Can Chinchillas Have Cardboard? Quick Answer

by Cat Logdon

Before accepting pets into your life, it is important to educate yourself about their proper care and special needs. Not every pet is right for every person and as it is only fair to consider their needs and whether or not we can provide adequate care for them, we ask that you consider the following information before deciding to adopt a chinchilla to adopt.

Chinchillas are adorable, delicate and interesting companions that can live for 12-18 years, with some known to live up to 20 years!

Chinchillas need to live indoors where they are safe from predators, extreme weather, and loneliness.

Chinchillas are crepuscular, meaning they are most active in the late afternoon/early evening and early morning hours. They adapt fairly well to the human schedule and generally like to sleep in the midday to mid-afternoon hours.

Chinchillas are very sociable and social creatures that like to live in large groups (often up to 100 chinchillas in the wild!) so it’s best for them to keep them in pairs (neutered and neutered of course).

Chinchillas should be spayed or spayed by exotic animal vets experienced in working with chinchillas. Not all vets see chinchillas, so it’s important to find one who will before a medical emergency arises.

Chinchillas need a special dust bath every day to keep their fur healthy. It’s also a lot of fun for them and very cute to look at.

Chinchillas need toys to play with and at least 2-4 hours of playtime outside of the cage in a chinchilla-safe area each night.

While chinchillas make wonderful adult and/or family pets, they aren’t particularly well suited to children as they are sensitive, prefer quiet – and can be easily injured by small feet or mishandling.

Housing

Chinchillas are active and need large, spacious enclosures to stay healthy and happy. Large, multi-level cages are best, as they provide multiple “tiers” to chin hop, play, or look out of. Chins have long, powerful hind legs and need to hop around to keep their muscles in good shape. These multi-tiered types of cages can be purchased or handcrafted. You can put a basket of hay on one tier, a bed on another, a stash tube or box, various toys—or nothing at all. Make it fun for your friend!

Chinchillas don’t do well with high temperatures, so cage placement is very important. The enclosure/cage should be in a well-lit area where the ambient temperature does not exceed 78°F. Although you may see your chin dozing outside of the cage in a sunny spot during its playtime, it’s important that the cage is kept out of direct sunlight.

Wire on cage floors as well as the different tiers should be covered with low-pile rugs or grass mats to prevent little feet from falling through (legs or toes can be easily broken if they fall through). The bottom tier can be filled with chinchilla-safe bedding such as Carefresh or Aspen wood shavings. Pine and cedar wood shavings/litter are not safe for small mammals as they contain oils that can be harmful to the respiratory tract and liver.

Kinne like to hide and snooze, so a large hideout house or tube made of wood or cardboard is a nice thing to put in the cage.

A water bottle and pellet pot should be provided. The water should be changed daily, and the bottle should be checked for proper flow at each refill.

Chinchillas don’t need litter boxes, but some can use them. Their homes should be swept/cleaned every day to rid them of feces and urine.

toys and exercise

Chinchillas are active and need toys to play with and chew on, as well as plenty of time outside the cage (at least 2-4 hours a day) to hop around and explore their surroundings (which must be ‘chinchilla-proof’, see below). Many Chins love to have large plastic wheels. DO NOT use spoked wheels or plastic sprocket wheels as small feet could slip and your chin could be injured when walking.

Hanging wooden toys, chewable slingshot toys, plastic keys, small balls, cardboard tubes, toilet paper tubes, mini rabbit bags, and zooh chew balls are fun toys for your chin. Every chin is different, some like toys and some like others. Check out some of the toys in our Zooh Store! Your chin will love you.

Chew toys are fun and necessary for your chinchilla’s dental health as well. It is important to provide your chinchilla with safe things to chew on, such as wooden blocks to bite/gnaw on (front teeth) and a variety of safe twigs and chews to chew on (back teeth). At Zooh Corner we have many wonderful chew toys specially designed for your pet’s dental health such as: We also have a variety of chew rings, natural hay and treat filled chew baskets, and our wonderful herb and chew filled BunnyBags™.

For time outside of the cage, a cardboard cottontail cottage is a lot of fun. These two-story cardboard climbing huts can be purchased at Zooh Corner events or online at Cats and Rabbits and More. These cottages have small cardboard doors and windows – which we should cut out for smaller animals such as chinchillas and smaller breed rabbits (Dutch dwarfs).

Hay, the most important ingredient in a healthy chin diet, is also an excellent way to keep your chin teeth in good condition, which brings us to our next topic, nutrition.

diet

Grass hay such as timothy, orchard and oat mixes are the most important element in your chinchilla’s diet. Your chinchilla should have 24-hour access to fresh, varied grass hay. The fiber and nutrients that grass hay provides are key to good health.

Pellets are another part of the healthy Chin diet. Young Chins (under one year old) can be offered an unlimited amount of pellets, but once they turn one year old and the nutritional needs are no longer those of a growing baby, the pellets should be reduced to about 1 or 2 tablespoons a day. OxBow Hay Company offers a Chinchilla Pellet that is high in fiber and nutritionally balanced. It’s called Chinchilla Deluxe. Not all pet stores sell OxBow products, but many local exotics vets do, or you can order online (www.oxbowhay.com) and also see the list of local retailers.

**It’s important to note that your average pet store isn’t always the best place to buy pellets and hay. Many pet stores don’t carry the right type of pellet for bunnies or bunnies, and their pellets and hay have often been in storage or on shelves for a while and they can tend to be a little stale. Good places to buy hay and pellets: Local rescue organizations often sell fresh hay in bulk at good prices to fund their rescues; Local forage retailers carry (grass) hay and may be willing to sell part bales at good prices. Pellets can be purchased online at OxBow.com from some animal rescues, and often your own exotics vet will carry them.

Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue have a wonderful selection of Fresh Grass Hay and we ship to the US and Canada. We pack weekly or bi-weekly and track all types of hay to ensure our hay is always fresh, healthy and delicious. We offer timothy grass, orchard grass and Zooh Mix (a mix of oat, wheat and barley hay).

Vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Offer about ½ cup per day (per chin) of fresh leafy greens: parsley, cilantro, dark green lettuce, fresh herbs (mint, basil, etc.), bok choy, carrot tops. All vegetables should be washed as for human consumption. When you start offering veggies, start with a small amount and gradually increase to about 2/3 cup per day. Not all Chins like the same vegetables.

Treats are fun, and Chins love them, but they should only be given small amounts: a small slice of carrot, a piece of apple or pear, a piece of cactus apple (part of the natural diet of wild quinines!), a raisin, a piece of strawberry, a Blueberry… Treats should be offered in very small quantities.

dust baths

Chinchillas need a special dust bath to keep their fur healthy. It is best to offer them this dust bath daily. Commercial chinchilla dust is available at most pet stores. A plastic container, square and big enough for you to roll around in, should be filled with about 3 inches of dust. Chins will often wallow in the dust for up to an hour, but shouldn’t have access all day as too much dust bathing can cause conjunctivitis. After your chin has been bathed, clean the dust by scooping out any fecal pellets and storing the container in a dry place. Completely change dust every 2-3 days.

Note: It is not advisable to offer the dust bath in closed commercial “chin baths” as the trapped dust may cause eye and/or respiratory irritation.

Chinchilla Proofing – Make your home safe for your chinchilla

Chinchillas are small and can move quickly and jump onto things. So, when making your home security-proof, there are several things to consider:

Power cables must be covered. Not only on the ground, but also higher up. Plastic tubing can be slit lengthwise and the cables tucked in, or you can purchase commercially available cable protectors.

Chins are small and can squeeze into all sorts of dangerous places: plexiglass and plywood barricades can help keep them out, and bricks can be used for some ground-level areas. Again, keep in mind that chinchillas can jump on things to get to all sorts of places. Therefore, checking just a few inches or a foot up may not be good enough.

Make sure your chin doesn’t have access to poisonous plants and that it can’t get into any cupboards.

Handling and spending time with your chinchilla will help ensure that they are friendly and easy to handle and catch. When you first let your chin out of its cage to play, it’s a good idea to do so in a small enclosed space, perhaps a bathroom (make sure the toilet is closed). Once you’re sure you can catch him, let him into the security-checked rooms you’ve chosen. His first outings should be short and frequent. This way you can find out what mischief he is prone to so you can do further safety proofing (or eliminations) and help him realize that he is responsible for food, water, rest and toilet breaks on his own cage can return.

Make sure that all doors and windows to the outside are properly closed and locked. There is a very good chance that if your chinchilla went off outside, you would never catch it!

Veterinary care

Not all veterinarians are trained to care for chinchillas, who are considered “exotic” in the vet world. It’s best to see a good, qualified chinchilla vet before you get your chinchilla and then make an appointment for a “good chinchilla” check-up within the first week or two so you can begin a working relationship with set up your veterinarian. For comparison purposes, it’s also helpful to find a useful guideline for your veterinarian to know how your pet will be doing when healthy. It’s good to do this early on in your new pet so that in case of an emergency, your vet will be more familiar with your pet and better able to treat them.

Chinchillas should visit a veterinarian for a check-up at least once a year, and of course as needed in the case of special concerns and emergencies. We recommend annual blood draws and dental X-rays. They do not require any special vaccinations or vaccinations.

If you would like a referral from a local veterinarian, please contact us – Please put “Chinchilla Veterinary Referral” in the subject line.

Owning a chinchilla is a joy, but these delicate pets need proper care to ensure a long and happy life (they have a life expectancy of over 20 years!). There is a lot of misinformation about pet care, much of it from pet supply companies that market food, toys, and other items for chinchillas that are extremely unhealthy or dangerous for them. So if you are a new chinchilla pet owner or considering adding a chin to your family, check out these 10 items you should never buy for your chinchilla pet.

Never buy your chinchilla these foods, toys, and supplies

1. Raisins

I often see new chinchilla owners squeaking online about how much their chinnies love raisins. And that’s right, chinchillas love raisins. It’s basically like giving candy to a child — and raisins are just as healthy for chinchillas as candy. Why are raisins bad for chinchillas? They’re not toxic, but the high sugar content is the problem. Chinchillas don’t eat fruit in their natural diet, so their bodies haven’t evolved to process the sugars properly. Over time, eating raisins and other fruits can cause health problems like obesity and diabetes.

Instead, it’s better to give your chinchilla healthy treats like oats, rose hips, Cheerios, or grated wheat.

2. Exercise balls

Exercise balls are often used by rodent owners to give their small pets some exercise so they can roam freely around the house. While they may seem like a fun and cute way to train your chin, they are extremely dangerous to chinchillas. There are several reasons these balls are bad for chinchillas.

Many owners call them “death balls” because a chinchilla in one can quickly overheat. Because chins are temperature sensitive, overheating can quickly become fatal. These plastic exercise balls are also too small for chinchillas, which can injure their spine when walking. Also, these balls usually come with ventilation slots just wide enough for small chinchilla toes to get caught in and cause injury. The last error is not fatal, but just gross. Chinchillas often pee and poo into an exercise ball, which means the waste gets into their fur when they run. Overall, exercise balls are a big NO when it comes to chinchillas.

If you want to give your chinchilla more exercise options, consider buying a chinchilla-safe exercise wheel for his cage instead, or giving him playtime in a chinchilla-safe room or playpen

3. Plastic Toys & Cage Accessories

As with other rodents, chinchillas’ teeth are constantly growing, which means they have to chew frequently to keep them worn down. Chewing is a natural behavior that should be encouraged with safe wooden toys and accessories. The pet store has other ideas, with shelves full of plastic toys and accessories.

