2.6 No Sudden Dietary Changes. They have very different nutritional needs. Now, lets talk more about the healthy treats that you should feed these exotic animals. How to feed the chinchilla. Over time, your cat might get used to your chinchilla and stop attacking it altogether. 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. What Owners Must Know! This is because fatty foods are very harmful to their digestive system. Cavies Know Their Body and Can Regulate Their Guinea Pig Food Intake. In addition, wet cat food is often too salty for chinchillas. Hamsters vs. Gerbils: Whats the Difference. Growing, breeding, and nursing chinchillas may be fed a larger amount of pellets to provide additional calories, protein, fat and calcium. 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. Pelleted diets are better than a mixture of loose items. Most tap water is clean, however, dirty water can contain giardia and would not be suitable for use in your Chinchilla Water Bottle. The food has to be given in a timely fashion and should have wholesome nutrition that can fulfill your pet chinchillas required dietary requirements. . Foods to Avoid 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. 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. Nonetheless, this can be achieved by only slowly introducing these two pets to each other. Basic nutrients such as sugar, fat and even calcium can all cause health problems to chinchillas if they are overfed. These flowers should be dried before feeding to ensure that they are crunchy since our little ones love to nibble. C hoosing a pet is not a decision to be taken lightly. 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. Anu wood sticks you offer your chin needs to be from non-toxic trees and free from pesticides. 2.5 Dried Cranberry And Apple. Chinchillas have an extremely sensitive digestive system as we have already mentioned in this article. 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. Chinchillas require large amounts of fibre in their diet for their digestive system to function correctly. 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. There are chinchilla hay pellets and hay cubes available as well. Cat with can food. 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. 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. Please talk to your vet for a detailed diet plan that suits the individual needs of your pet. Guide + Chart. You can check out the water bottle we recommend you use in our new cage accessories guide here. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Or, you could hand out small amounts of peanut butter or cheese. However, its still possible for these two pets to get along, but this doesnt mean that youll find the chinchilla cuddling on the lap of your cat.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'smallpetshq_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_14',179,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-narrow-sky-1-0'); Yes, cats and chinchillas can live in one house. You can also feed them a mixture of all these hays. And of course too many raisins can cause diarrhea. Providing your chinchilla with safe wood for them to chew on is the best and most convenient option. Long-tailed chinchillas are primarily herbivorous. Purebred Chinchilla's. $1,200. We ship to everywhere in Canada, and can deliver your package right to your door! Here Are Safe Wood Options For Chinchillas to Chew On: There is often a lot of confusion about if chinchillas actually need water. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Rabbit Food? Chinchillas are also known to love flowers. Hi, My name is Adam. Instead, you should only feed them a healthy, balanced diet that includes lots of fresh green leaves and grass. Get the Best Price and Selection of Dry Dog Food at Pet Supplies Plus. Wet foods are usually made up of milk and water. 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. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Pecans? Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. 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. If rabbits were to eat chinchilla . [Top Speeds], Is My Chinchilla Fat? The diet of chinchillas should ideally be high in protein and fiber while containing low moisture and fat content. Fruits and Veggies - Fresh fruits, fresh greens, and other veggies are a healthy part of your chinchilla's diet as well. Why You Shouldnt Feed Cat Food To A Chinchilla, The Risks Of Feeding Wet Cat Food To A Chinchilla, Can Chinchillas Eat Pretzels? As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. Reasons Why Theyre Smart. For a healthy domestic animal, you need proper food and a diet plan. Its role in highlighting their adaptability to new or specif environments is matchless. Fresh greens, such as dark green lettuces, should also be given to provide additional water and fiber. link to Are Chinchillas Territorial? So, what type of hay do chinchillas eat? 2.4 Certain Breakfast Cereals. Loose mixes may be nutritionally balanced while in the bag but only if your chinchilla eats all of the parts of the mix. As mentioned earlier, chinchillas' dietary requirements are different from other animals, and therefore, they should not eat guinea pig food or gerbil food. The kittens get lots of attention and handling, so grooming and cleaning the eyes will be easy in the future. To be more precise, these furry animals are mainly folivores, preferring a diet made up of vegetation.Some of the food items that make up most of their diet are seeds, grass, grains, nuts, and leaves. Raisins. They won't go hunting for insects, but if they see one, they will eat it. Many also contain preservatives and additives which arent suitable for your chinchilla. The Chinchillas are often described as adorable, but they're also Is your chinchilla looking a little too plump? Oat grass. Too much calcium can have a negative effect on a chinchillas health as excessive amounts can cause calcium stones. This means that chinchillas require a diet rich in protein but low in fat and carbohydrates. Can Chinchillas Eat Cat Food? Chinchillas are very friendly animals. Can Chinchillas Eat Hamster Food? They will consume stalks, stems, leaves, shoots, fruits, seeds and roots . So, for a chinchilla to have healthy digestion and be free of illnesses like dental disease and digestion troubles, you need to choose the best chinchilla food that is healthy and appetizing. Two such posts that we have recently published are. so from these numbers alone its clear to see that good quality hay is undoubtedly the most vital part of your chinchillas diet. This is important because your cat might terrorize your chinchilla even when its in the cage by either hissing at it or staying very close to the cage. Here is a breakdown of the nutrients your chinchilla needs in their diet and in what percentages. 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. Actually, a good portion of their diet is already rabbit food. Dried fruit is often preferred to regular fruit, this is down to the fact that dried fruit offers much less water (which is considered bad for chinchillas) as well as increased levels of other nutrients such as fibre. 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. 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. Dog food is not nutritionally balanced for chinchillas and can make them sick. Do have hay constantly as well; keep a rack with hay and replace it routinely before it gets moldy. Furthermore, chinchillas might suffer from stress caused by your cat, which might trigger a sickness, thereby leading to its untimely demise. So, what exactly do chinchillas eat? Chinchillas can't eat blueberries for a variety of reasons. As you know, chinchillas are very active, so they run around a lot. This is the case when you own a cat and chinchilla because cats are natural predators, whereas chinchillas are rodents and are, therefore, prey. Always check the quality of your tap water at home before choosing this option. They shouldn't be used in place of a proper diet of chinchilla pellets and hay. 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. 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. Poppy. Chinchillas with these signs should be examined immediately by a veterinarian to have the lodged material extracted. Chinchillas in captivity often require a balanced diet of low fat, low moisture, low carbohydrates, and high fiber. Do have constant clean drinking water; if tap water is not clean, then have bottled water for your pet. With all things considered, the best 2 hay choices for your chinchilla are. The amount of food your chinchilla needs to eat depends on their age, lifestyle and state of health. Bread and Dairy Products. Orchardgrass. 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. 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. What Do Chinchillas Eat: Diet & Food Guide. In the wild, chinchillas are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and meat. (Benefits/Risks), Can Chinchillas Eat Pumpkin? The diet for chinchillas should be monitored to make sure they follow it daily. 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. Cats are feline predators that are known for hunting rodent prey like chinchillas. and how to get rid of itContinue. Overfeeding of fresh greens also can lead to soft stool or diarrhea. (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). Avoid feeding dried fruits. This can lead to blockages and other health issues. 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. Studying the plants that chinchillas eat on a regular basis was particularly interesting for those scientists. [What Owners Will Want To Know], Can Chinchillas Get Fleas? Poison Ivy. As it turns out, chinchillas have an absolutely wide diet that varies considerably in the texture, hardness, nutritional value, etc.