It's safe to give your chin a raisin-size amount 2-3 times per week. Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. The chinchilla should be given fresh hay every day. You can either purchase wood sticks from a store or collect your own. They won't go hunting for insects, but if they see one, they will eat it. We ship to everywhere in Canada, and can deliver your package right to your door! It is also better to distribute the food all over the cage to make it fun and much healthier for the domestic animal. 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. There are chinchilla hay pellets and hay cubes available as well. 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. No, they can't as they're herbivorous, meaning they eat plenty of grasses or plants. Its advisable to have a big enough cage for your chinchilla to jump around should they ever feel threatened by your cat. Most customers said their chinchillas can't get enough of these treats. You will only find the best in customer service and pet care at The Wishbone Pet Company . Chinchillas require large amounts of fibre in their diet for their digestive system to function correctly. For example, you could offer them a few pieces of fruit, such as apples or pears. Provide a steady supply of hay. The answer to this question is no, Cat foods are not suitable for chinchillas and there are many reasons why you should avoid feeding it to them. Chinchillas are very friendly animals. They are very sensitive animals but can be great friends if you know how to take care of them. Unfortunately, yes. Created using the Newspaper Theme. 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. They are high in sugar, however, so give sparingly. 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. Chinchillas in the wild tend to consume most of their food early in the morning and late at night. Plain Cheerios. You should never feed a chinchilla hamster food, as it is one of the worst blends of ingredients for chinchillas to consume. Hibiscus is known to be a healthy treat for chinchillas if offered in small quantities and is often used in commercial chinchilla treats. You may be tempted to buy cheap cat food from the supermarket. hay, fresh vegetables, and pellets should still make up the majority of their diet. As such, it can cause kidney damage and other health problems. 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. Additionally, chinchillas can be fed a small amount (1-2 tbsp/day) of a commercial pelleted diet formulated for chinchillas. Dried Herbs. 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. Instead, chinchilla feeds should address the following: Fat: should be between 2% and 5%. 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.) 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. The small animals love their leafy snack so much that they can live off it alone. The diet of chinchillas should ideally be high in protein and fiber while containing low moisture and fat content. Both Chinchillas and Hamsters Are Small Rodents. Hay which is sweeter and has more nutrients, should be mostly given to young chinchillas and only occasionally to adult chinchillas. Always keep an eye on your cat even after your chinchilla and cat have started getting along. But can rabbits eat chinchilla food safely? Naturally aloof people might not want to be constantly hounded for canine kisses, just as cuddly types might be affronted by some cat breeds . Can Chinchillas Eat Hamster Food? Guide + Chart. These are usually made up of timothy or alfalfa hay, so you will have limited options to choose from. So the treats that you choose to feed them should be given only occasionally. Many also contain preservatives and additives which arent suitable for your chinchilla. If you decide to collect your own wood then you need to make sure you do a few things before handing it over to 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. Specific Substrate Needs. Protein: should be between 16% and 20%. You can add a small amount of commercially available pelleted chinchilla food to your chinchilla's diet. Are Chinchillas Territorial? Not only that, chinchillas are similar to other animals, such as cats or dogs. This means your cat gets to see your chinchilla but isnt in a position to touch it.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'smallpetshq_com-portrait-1','ezslot_19',188,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-portrait-1-0'); You also need to make sure that this area is just as comfy as where your chinchilla is to avoid your cat from wanting to stretch inside the cage bars.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'smallpetshq_com-leader-4','ezslot_8',189,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetshq_com-leader-4-0'); Moreover, make sure there isnt a bed positioned over the chinchillas cage to prevent your cat from having a post from where it might try and reach the chinchilla. Arrives by Fri, Mar 31 Buy Auto Feeder Water Dispenser Set Rabbit Cat Dog Chinchilla Food Hanging Gravity at Walmart.com Chinchillas also need their diets to be supplemented with pellets to round off and balance their nutritional needs. Avoid feeding dried fruits. Hard objects, such as branches from non-toxic fruit trees (like apple, pear, and peach trees), can be given to promote chewing and teeth wear, but toxic trees (like cherry, cedar, plum and redwood) should be avoided. They have very different nutritional needs. Some owners are allergic to hay, so what should they do? Because chinchillas teeth grow throughout their lives, when they are not offered enough hay (and consume mainly pellets), the surfaces of their top and bottom teeth collide inside their mouths with such force as they chew that the roots of their teeth become impacted, like a persons impacted wisdom teeth. 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. Please do not leave them alone at any moment as our pets security is our topmost priority. 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. The Chinchillas are often described as adorable, but they're also Is your chinchilla looking a little too plump? 