Plastic is extremely dangerous for chinchillas because if they chew on it, they can swallow small pieces of it. Your body cannot process the plastic, which can cause blockages in your digestive system. These blockages can lead to ailments, illnesses and even death.

Be sure to replace any plastic shelves with wooden or metal shelves, and provide your chinchilla with plenty of wooden chew toys.

4. Salt and mineral wheels

5. Colorful feed mixtures for chinchillas

Salt and mineral wheels are regularly sold in the pet store’s small animal section and advertised for all types of pets. Chinchillas just don’t need them. If you feed them a real chinchilla pellet food they will have all the salts and minerals they need in their diet. Buying a salt wheel is just a waste of money and excess salt in the diet can cause health problems in chinchillas.

Humans need variety in their diet, chinchillas don’t. While the light-colored food mixes you see on pet store shelves look appealing, they are TERRIBLE for chinchillas. Feeding a chin a food mix is ​​like putting vegetables on a toddler’s plate and then dumping candy on it. The child will eat the sweets and ignore the nutritious food. In fact, if you ask most chinchilla owners who feed their pet a mix, they will mention that their chin only eats the seeds, dried fruit, and other treats, leaving the pellets behind. These food mixtures can lead to health problems, weight gain and shortened lifespan.

A chinchilla should only be fed an alfalfa based pellet. Oxbow and Mazuri are the best brands and can be easily purchased online or at many chain pet stores.

6. Untested wooden toys and accessories

Okay, so we know plastic is bad for chinnies, but that doesn’t mean you can just pick up any old wooden toy at Petsmart and give it to your chinchilla. While there is plenty of safe wood for chinchillas, there is also wood that is poisonous. Some small pet toys may use treated or varnished wood, which is also unsafe for chinchillas.

Play it safe when buying your chinchilla. Avoid toys that don’t state the type of wood used, whether they’ve been treated, or whether toxic glues or paints were used in their manufacture. To stay safe, buy toys online from chinchilla rescues or savvy entrepreneurs. You can also make your own toys from safe woods.

7. Yogurt Drops & Dandelion Drops

This is another case where a pet store went wrong. Yoghurt candies are a very popular treat advertised for small pets, but they’re absolutely awful for chinchillas. They look like white or green chocolate chips and contain a lot of sugar, which we’ve already learned is terrible for chinchillas.

Instead, check out these healthy chinchilla treats.

8. Wire hay ball

What looks like a fun way to provide your chinchilla with some fresh hay is actually an injury just waiting to happen. Because chinchillas are quite springy, it’s incredibly common for them to jump onto those wire hay bales. If a chinchilla gets caught in the ball with an arm or leg, it may break it or otherwise injure itself. They can also get their heads stuck in them, which can be fatal. It’s better to be safe than sorry and not buy one.

Instead, you can use a hay rack to provide your chinchilla with fresh hay in its cage.

9. Plastic igloo hideouts

10. Wire chinchilla wheel

Plastic igloos are incredibly popular at pet stores for all types of small animals. When it comes to chinchillas, they’re a bad idea. While you should provide your chinchilla with a home or hiding place, a plastic house is a bad idea. Your chinchilla will inevitably chew on its house and ingesting plastic can be deadly. Instead, get a metal or wooden house for your chin to sleep in.

While a chinchilla wheel is a great way to give your pet extra exercise in their cage, wire chinchilla wheels are incredibly dangerous. They are often far too small to be safely used by a chinchilla (the one pictured is only 11″ in diameter) and the wire mesh creates opportunities for a chin, foot or toe to be pinched and injured.

Look for safe chinchilla wheels with solid treads and a diameter of 15″ or larger.

Use this chinchilla new owner checklist to see all the things you should buy for your pet.

Got a new chinchilla pet? Find the perfect chinchilla name, learn how to clean a chinchilla cage, and how to bond with your chinchilla pet. and put together a chinchilla first aid kit.

to shape their behavior. They relate to some behavior modification techniques that I would simply not use out of ignorance and fear. Your article gave me some new tools to use to love and care for my chinchillas. Many Thanks!”

…”

“I’ve been working with chinchillas for four years now, but I’m always looking for new and different ways

In general, chinchillas are relatively calm animals, but they have a unique set of sounds that they use to communicate with each other and express their feelings, whether it’s anger, fear, or simple contentment. For the novice chinchilla owner, these different sounds can become confusing and overwhelming, and not knowing what your chinchilla is trying to communicate can be stressful.

Knowing the different noises your chinchilla makes and for what reason will go a long way in helping you care for them and meet their needs. You’ll know when they’re hurt or unhappy or when they’re content and content just by learning the different sounds they make. In this article, we’ll help you decode these sounds so you can get to know your chinchilla a little better. Let’s start!

1. Soft, gentle squeak

A low, gentle, and erratic sound, characterized by a high-pitched squeak, is usually a sign that all is well in your chinchilla’s world. This sound is a sign to other chinchillas and to you that they are happy, content and safe.

2. Continuous squeaking

Similar to soft squeaks but sounding more continuous and insistent, this sound is usually a sign of excitement. This could be a chinchilla seeing or even being fed by another known chinchilla or its owner. While this sound is usually the sound of extreme joy or excitement, they can also make a similar sound when they are in distress, so check your chinchilla to ensure context when you hear it squeaking in this way.

3. Barking

When a chinchilla barks, it can sound similar to a duck’s croak and is a rhythmic, haunting sound. They usually make this sound as a warning to other chinchillas of danger or a predator, or possibly as a warning between males. Males usually make a similar sound when fighting.

4. Teeth grinding

Usually a sign of a happy and contented chinchilla, teeth grinding sounds just like you would expect! They make this sound when they are feeling safe and happy, usually when they are being cuddled or eating a treat.

