for chinchillas to consume. They can be offered much variety of good quality and clean hay like timothy hay, orchard grass, alfalfa hay, oat hay, or meadow hay. The diet that you choose to feed your chinchilla should mostly contain hay. This is made worse by the fact that chinchillas dont have the ability to pass gas and therefore the situation can become extremely painful and in some cases, it has actually caused death. Chinchillas need hay between 14% and 16% plant protein. 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. However, in many cases, this is easier said than done. The hamster food will not be nutritionally beneficial to them. Unlike cat food or dog food, this will contain many of the nutrients that a chinchilla needs to stay fit and healthy. Calcium and phosphorus play an important role in your chinchillas diet, albeit a complicated one. Are Chinchillas Cuddly? Both critters should be eating a high quality hay as the majority of their diet. Cats are carnivores (meat-eaters) whereas chinchillas are herbivores (plant-eaters). Poppy. I'm the main author of Pocket Pets Forever. 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. It is also better to distribute the food all over the cage to make it fun and much healthier for the domestic animal. It's not safe for rabbits to eat chinchilla food. As such, it can cause kidney damage and other health problems. Take a look at the guide below that details what foods your chinchilla should eat and in what quantities. You may be tempted to buy cheap cat food from the supermarket. Chinchillas in captivity often require a balanced diet of low fat, low moisture, low carbohydrates, and high fiber. Monitoring your chinchillas' diet. 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;}. 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. The treats that you choose to feed them should be done in very limited and controlled quantities. Two such posts that we have recently published are. Its important to know how much food you need to offer your chinchilla each day in order for them to be considered healthy. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are animals who have a harder time controlling their eating (we're not alone humans!). Later in the post, we will show you how much hay, pellets, greens and fruit your chinchillas should ideally eat per day. As wet cat food is so soft, itll have absolutely no effect on keeping your chinchillas teeth to a safe length. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Romaine Lettuce?
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