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.) Oxbow Essentials Deluxe Chinchilla Food. as it helps them to put on weight quickly but this is usually only offered until the age of around 9 months old. Do make sure to feed them every day and check if their droppings are dry and normal. As you can see from everything weve discussed above, you should never feed cat food to a chinchilla. What Do Chinchillas Eat? - We're All About Pets What Can Chinchillas Not Eat? - Cheerful Chinchilla An overweight chinchilla is susceptible to many illnesses like diabetes, diarrhea, and liver damage. Furthermore, chinchillas might suffer from stress caused by your cat, which might trigger a sickness, thereby leading to its untimely demise. The list below contains the fruits that chinchillas can eat in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. Chinchillas need hay between 14% and 16% plant protein. kathson 35oz Hanging Automatic Food Water Dispenser Gravity Pet Auto The treats that you choose to feed them should be done in very limited and controlled quantities. Chinchillas should be given 1-2 tablespoons of pellets per day, and Bunk-Hatch recommends Oxbow Essentials. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Timothy Hay? Raisins. On the other hand, the natural hamster diet is mainly . They need to have variety in the boring food they eat while also getting all the nutritional requirements met. Wet foods are usually made up of milk and water. Chinchillas are quite possibly at their happiest when using a dust bath and it is important we provide them with this little delight regularly to keep them content and in good health. 2.3 Raisins. In addition, wet cat food is often too salty for chinchillas. Can Chinchillas Eat Blueberries? - The Whole Portion Can Chinchillas Eat Cat Food? - Pet Food Fuss Raisins and dried cranberries. Copyright tagDiv. Petscene 6L Automatic Pet Feeder Auto Dog Cat Feeder with 1080HD Camera Do have constant clean drinking water; if tap water is not clean, then have bottled water for your pet. Chinchillas can easily get their head trapped in these toys and suffocate. Long-tailed chinchillas are primarily herbivorous. 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. Some other healthy treats include rosehips and mountain ash berries. Arrives by Fri, Mar 31 Buy Auto Feeder Water Dispenser Set Rabbit Cat Dog Chinchilla Food Hanging Gravity at Walmart.com Learning Center - Dog | Pet Supplies Plus This doesnt cost you anything additional. While it depends on your cat's personality, many will seek out to hunt chinchillas. However, in many cases, this is easier said than done. This cage features a plastic and wire mesh construction with a built-in wheel and hideout. 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. When they are let out of their cage, chinchillas Chinchillas come in a wide variety of colors. The small animals love their leafy snack so much that they can live off it alone. Homeopathic and herbal remedies. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. Can Chinchillas Eat Hamster Food? (What to Do in a Pinch) Always offer small amounts of sugar to your chinchillas and seek advice from your vet if you still arent sure. The rest can be a mix of pellets, fruits and vegetables, herbs but it's different for each species, as . Growing, breeding, and nursing chinchillas may be fed a larger amount of pellets to provide additional calories, protein, fat and calcium. Chinchilla Animal Facts | Chinchilla Lanigera - AZ Animals What Do Chinchillas Eat? A Guide to Their Diet - AZ Animals However, this isnt something they enjoy doing. If you ask your chinchilla what their fave treats are, dried cranberries and raisins are at the top of their list. You can barely overlook the significance of animal intelligence. So here is a list of fruits and vegetables that you can feed your chinchillas. Feed them right, and youll have a happy, cuddly pet for many years. What Do Chinchillas Eat in the Wild and as Pets? | Pet Keen Every formula uses industry-leading volume of protein, glucosamine, and chondroitin. I'm a pocket pet enthusiast and I love sharing my knowledge and passion for these amazing animals. Just make sure that they are safe. Here is a breakdown of the nutrients your chinchilla needs in their diet and in what percentages. Dried fruit (apple, banana, and papaya). However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. The hay should be dry and fresh-smelling with no trace of mold. 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. Keeping in mind that chinchillas cant eat fatty food, there are some treats that they like that contain fat, but chinchillas love them. link to How Often Should Chinchillas Have Dust Baths? They won't go hunting for insects, but if they see one, they will eat it. What To Feed a Pet Chinchilla | RSPCA Caring for a Chinchilla: What You Need to Know, Overgrown Teeth and Dental Issues in Chinchillas. The main takeaway here is that you should never give cat food to your pet chinchilla. 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. The auto cat feeder has a 1080HD camera with automatic night vision as well as wide-angle view and supports 10-second voice message recording. 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 have an extremely sensitive digestive system and the large amounts of sugar that are usually present in fruit can be harmful to your chinchilla. Over time, your cat might get used to your chinchilla and stop attacking it altogether. Approximately 75% to 80% of your chinchilla's diet should be made up of fresh hay. Read on for everything that you'll need to know. 2 Human Food Chinchillas Can Eat. For this reason, we have chosen to list the most common greens and veggies that owners often choose to feed their chinchillas and that we can validate are safe using veterinary sources such as the. It is a rich source of Malic acid that is not essential for your Chinchillas. If you want to know what age baby chinchillas are weaned then head over to our post that shares all you need to know. Instead, you should only feed them a healthy, balanced diet that includes lots of fresh green leaves and grass. 