5. Screaming

This sound is a loud, high-pitched scream, similar to a squeak but much more urgent. Chinchillas usually scream when they are scared or in great distress or even pain. Your chinchilla may have heard a loud noise, or seen something it considers a predator, or it may have injured itself in some way. If you hear this noise from your chinchilla, you should get it checked out right away.

6. Spitting (pooping)

This sound is characterized by a sudden, sharp spitting or coughing sound, also known as a pooping sound. This noise usually means your chinchilla is angry or in defensive mode and you should stay away. Once they have spent some time alone and have settled down they will usually be fine, but if they continue with this behavior something else may be wrong.

7. Teeth chattering

Rapid chattering of teeth is usually another sign of anger or self-defense and a warning to stay away! This isn’t always the case, however, and some chinchillas will chatter their teeth when they’re happy and content. Context is key to figuring out the reason for the chatter, and you can tell by your chinchilla’s body language if they’re angry or content!

8. Fighting

When chinchillas fight, they make a sound similar to barking, but it sounds more frantic and urgent. The barking will also be more erratic, varying in volume and rhythm, and when you hear it you’ll know a fight is on! This could be a dispute over food, territory, or a female, and you will likely need to separate males into different enclosures.

Final Thoughts

Although chinchillas tend to be quiet animals, they are capable of many different vocalizations. Getting to know these different sounds will help you a lot in caring for your chinchilla and the more you engage with him the better you will be able to appreciate these sounds.

It’s important to remember that almost every chinchilla sound has a specific context, and you, their owner, will know best what they need when making these sounds.

Selected image source: webandi, Pixabay

The chinchilla’s thick, luxurious coat and tiny, rounded body are false advertising: This is not a pet to cuddle with. Chinchillas are far too active – too interested in their surroundings, too nervous and too energetic – to make good pets. However, chinchilla owners learn to enjoy their pets’ eccentric social behavior and amusing antics.

Having fun with your chinchilla means participating in his cleaning and exercise schedule and letting him explore a room in your home once you get to know each other well.

Bath time is fun time

If you’ve ever doubted your chinchilla’s gymnastics abilities, take a close look at it while it’s bathing. Chinchillas love rolling and twisting the fine, powdery dust marketed as “chinchilla dust,” which is actually a powdered concrete by-product, at your local pet store. The dust penetrates your chinchilla’s thick coat to soak up oils and clean it better than water. In fact, you should never get your chinchilla wet.

Give your chinchillas a large, flat-bottomed container that has two inches of dust at the bottom for bathing. Bread pans and cat litter bins work well, but large goldfish bowls and gallon jars are better because they have high walls that can keep your chinchilla from dusting the floor when he’s frolicking in the bathtub. Your chinchilla would happily squirm through the dust every day if he could, so try to keep him happy and offer a dust bath for 15 minutes to an hour daily. You can reuse the dust multiple times if you remove the container from the cage after each bath.

Choose his toys wisely

Baths are fun for chinchillas and owners alike, but they only last five minutes a day. Chinchillas need toys to keep them occupied for the rest of the night. Each chinchilla cage should have a hiding place for the chinchilla to sleep in, but it should also be equipped with other items for your chinchilla to chew and move about.

Breeders recommend blocks of wood to chew on and clean, dry pieces of cardboard (like toilet paper rolls) to destroy.

You can give your chinchilla a leftover rug to sit on and watch him redecorate the cage by moving and flipping the rug. Do this when your chinchilla can be supervised to make sure they aren’t chewing or trying to eat bits of carpet scraps. If he tries to eat or chew on it, remove it.

Branches also make good chinchilla toys, but choose a mulberry branch or a pear tree branch instead of cherry wood or a branch from a citrus tree.

time out

Most chinchilla owners agree that their pets are happiest when supervised outside of their cages. Chinchillas can’t be walked like dogs, but they do love to scurry around and explore.

Just make sure the space you choose for your pet to romp is chinchilla-proof: remove breakable items, block off the spaces behind closets, close the windows, and make sure the cats and dogs are outside. Lift the power cords off the floor and place your household plants in the next room. It is important that you never give your chinchilla “free rein” to explore parts of your home without your direct supervision. Your furniture will suffer and your pet may get injured or even disappear.

You should not let your chinchilla out on the run until you have established a good relationship with your pet. Terrible chases and captures won’t be easily forgotten, and your chinchilla will mistrust you if you have to chase them across the room to get them back into their cage. Luring him back into the cage with a raisin, chinchillas’ all-time favorite treat, is a much better idea.

Chinchillas are creatures of habit. They are most willing to play if you approach them at the same time every night. As with most small animals, the more a young chinchilla is handled and played with, the more social he will become as a pet by the time he is fully grown.

Last updated on September 21, 2021

These Customer Reviews and Questions and Answers Terms of Service (“Terms of Service”) and the Chewy, Inc. (“Chewy”) Terms of Service found here govern your conduct in connection with the Customer Reviews and Questions and Answers service offered by Chewy Answers.

You agree not to submit the following types of content or any content that violates these Terms of Service. Chewy reserves the right not to post content and to edit or delete any content if it contains any of the following types of content or otherwise violates these Terms of Service:

Harmful Effect: Content that mentions negative physiological effects when using the product.

: Content mentioning negative physiological effects from using the product. Advertising : Content that contains advertising or promotions for other companies, products or services.

: Content that contains advertising or promotions for other companies, products, or services. Labeling/Disclosure: Content that does not contain proper disclosures or labels indicating that the user has a material connection with Chewy.

: Content that does not include proper disclosures or badges indicating that the user has a significant connection with Chewy. Competitor References: Content mentioning Chewy competitors.

: Content mentioning Chewy’s competitors. Customer Service : Content about an interaction with a customer service representative or Chewy’s return/exchange policy.

: Content related to an interaction with a customer service representative or Chewy’s return/exchange policy. Store Directing: Content that encourages customers to buy the product elsewhere, whether or not a competitor is specifically named.

