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. We have created a list where we share our recommended timothy hay and orchard hay products to feed your chinchilla as well as the best place to purchase them from and you can access the list right here. Provide a steady supply of hay. 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. The short answer is no. The PDSA also recommends that you bake any wood you offer to your chinchilla for an hour and also give it a thorough wash to ensure its safe and clean. Unfortunately, yes. It is important to remember the natural chinchilla diet is mainly made up of hay and grass, with some twigs and leaves in between. What Nutrients Are Unhealthy If Overfed to Your Chinchilla? Give your chinchilla space from the cat, which sees it as a prey. Doing this is vital because your cats natural hunting instinct might kick in at any moment. 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. The quality of the ingredients used by manufacturers to make cat food varies enormously. . Fat is another nutrient that chinchillas need in very small amounts to be considered healthy. Do have hay constantly as well; keep a rack with hay and replace it routinely before it gets moldy. Every formula uses industry-leading volume of protein, glucosamine, and chondroitin. Provide hay in your chinchilla's cage at all times so it has something to graze on. When cared for and fed properly, chinchillas can make great pets. Raisins and dried cranberries. It will keep them active and give them the appropriate amount of pellets per day, hay, and other food items per day as well. What is the reason why Chinchillas are not allowed to consume blueberries? Treats such as dried fruit, grains, nuts and seeds should not be offered, as they are not easily digested and may lead to tooth damage. Their access to water and hay or grass should be maintained in a way that they never run out. Semi-dry foods consist of dried milk and grain. 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? By Laurie Hess, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice). You should thus monitor it at all times to make sure it doesnt hunt down your chinchilla. I'm the main author of Pocket Pets Forever. so from these numbers alone its clear to see that good quality hay is undoubtedly the most vital part of your chinchillas diet. Fibre - 30-35%. Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. 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. Take a look at the guide below that details what foods your chinchilla should eat and in what quantities. 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. Chinchillas also require small amounts of fresh greens and can be fed occasional treats such as dried fruit from time to time. This leads to severe pain as they chew, in addition to drooling and possible eye discharge from upper tooth root pressure on tear ducts. Chinchillas can eat a wide variety of natural food like hay, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, berries, dried plants, and herbs. They have very different nutritional needs. Dont discourage your pet from eating its own dropping, as it is natural for them to do so. 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 . A . The hamster food will not be nutritionally beneficial to them. An overweight chinchilla is susceptible to many illnesses like diabetes, diarrhea, and liver damage. They need to have variety in the boring food they eat while also getting all the nutritional requirements met. Following this diet routine is to make sure your chinchilla doesnt turn into a malnourished animal. Caring for a Chinchilla: What You Need to Know, Overgrown Teeth and Dental Issues in Chinchillas. Cat with can food. This list includes common household foods that hamster should avoid but is by no means exhaustive. Cat food comes in many different varieties: wet, semi-dry, and dry. What Owners Must Know! Some use only meat products while others include vegetables and grains. 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. Overconsumption of pellets can also be fattening and can lead to obesity and diarrhea due to excess carbohydrate ingestion. . As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. Raisins. 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. To try to mimic this rough vegetation, the mainstay of pet chinchillas diets should be hay offered in unlimited quantities. 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. They are high in sugar, however, so give sparingly. This will ensure that they look for it, as they had to look for the food in the wild. 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. You can add a small amount of commercially available pelleted chinchilla food to your chinchilla's diet. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For a healthy domestic animal, you need proper food and a diet plan. There are animals who have a harder time controlling their eating (we're not alone humans!). (Later in this post, we will share the exact brand of timothy hay we recommend you purchase as well as the cheapest place to get it from). Hi, my namesElena Coolidge, and this is my site. The stomach, chest, and chin are pure white. Please do not leave them alone at any moment as our pets security is our topmost priority. Protein - 16-20%. From allergies to zoomies, we have dogs covered like fur on a sofa. But can rabbits eat chinchilla food safely? This means that feeding too many greens can cause an unbalanced amount of nutrients such as elevated levels of calcium and in turn, cause health issues. As you know, chinchillas are very active, so they run around a lot. However, this isnt something they enjoy doing. For instance, chinchillas were observed eating " Puya berteroniana ", a type of succulent plants . You should also try to avoid giving your chinchilla anything acidic, such as citrus fruits. In conclusion, make sure to feed your chinchilla with care and monitor their diets properly. 