1. 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. You should thus monitor it at all times to make sure it doesnt hunt down your chinchilla. After all, it wont cost much and it might even taste good. ; The long-tailed chinchillas will feed on insects, such as moths and grasshoppers, and bird eggs if the opportunity presents itself. By contrast, cats require a diet high in both fat and carbohydrates. Chinchillas are herbivores and their diet consists mostly of hay, vegetables, and a small amount of fruit. These are dried fruits, dried herbs, plantain, and root vegetables. They are very sensitive animals but can be great friends if you know how to take care of them. Chinchillas are herbivorous and do not eat animal-based products. Whether you're looking for tips, tools, activities or advice, you've arrived at the consummate guide for everything related to caring for dogs. 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. Second, not all rabbit foods are created equal. Those products can be harmful to your digestive system in large quantities, so keep small portions in hand. 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 . Note: Its important to understand that this is a guide only. What Owners Must Know! If you want to ensure that your chinchilla gets enough calcium, then you should add some eggshells to their diet. Both Chinchillas and Hamsters Are Small Rodents. Humans have food, and chinchillas have hay. Can Chinchillas Eat Cheerios? What You Need to Know! Oat grass. As mentioned earlier, chinchillas' dietary requirements are different from other animals, and therefore, they should not eat guinea pig food or gerbil food. and how to get rid of it, The Best Chinchilla Toys (Review) in 2023, Are chinchillas Smart? So the treats that you choose to feed them should be given only occasionally. . 4. What do Chinchillas Eat? Chinchilla Diet 101 - The Pet Savvy For these two pets to live in harmony with each other, patience and constant supervision is necessary. It is the purest type of water available and it does not contain any bacteria. Chinchillas also require small amounts of fresh greens and can be fed occasional treats such as dried fruit from time to time. 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. No, they cant as theyre herbivorous, meaning they eat plenty of grasses or plants. Adult chinchillas are recommended to eat timothy hay as this provides all the nutrients your chinchilla needs and in the correct quantities. Image 1 is the male father & Image 2 is the female mother.. The 8 Best Chinchilla Foods of 2023 - The Spruce Pets 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. Chinchillas in the wild tend to consume most of their food early in the morning and late at night. The hamster food will not be nutritionally beneficial to them. Why You Shouldnt Feed Cat Food To A Chinchilla, The Risks Of Feeding Wet Cat Food To A Chinchilla, Can Chinchillas Eat Pretzels? What Human Food Can Chinchillas Eat? (Be Very Careful!) For example, if you have horses then you know they're prone to overeating. My granddaughter has a chinchilla and I'm taking care of her her name The food has to be given in a timely fashion and should have wholesome nutrition that can fulfill your pet chinchillas required dietary requirements. Yes, the chinchilla that you have been eyeing for quite some time now. Like. Do Chinchillas Eat Insects And Does It Affect Their Health - Walkthepets Alfalfa hay is usually recommended for young, growing chinchillas. Although fruits and nuts are something that can be fed to chinchillas, it is best to avoid them. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Nuts? As we mentioned earlier, hay is the most important part of a chinchillas diet. This is the case even if the chinchilla is caged as your cat might opt to stare down at the chinchilla or reach down the cage.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'smallpetshq_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_15',182,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-narrow-sky-2-0'); This will be a traumatizing experience for the chinchilla, which your cat views as prey. Once this condition occurs, there is nothing that can be done other than to provide pain medication and soft foods. 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. Instead, offer your adult chinchilla timothy hay or other low-calcium grass hays, such as orchard or meadow grass. If you want to get a pet chinchilla, you should take into consideration some important things before buying them. 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. Also, as with people, some chinchillas may not react well to all foods so give new items in small amounts. Ideally, you want to offer your chinchillas a low to moderate calcium diet that on the whole contains more calcium than phosphorus. This is what your chinchillas diet should look like, Hay Unlimited amounts (80-90% of the diet), Pellets Limited amounts to complement hay diet, Fresh Greens Small amounts offered daily, Fruit Very small amounts offered on occasion, Lets now break down the different elements of a chinchillas diet and see exactly what they should be eating to keep them both happy and healthy. Chinchilla Diapers: What You Need To Know + Pics, 16+ Different Chinchilla Colors: Pictures + Pricing, How Fast Can Chinchillas Run? Unfortunately, though, this doesnt mean that its going to provide your chinchilla with the nutrients they require. In addition to this, the chinchilla may choose to hide, seeking safety from the cat, thereby making it hard to locate. No, Apples should not be given on regular basis to Chinchillas but Chinchillas can eat Apples but only in moderation. Hi, my namesElena Coolidge, and this is my site. So, what exactly do chinchillas eat? Too much calcium can have a negative effect on a chinchillas health as excessive amounts can cause calcium stones. 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. Can Chinchillas Eat Hamster Food? (7 Cool Diet Tips) If they are fed certain foods together frequently, they will become accustomed to them always being served together. What Can Chinchillas Eat? (The Complete Guide) - Pocket Pets Forever 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. Behavior & Training Food & Nutrition . Chinchillas cant eat cat food. So, what type of hay do chinchillas eat? 