: Content that encourages customers to buy the product elsewhere, whether or not a competitor is explicitly named. Duplicate Content: Multiple reviews on a single product by a single user.

: Multiple reviews on a single product by a single user. Foreign Language : Content that is not in English.

: Content that is not in English. Deceptive Content : Content that does not appear to be a genuine customer review.

: Content that does not appear to be a genuine customer review. Import : Content that appears to have been imported from another platform.

: Content that appears to have been imported from another platform. Inappropriate Content: Any inappropriate content of any kind, including but not limited to aggressive, threatening, fake, trolling, lewd, drug-related, or sexually explicit comments, defamatory language, personal attacks, discriminatory language, hate speech, profanity, or mentions of animal cruelty.

: Any inappropriate content of any kind, including but not limited to aggressive, threatening, fake, trolling, lewd, drug-related, or sexually explicit comments, defamatory language, personal attacks, discriminatory language, hate speech, profanity, or mentions of animal cruelty. Inappropriate Imagery: Content that contains inappropriate imagery of any kind, including but not limited to human nudity or partial nudity, child abuse, or child pornography.

: Content containing inappropriate images of any kind, including but not limited to human nudity or partial nudity, child abuse, or child pornography. Infringing Content: Any content that appears to infringe the rights of any third party, including but not limited to content containing music.

: Any content that appears to infringe the rights of third parties, including but not limited to content containing music. Medical Advice : Content that solicits or offers medical advice.

: Content that solicits or provides medical advice. Off-Label Use : Content that mentions that a product is being used contrary to label directions.

: Content that mentions using a product contrary to label directions. Personally Identifiable Information: Content that contains personally identifiable information about an individual, such as: full name, phone number, address, email address, credit card information, government-issued identification number, social security number, or bank account number.

: Content that contains personally identifiable information about an individual, such as: full name, phone number, address, email address, credit card information, government issued ID number, social security number, or bank account number. Price References: Any reference to prices or comparative prices.

: references to prices or comparative prices. Product Not Purchased: Content that indicates that the product was not purchased at all (unless received as a gift), or that the product was purchased from a different retailer, or that does not indicate that the user purchased the product actually used.

: Content that indicates that the product was not purchased at all (unless received as a gift), or that the product was purchased from another retailer, or that does not indicate that the user actually used the product . Restricted Content : Content relating to injury, death, or loss related to a product, suggesting that something about a product or its use is unsafe, requiring legal action against Chewy, alleging that Chewy is breaking the law violates, or something mentioning counterfeit or pirated goods.

: Content that relates to injury, death, or loss related to a product, that suggests something about a product or its use is unsafe, that requires legal action against Chewy, that alleges that Chewy is breaking the law, or mention the fakes or pirated copies. Shipping : Content primarily about the shipping experience.

: Content that is primarily about the shipping experience. Test : The content is a test submission.

: Content is a test submission. Underage : Content indicates that the reviewer is under the age of 13.

: The content indicates that the reviewer is under 13 years old. Unknown Product : Content that does not appear to be related to a product.

: Content that does not appear to be about a product. URLs: Content contains hyperlinks or URLs (except “chewy.com”).

: Content contains hyperlinks or URLs (other than “chewy.com”). Vacuous : Content that does not provide specific, useful details about the product, or focuses primarily on a topic outside of the product, that does not include characters in the review, that contains overly random characters or meaningless words, or that is so poorly written that it are incomprehensible.

: Content that does not provide specific, useful details about the product, or focuses primarily on a topic outside of the product, does not include characters in the rating, contains excessive random characters or meaningless words, or is so poorly written that it are incomprehensible. Wrong product: The content is not related to the rated product.

By submitting any Content to Chewy, you represent and warrant that:

You are the sole author of the Content and own all intellectual property and other rights in the Content;

you have voluntarily waived any “moral rights” you may have in such content;

All content you post is correct;

You are at least 13 years old;

If you have a material connection with Chewy, that material connection will be properly disclosed in the Content in accordance with the FTC’s “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”;

Use of the content you provide will not violate or infringe the rights of any third party or violate any applicable law; and

Use of the content you provide does not violate Chewy’s Privacy Policy, Terms of Service and these Terms of Service and will not cause harm to any person or entity.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Chewy (and its officers, directors, agents, subsidiaries, joint ventures, employees and third party service providers, including but not limited to Bazaarvoice, Inc.) from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities and damages (actual and consequential costs) and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees) of every kind and nature, known and unknown, arising out of any breach or alleged breach of any of your representations and warranties set forth above, your breach of any law or Third party rights or use of content submitted by you.

For any Content you submit, you grant Chewy and its licensors, successors and assigns a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, transferable right and license to use, reproduce, modify, delete in its entirety, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from sell, distribute and exploit such content (including without limitation your name, username, likeness, voice and biographical information) and any material based on or derived from it, together with other material or modified, as Chewy sees fit, in any media (whether now known or hereafter developed), throughout the world, for any purpose (including but not limited to advertising or commercial purposes), without compensation to you.

Any content you submit may be used at Chewy’s sole discretion. Chewy reserves the right to change, abridge or delete any content on Chewy’s website. Chewy does not guarantee that you can use Chewy to edit or delete any content you submit. Ratings and written comments are usually published within two to four business days. However, Chewy reserves the right to remove and post or refuse to post any Content for any reason, including but not limited to the reasons set forth herein. You acknowledge that you, and not Chewy, are responsible for the content of your Submission. None of the Content you submit will be subject to any obligation of confidentiality on the part of Chewy, its agents, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners or third parties and their respective directors, officers and employees.