1.1 Understanding The Chinchilla Diet. These are usually made up of timothy or alfalfa hay, so you will have limited options to choose from. Read on for everything that you'll need to know. Give your cat and chinchilla enough time to get used to each other. Cats are carnivores (meat-eaters) whereas chinchillas are herbivores (plant-eaters). Please talk to your vet for a detailed diet plan that suits the individual needs of your pet. The kittens get lots of attention and handling, so grooming and cleaning the eyes will be easy in the future. If you're looking for a reasonably priced cage that comes with a variety of accessories, try the Habitrail Cristal Hamster Cage with Wheel. You can preset the desired amount of food amount for your cat to eat and keep it healthier. 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. Fresh Apple. Too much calcium can have a negative effect on a chinchillas health as excessive amounts can cause calcium stones. Both chinchillas and hamsters are small rodents, so it's not surprising that they have similar dietary needs. You can also feed them a mixture of all these hays. How to feed the chinchilla. Also, as with people, some chinchillas may not react well to all foods so give new items in small amounts. Guide + Chart. head over to our post that shares all you need to know. Chinchilla Diapers: What You Need To Know + Pics, 16+ Different Chinchilla Colors: Pictures + Pricing, How Fast Can Chinchillas Run? And of course too many raisins can cause diarrhea. Our main focus is helping owners to better understand and care for their pets with both straight forward and actionable advice. Persians (the Chinchilla is in the Persian or Longhair cat family) can carry a gene that leads to kidney failure (called autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease) through the development of cysts in the kidney. Chinchillas are very friendly animals. 1 What Foods Are Poisonous To Chinchillas? The bottom line is, chinchillas dont need treats, but if you feel bad or want your chinchilla to be happy, then you can give them treats occasionally. It is also better to distribute the food all over the cage to make it fun and much healthier for the domestic animal. 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. 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. Chinchillas require large amounts of fibre in their diet for their digestive system to function correctly. link to How Often Should Chinchillas Have Dust Baths? It's safe to give your chin a raisin-size amount 2-3 times per week. What Nutrients Are Important For Chinchillas? 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). 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. Only a couple of tablespoons (1-2 tablespoons) of pellets should be given as daily amounts to a baby or adult chinchilla. Fruit is a food that can be offered to your chinchilla as a treat. 3. Hamster food contains ingredients that are high in fats, including seeds and nuts, which could even be toxic to a chinchilla's system. They need to have variety in the boring food they eat while also getting all the nutritional requirements met. 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. 2.4 Certain Breakfast Cereals. Some people believe that chinchillas can eat dog food, but this is not a good idea. As mentioned earlier, chinchillas' dietary requirements are different from other animals, and therefore, they should not eat guinea pig food or gerbil food. Answer (1 of 2): It is not so much that they are 'fragile', but have different habitat requirements than we are used to. 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. It is a rich source of Malic acid that is not essential for your Chinchillas. Customer: Hi my name is***** and my granddaughter has a chinchilla and I'm taking care of her her name is ***** ***** her chest got wet because her water bottle was leaking and now her hair is kind of clumped a little bit but she's trying to pull it out what can I do to help her and she is so mad at me because I'm trying to take care of it and she's not happy can you give me some good ideas . However, they eat mostly vegetation and seeds. Approximately 75% to 80% of your chinchilla's diet should be made up of fresh hay. As a pet, chinchillas can eat the same dried herbs and benefit from the nutrients. 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. Water should be provided in the form of a water bottle rather than a bowl as this is much more hygienic for your chinchilla. Look for a pelleted, formulated diet specifically for chinchillas that is 16-20 percent protein, low in fat (2- 4 percent), and high in fiber (15-20 . Pellets should be hay-based and fortified with additional vitamins. 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. You can either purchase wood sticks from a store or collect your own. 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. Food Options. 2 Human Food Chinchillas Can Eat. Chinchillas are also known to love flowers. It is an animal that will get you smitten instantly, and its elegance will keep swirling, Read More Can Chinchillas Get Fleas? Yes, cats do attack chinchillas as their rodents, which they see as prey. Dry foods are made entirely from grains and other similar products. 