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. Safe and Unsafe Food for Chinchillas | Infolific Nonetheless, its still recommended never to leave these two pets alone as you never know when your cats natural hunting instincts might kick in and attack your chinchilla. 10 Possible Reasons Your Dog Is Throwing up Yellow Liquid Hibiscus is known to be a healthy treat for chinchillas if offered in small quantities and is often used in commercial chinchilla treats. Avoid pine and cedar shavings, as they can irritate a chinchilla's respiratory tract. Good hays include alfalfa hay, timothy hay, orchard grass, and blue grass. This only happens opportunistically, though. 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. 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. 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. You can add a small amount of commercially available pelleted chinchilla food to your chinchilla's diet. This is because cats have an innate hunting instinct. Are Chinchillas Territorial? Source: The teeth of a chinchilla are also constantly growing and coarse hay is a must to keep their teeth short and shaped correctly. Their diets should consist of 30 percent fiber, 14-16 percent protein, 35 percent carbohydrates, 3.5 percent fat/oil, 4 percent sugar, 6 percent minerals and 7 percent moisture/trace elements. 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. Never change your chinchillas' diet suddenly, as this could upset their digestive system and make them very ill. 29493 7 Mile Road . Specialties: The Wishbone Pet Company has the largest selection of raw diets in Santa Cruz, CA with a strong emphasis on holistic natural care. Using genetic screening, breeders are now working to try to eradicate the problem - always . For any new chinchillas owner, one of the very first questions you need to ask is what can chinchillas eat?. 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. Dog food is not nutritionally balanced for chinchillas and can make them sick. Some of the more common culprits include inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infections, viral infections, parasites, ulcers, etc. Please remember that there are hundreds of greens and vegetables from around the world. [Top Speeds], Is My Chinchilla Fat? Chinchilla Food and Treats - Chin Care Group You also need to make sure your cat has a mellow personality to lower the likelihood of it attacking your chinchilla. Oxbow hay (low dust/hypoallergenic) 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. Instead, chinchilla feeds should address the following: Fat: should be between 2% and 5%. Some owners are allergic to hay, so what should they do? 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. 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. Pellets should be hay-based and fortified with additional vitamins. When, How and What to Feed a Chinchilla - Caring Pets Feeding greens and vegetables in large quantities can upset the nutritional balance of the hay and pellets you are providing to your chinchilla. Yes, they can, as harmful bacteria can be crossed from your cat to your chinchilla, causing it a severe illness. As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. 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. Only a couple of tablespoons (1-2 tablespoons) of pellets should be given as daily amounts to a baby or adult chinchilla. Please talk to your vet for a detailed diet plan that suits the individual needs of your pet. 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. Page 2 | Chinchilla animal Vectors & Illustrations for Free Download Bread and Dairy Products. (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). Fresh Apple. hay, fresh vegetables, and pellets should still make up the majority of their diet. 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? An aggressive cat will attack the chinchilla but with patience, you can train the pets to coexist. Anu wood sticks you offer your chin needs to be from non-toxic trees and free from pesticides. Unlike cat food or dog food, this will contain many of the nutrients that a chinchilla needs to stay fit and healthy. Why are chinchillas so fragile? I heard they can't eat fruits - Quora When it comes to pellets for chinchillas, its important that you purchase pellets that are specifically designed for chinchillas. And of course too many raisins can cause diarrhea. 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;}. "Hay should be offered free choice 24 hours a day and should be the main component of your chinchilla's diet." Hay should be replaced daily with fresh hay to prevent bacteria and mold growth. Not only that, chinchillas are similar to other animals, such as cats or dogs. Doing this is vital because your cats natural hunting instinct might kick in at any moment. It is also coarse enough to keep their teeth short and stop them from overgrowing. Some people believe that chinchillas can eat dog food, but this is not a good idea. There are so many different hay varieties to choose from and sometimes it can be hard to know which ones will serve your chinchillas nutritional needs the best. The 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. You can do this by understanding how a chinchilla behaves and using that to your advantage. Botanical hay. No, they can't as they're herbivorous, meaning they eat plenty of grasses or plants. Chinchillas have an extremely sensitive digestive system as we have already mentioned in this article. A chinchilla that is fully grown typically weighs between 1 and 3 pounds. They eat all sorts of different plants . They can easily get an upset stomach and have a limited capacity for digestion. 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. 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. 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. 2.2 Dried Fruits And Herbs. 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.