By providing your email address in connection with content you submit, you agree that Chewy and its third-party providers may use your email address to contact you regarding the status of your review and for other administrative purposes.

toys! This is one of the funnest parts of being a chinchilla owner: buying toys to spoil our pets! Now don’t get confused, toys are actually very important to your chinchilla’s health and well-being. Toys are important to prevent boredom, especially hanging toys in the cage. While daily playtime outside of their cage will help keep your chinchilla active and ward off some boredom, they still need toys to keep them stimulated during all those other hours they spend in their cage. Chinchilla toys also help keep their teeth healthy. Since chinchillas are usually made of wood, they can express their natural need to chew and wear down their teeth.

Toys are also important during playtime outside of the cage. Because chinchillas are so curious, they want to explore (and chew!) their surroundings. This includes any furniture and baseboards where they can get their little teeth. Providing toys gives them safe chewing opportunities and helps enrich their playtime.

Now that we’ve established that chinchilla toys are indeed important and necessary to your pet’s care, read on to learn which toys are safe for chins and specific product recommendations to buy online or at local pet stores . We also share some ideas for making your own chinchilla toy from household supplies or toy parts you can order online.

Chinchilla toys and fun stuff

The first thing to remember when buying toys, toy parts, and other fun things for your chinchilla pet is that they must be made from chinchilla-safe materials. I will repeat this many times in this article because it is so important. Your chinchilla will chew on these toys and may ingest parts of them. All materials that make up the toy must be safe and non-toxic for chinchillas.

When shopping for chinchilla toys, consider the following:

Absolutely NO PLASTIC

Look for chinchilla-safe woods and materials

Avoid toxic dyes and varnishes. Food grade dyes are fine

Limit cardboard toys if your chinchilla has a habit of eating them

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, for fun, let’s actually talk toys.

What toys do chinchillas like?

This actually depends on your chinchilla’s personality. As you get to know your new pet, you’ll quickly discover that there are some toys he’s crazy about and others he completely ignores. Some Chins only like certain types of wood and ignore others. Our chinchilla, for example, likes wood with a thick bark that it can chew off in pieces, and will destroy those pieces of toys first. She’s also over the moon for pumice toys and will absolutely obliterate them within minutes.

Here are some common types of toys that chinchillas usually like. Experiment with getting your chinchilla these different types of toys and you’ll soon find out what he likes best.

Crushing Toys – These are toys designed to be destroyed. They are made of softer materials that chins love to chew and destroy. Often they contain parts such as bamboo finger traps, pumice or lava bites, loofa, cardboard or palm leaves.

Hanging Toys – These toys are meant to hang from the inside of your chinchilla’s cage. They often have a kabob shape, with different types of wood and other safe materials hanging together. Some are more decorative and fun, but chinchillas really only care about what treats are there to chew on.

Tossing Toys – These are basically just chinchilla toys not attached to anything. They are often smaller and can be picked up, carried or thrown by your chinchillas. Sometimes they are made of multiple materials or just one (wicker is often popular). Some are shaped like balls or dumbbells.

– These are play equipment rather than smaller toys. They turn a boring playpen into an exciting and fun play zone for your chin. These can be made of wood, cardboard or other materials. (Sometimes you can get away with plastic parts, so long as you monitor your chinchilla to make sure it doesn’t eat.) Popular species include houses, tunnels, and other “furniture.”

Make sure you always provide a variety of toy material types, especially with different wood and material hardnesses. Your chinchilla may love shredders, but these aren’t hard enough to effectively grind down their teeth, so consider providing harder woods as well. Various materials also provide entertainment. Another way to keep her interested is to rearrange any hanging toys in her cage while cleaning her cage.

Read on to see some of our product recommendations for safe and fun chinchilla toys.

Buy chinchilla toys

There are many toys for chinchillas and other small animals that you can buy at pet stores and online. As with anything you buy for your chinchilla pet, you need to make sure it’s made from chinchilla-safe materials. Your chinchilla will chew on and ingest bits of these toys, and you don’t want them to get sick or die from eating something toxic. Make sure you refer to the list of chinchilla safe woods and materials before purchasing any premade toys. If a toy does not state what wood or dyes it is made of, DO NOT buy it. Caution is the mother of the china box.

When you shop at the physical pet store, be sure to check out the small animal section and also the bird section. Many hanging bird toys are perfectly safe for chinchillas too, and there’s often a lot more choice than in the small animal section. You still need to make sure they are made from safe materials, as not all wood that is safe for birds is also safe for your pet. Also watch out for toys with plastic beads. You should avoid giving your chinchilla plastic.

Knowing that researching every possible toy is time-consuming, we’ve listed a few options for you that we’ve already reviewed as chinchilla-safe.

Cage and hanging chinchilla toy

Toys are an important part of your chinchilla’s cage setup. They keep them from getting bored between seasons and also give them something to gnaw on to wear down their teeth. Some of these toys can also have nutritional value if they are made out of hay. You should try to avoid toys with treats as they will eat them instead of their normal chinchilla food.

If you’re looking for toys to hang in your jaw cage, you know they’re going to destroy them quickly. Because of this, and the fact that they need a variety of chew materials to wear down their teeth, make sure you offer a variety of toys, including ones that take longer to chew, like wood or pumice.

We’ve rounded up some great hanging toy options for your chinchilla’s cage. These are all made from safe materials and are easy to buy on Amazon.

Floor and toss toys for chinchillas

When it comes to exercise and playtime for your chinchilla outside of its cage, you can’t just tuck your chin in a pen or room and just let it roam around. While they would be happy about the change of scenery, they will get bored very quickly. And a bored chinchilla is not only prone to health problems, but also prone to trouble. This problem could involve chewing on walls, furniture, or electronics. These are all things no chinchilla owner wants. Here’s how you can combat chinchillas’ boredom and malice by providing them with safe and fun toys to stimulate their curiosity.

Floor toys come in two basic types: throwable toys, which can be chewed, carried, or simply pushed around. Many of these resemble hanging toys made from pieces of wood or other chin-safe materials. The other toys are stationary things like tunnels, houses, or “arcades” that chinchillas can jump on, crawl through, and bounce off.