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. 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. 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. (Benefits/Risks), Norwegian Lundehund: What You Need To Know. 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;}. 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. You need to ensure your cat has a comfortable sitting area thats far from the chinchillas cage. We have created a list of common foods that chinchilla owners regularly contemplate feeding their chinchilla. Special emphasis on nutritional support. Below we have listed the most common greens that your chinchillas can safely eat in moderation as part of a healthy and balanced diet. Well, you should try to distribute the appropriate amount of food around their cage instead of handing them their feed in a bowl. Like most rodents, chinchillas love to chew things. Just make sure that they are safe. The diet of chinchillas should ideally be high in protein and fiber while containing low moisture and fat content. and how to get rid of itContinue. Most importantly, you need to know what they can and cant eat! 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. Although cats and chinchillas might not coexist peacefully at first, there are ways of promoting this to happen. If you can imagine for a moment what that would be like, it is much easier to see why they need dust baths instead of w. If you want to know what age baby chinchillas are weaned then head over to our post that shares all you need to know. Some comments from a popular forum AGAINST giving raisins include: 1. An aggressive cat will attack the chinchilla but with patience, you can train the pets to coexist. Some owners are allergic to hay, so what should they do? These tend to be expensive but, over time, theyre worth the investment. In addition to this, the chinchilla may choose to hide, seeking safety from the cat, thereby making it hard to locate. Chinchillas are so cute and such intelligent animals that make great pets. A few hamster owners were concerned that their buddies would have trouble eating it because of its size and shape . By contrast, cats require a diet high in both fat and carbohydrates. Always keep an eye on your cat even after your chinchilla and cat have started getting along. This is the case when you own a cat and chinchilla because cats are natural predators, whereas chinchillas are rodents and are, therefore, prey. Chinchilla Pet Animals and Pets. Guide + Chart. It is not a suitable food for them to have, even in small amounts. 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. Many also contain preservatives and additives which arent suitable for your chinchilla. As such, it can cause kidney damage and other health problems. Instead, offer your cat leafy green vegetables like kale, bok choy, or arugula. 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. Both Chinchillas and Hamsters Are Small Rodents. 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. They eat Royal Canin special Persian cat food and the kittens are eating kitten food. The list below contains the fruits that chinchillas can eat in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. ; The long-tailed chinchillas will feed on insects, such as moths and grasshoppers, and bird eggs if the opportunity presents itself. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. Acidic foods can upset the pH balance of your chinchillas stomach and, as such, can cause stomach ulcers. 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. All cats drink filtered water from the water fountain. 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. 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. Chinchillas are herbivorous and do not eat animal-based products. 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. Get the Best Price and Selection of Dry Dog Food at Pet Supplies Plus. Oxbow Essentials Deluxe Chinchilla Food. The main takeaway here is that you should never give cat food to your pet chinchilla. Poppy. 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. All four have unique and beautiful personalities & are ready for forever homes. So, what should you feed a chinchilla? Chinchillas love dandelion leaves. 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 have very different nutritional needs. Most customers said their chinchillas can't get enough of these treats. 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. When they are let out of their cage, chinchillas Chinchillas come in a wide variety of colors. Dried fruit (apple, banana, and papaya). Unlike cat food or dog food, this will contain many of the nutrients that a chinchilla needs to stay fit and healthy. We love merrick dog food, including dry and canned food, too! There is very little difference in the nutrition provided between timothy hay and orchard grass hay. As it turns out, chinchillas have an absolutely wide diet that varies considerably in the texture, hardness, nutritional value, etc. as their pellets are of a high quality and are fortified with vitamins such as vitamin D3. This cage features a plastic and wire mesh construction with a built-in wheel and hideout. Fruits and Veggies - Fresh fruits, fresh greens, and other veggies are a healthy part of your chinchilla's diet as well.
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