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. What Nutrients Are Important For Chinchillas? Two such posts that we have recently published are. Chinchillas should be given 1-2 tablespoons of pellets per day, and Bunk-Hatch recommends Oxbow Essentials. 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. In the wild, chinchillas live in cold mountains, crevices of rocks, moving from rock to rock to escape from predators and to find food. The list below contains the fruits that chinchillas can eat in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. A few hamster owners were concerned that their buddies would have trouble eating it because of its size and shape . All Things Dog. The best way to safeguard your chinchilla from your cat is by placing its cage far from the reach of your cat. Chinchillas can't eat blueberries for a variety of reasons. These are dried fruits, dried herbs, plantain, and root vegetables. The popular cereal Cheerios are also seen as a treat that chinchillas can eat due to their dried nature and high amounts of fibre. 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. Once again, this boils down to the fact that chinchillas dont need the nutrition from fruits to be healthy so they are only a luxury. 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. 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. Health and welfare issues - other. As such, its best to look for a reputable brand of dry food made specifically for chinchillas. 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. The food has to be given in a timely fashion and should have wholesome nutrition that can fulfill your pet chinchillas required dietary requirements. The most obvious reason why you shouldnt feed cat food to a chinchilla is because chinchillas are not cats! 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. 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. Make sure to read the product form to know what you are getting when buying treats. 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. Besides, Read More Are Chinchillas Cuddly? Our main focus is helping owners to better understand and care for their pets with both straight forward and actionable advice. "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. Image Credit: Natalis.ph, Shutterstock. Do have hay constantly as well; keep a rack with hay and replace it routinely before it gets moldy. The most crucial behavior factors about cats you need to know about them is that they are: On the other hand, the personality traits of the chinchilla are: With such divergent personality traits, its now evident why your cat and chinchilla might struggle to get along just fine. As you know, chinchillas are plant-eating animals. 4. Therefore, you need to make sure your chinchilla is safe in the cage placed in a different room your cat cant go into. In addition to this, a lot of fruit can actually be harmful to chinchillas and they certainly cant just eat any and all fruits. Strong expertise in both dogs and cats. 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. Chinchillas in the wild typically eat most of their food in . Chinchillas also require small amounts of fresh greens and can be fed occasional treats such as dried fruit from time to time. So, what should you feed a chinchilla? 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. [Top Speeds], Is My Chinchilla Fat? Note: Its important to understand that this is a guide only. As with all pets, a proper diet is key to health and long life in chinchillas. What Owners Must Know! 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. And of course too many raisins can cause diarrhea. The main takeaway here is that you should never give cat food to your pet chinchilla. Chins have a high metabolism and can eat constantlyideally, they shouldn't go without food for more than 12 hours, but 24 hours is doable if absolutely necessary. By doing this, you can be confident that your chinchilla doesnt suffer any physical harm plus is safe from any stress. | Learn More >> You are shopping: Livonia, MI Livonia. We have two females & two males. Monitoring your chinchillas' diet. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Guide + Chart. Unfortunately, though, this doesnt mean that its going to provide your chinchilla with the nutrients they require. 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. Basic nutrients such as sugar, fat and even calcium can all cause health problems to chinchillas if they are overfed. 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. You can just grab little bits of a few things and make a little sampler jar! This is important because these two pets have brains that are programmed to act differently. It is an animal that will get you smitten instantly, and its elegance will keep swirling, Read More Can Chinchillas Get Fleas? Both critters should be eating a high quality hay as the majority of their diet. Using genetic screening, breeders are now working to try to eradicate the problem - always . So, excessive feeding can lead to diarrhea and urinary problems. Instead, offer your adult chinchilla timothy hay or other low-calcium grass hays, such as orchard or meadow grass. Acidic foods can upset the pH balance of your chinchillas stomach and, as such, can cause stomach ulcers. This includes plenty of fresh green leaves and hay. Chinchillas love dandelion leaves. head over to our post that shares all you need to know. Oat grass. Just make sure that they are safe. There are animals who have a harder time controlling their eating (we're not alone humans!). Lets look at some more information that is essential for chinchilla pet owners about pet food. Coprophagy helps to maintain the correct balance of intestinal flora within the gut, and also enables the chinchilla to absorb B Vitamins that are produced in the caecum (part of the gut). Hamster food is made largely of things that would be harmful for a chinchilla to eat.
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can chinchillas eat cat food
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