It is good to provide your chinchilla with a variety of toys and play areas. If you can afford it and have the space, you have several options that you can rotate in and out of their play space to give them more variety and stimulate them.

Below we have some recommendations for chinchilla safe floor toys to buy online or at pet stores for your chinchilla pet. Later, we will also have some ideas of toys and houses that you can DIY at home to save money.

Chinchilla throw toy

Floor toys, tunnels and hiding places

cardboard houses

Cardboard houses are a great way to add levels to your play area for your chinchilla to climb, jump and explore. You can easily build your own (more on that in the DIY toys section below), or you can often buy cardboard cat furniture and houses that are safe for chinchillas. Look for designs with multiple tiers and tunnels for your chinchilla to walk through. Avoid houses with ink or slick paint. You’re looking for a plain brown box.

Cacao Pets on Etsy makes a variety of interesting and fun cardboard cat furniture.

Binky Bunny also sells some cool cardboard rabbit houses and tunnels that are also the perfect size for chinchillas. They are available in many different packs and pieces that can be mixed and matched to create any size space.

If you have the cash to really spoil your chinchilla, Simply Chintastic makes amazing solid wood playpen toys. These include a mini choo choo train, a mini camper van and a large playground set that any chinchilla would go crazy over.

Wood Alternative: If your chinchilla has a bad habit of eating cardboard, then these cardboard houses are not a good option. Instead, you can invest some money to build them a cool wooden castle with these parts from Small Pet Select.

Etsy shops selling chinchilla toys

These stores sell a combination of throwable toys, play toys, and hanging toys.

Chinvilla – Lucas’ Maine-based shop sells a variety of treats for chinchillas, including chinchilla toys. With so many hanging toys and toy parts to choose from, you’ll have a hard time deciding. Also, they offer tasty chinchilla treats.

Farmer Dave Pet Supply – this is a shop perfectly set up for chinchilla owners. He offers a variety of organic applewood toys as well as very affordable timothy hay in various quantities.

Folklore Rabbit Toys – Another store specializing in rabbits. She has some fun and unique toys, like Mystery Boxes that she can destroy to reveal the contents. She also offers to make your toy kits, which are great if you’re in the mood for DIY but don’t want to do a lot of work sourcing toy parts. (Learn more about DIY toys in the next section.)

J+R Chin Shop – Finally a shop for chinchillas. Connie makes a variety of hanging and throwing toys from chinchilla-safe materials that they love to shred, like loofahs, finger traps, and wicker balls. Go crazy and buy anything in this store as everything is chinchilla safe. The store is named after their own pair of chins, so you know their toys are made with love for these adorable pets.

Homemade chinchilla toy

Household goods toys

If you’re on a budget or want to recycle supplies already in your house, there are lots of cool ideas to stock your chin with fun toys and houses to play with. Since they are so cheap (FREE!) you won’t feel bad if your chinchilla destroys them and they need to be replaced. Aside from the cardboard itself, you really only need a pair of scissors to make most of these DIY chinchilla toys.

Note: If your chinchilla has a tendency to eat cardboard, do not offer cardboard toys. If they eat too much cardboard, they can develop an intestinal obstruction that can require a costly vet visit or even be fatal. Make sure to watch your chinchilla around cardboard until you know if it just likes tearing it up or if it will eat it too.

Cardboard chinchilla maze

If you’re a big online shopper like us, you probably end up with tons of cardboard that you just throw away or recycle. Cardboard boxes are great for building floor toys to keep your chinchilla entertained. If you end up with a squat rectangular box that’s slightly larger than your chinchilla, then it’s absolutely perfect for building a cardboard maze.

All that is needed is a box and a pair of scissors or box cutter. No glue is needed, so you don’t have to worry about exposing your chin to toxic chemicals. It’s also a fun project to work on with your kids. Learn how to build a cardboard maze for chinchillas.

Cardboard chinchilla house

If you’re not interested in building a maze, you can still use cardboard boxes to build houses or “furniture” that you can chin on, jump off, and otherwise explore. What you build is only limited by the boxes you have and your own imagination. However, there are a few things to consider. Make sure any cardstock you use is regular brown cardstock and doesn’t have excessive ink or slick ink on it. Try to remove any labels or extra strips of tape that your chin is trying to eat.

You can cut doors, windows, and flaps into the box with a box cutter or scissors. When building multi-level homes, make sure each level is secured so your enthusiastic pet doesn’t knock it off or otherwise injure itself.

Toilet Paper Tube Toy

If you’re on a budget or just like to be crafty, you’ll love these toilet paper roll toys for chinchillas. Homemade chinchilla toys don’t have to break the bank, especially when you’re probably only throwing away a few of these tubes each week.

You can use toilet paper rolls to make toss toys, hanging toys, hay feeders, and shredder toys that chinchillas absolutely love. If you are wondering how to make chinchilla toys, we have tutorials to make 8 different DIY toilet paper roll toys for chinchillas.

toy parts

There are many ways to buy chinchilla safe toy parts like wooden chews and other safe chews and make your own toys. Often this is expensive because you are buying heavy pieces (basically a wooden crate) that are expensive to ship. We tried to find many options on Amazon where you can get free shipping from Amazon Prime to reduce the cost. Some of these are items you may be able to find at brick-and-mortar pet stores like Petsmart and Petco.

toy chains, cords, etc.

If you want to make your own hanging toys or throwing toys, you’ll need something to tie or connect them together. There are two ways to do this, either with something reusable that your chin can’t chew, or with a chinchilla-proof material that they will destroy with the toy.

reusable toy parts

Kaytee Stainless Steel Kabob Dispenser

Nickel plated chain

Nickel-plated bell

Nickel-plated pear links

Destructible toy parts

sisal rope

Braided seagrass rope

toy parts

Some of these toy pieces, like sticks and the like, can be given to your chinchilla pet on their own. You can also make hanging toys or throw toys with it. These toy parts are all chinchilla safe and easy to order from Amazon.

wooden chews and toy parts

Etsy shops that sell toy parts

Eco Animal Pet Products – Located in Alaska, they stock a small batch of chinchilla safe toys and toy parts. They are a newer business so I hope their inventory grows over time.

Natures Pickings – Run by outdoorsman Mike, this shop specializes in natural woods for a variety of uses such as smoking meat. Much of the wood he sells is chinchilla safe and untreated (he collects in the wild). His sticks, splinters and splinters are great for crafting toys.

A bird toy – Christina’s shop specializes in toys and toy parts for birds and her huge selection also includes toy parts that are good for chinchillas.

Botanical Lamp Shades – is a shop that has a lot to offer. The Goods from the Forest section is filled with sticks, branches, and pine cones that make great chinchilla toys. Be sure to cross-reference the list of safe woods.

Other sites that sell toy parts

Small Pet Select – While they are best known for their high-quality chinchilla hay, Small Pet Select also offers a variety of chinchilla-safe toys and toy parts your chin will be happy to chew on. There are many grass and wood options for your pet to destroy.

TJ’s Chinchilla Supplies and Info – TJ’s Store sells all kinds of chinchilla supplies, as well as wood and other safe toy parts. This is a great store to buy wooden blocks, beads and other pieces made from chinchilla safe wood and colored with safe dyes. Buy in small quantities or in bulk.

Chinchilla City – This site sells tons of toy parts made specifically for chinchillas. They also carry pre-made toss toys and hanging toys for your chinchilla pet.

Ronda’s Chinchilla Supplies – In addition to general chinchilla supplies, Ronda also sells lumber by the pound. She has an extensive selection of chinchilla safe wood in the form of twigs, sticks, coins and chunks. She also sells other toy parts like vines, coconut shells, and more.

Make sure playtime is safe for your pet with these chinchilla playpens.

Make sure you have everything you need with this checklist for new chinchilla owners.

August 20, 2019

Dust Til Dawn: Chinchillas and Their Dust Baths

Written by Dianne Cook, LVT

Chinchillas are one of the most fascinating (not to mention adorable) exotic companion mammals we’ve ever brought into our homes. With thick, ultra-plush fur, a squirrel-like tail, and big, soulful eyes, it’s almost impossible not to fall completely in love with these docile little creatures. Adding a chinchilla (or better yet, two) to your furry family will surely provide years of entertaining company, but there are some unique facets to their care that are necessary to keep them healthy. One of the most misunderstood aspects of pet chinchilla parenting is a chinchilla’s need for regular access to dust baths.

Chinchillas retain their enviable, luscious locks thanks to sheer density. They have an average of 60-70 hairs sprouting from each follicle, giving them the title of having the densest coat of any land mammal. In comparison, most mammals, including humans, only produce one hair per follicle! As you can imagine, this thick, luxurious coat performs several key functions, but doesn’t dry easily. Therefore, it is best to avoid letting chinchillas get wet, as moisture can become trapped near the skin, which can lead to several types of skin diseases, including pyoderma (skin infection) and dermatitis (skin inflammation). Instead of soap and water, chinchillas “bathe” in fine dust that helps evenly distribute natural oils, removes dirt and debris, and keeps their fur silky soft.

In their native, arid habitats in the mountainous regions of South America, chinchillas use volcanic ash to keep themselves clean. Although most chinchilla parents don’t live in an area that offers natural access to this particular type of ash, prepackaged products are available. However, just like with diet, it is important to choose a product that not only meets your chinchilla’s needs but is also of high quality. It is important to find a product that is made from 100% volcanic ash and has been sourced and manufactured without the use of chemicals. There are many different quality chinchilla dust products on the market. Some have a coarser consistency, similar to sand, but it’s important to choose a quality product with finer, silky particles. Sand isn’t nearly as effective at absorbing the natural oils that chinchillas produce, and the grains can become lodged at the hairline, potentially causing skin irritation and/or infection. Because of this, it’s important to only use high-quality chinchilla volcanic dust and never use sand or dust-like products that are packaged for other exotic pets, no matter how similar they look.

Chinchillas are naturally active and agile creatures, and when given a dust bath, they instinctively twist, roll and flutter, kicking up generous feathers as they work the dust from hair tip to root. In fact, they are so efficient at their dusty dance that an inch of dust in the bottom of a proper dust bath enclosure is enough to ensure complete coverage. Many pet parents use bowls or litter boxes for their little ones’ dust baths, while others opt for enclosed plastic or wooden bathhouses to contain some of the dust. When choosing a dust bath container, the most important thing is that it’s both strong and slightly larger than the chinchilla itself, leaving enough room for its dust-wielding acrobatics.

Excessive bathing can cause chinchillas’ skin, feet, and ears to dry out, so it’s important to limit bathing time to 2-4 times a week, depending on the needs of each individual chinchilla. In very hot, humid weather or climates, chinchillas often need access to their dust baths about four times a week. In cold weather or otherwise dry environments, they may only need to bathe twice a week. It’s also important to control the amount of time your chinchilla has access to their bathroom. Usually 3-5 minutes at a time is sufficient. If left in a chinchilla’s enclosure for too long, a dust bath will often be mistaken for a litter box, so it’s best to remove the dust container as soon as your fur baby is done bathing. It’s perfectly acceptable to reuse dust for multiple baths, but it should be discarded once it starts to clump or becomes dirty.

Aside from the hygienic reasons above, dust baths also provide a great source of mental and physical enrichment for our fun little friends, and offer pet owners a great way to strengthen that all-important animal-human bond. It’s also important to remember that every pet is unique, and should your chinchilla ever develop any skin or coat problems, it’s always best to consult a trusted veterinarian. Have fun bathing and let the dust fly!

Chinchillas are highly intelligent creatures and need constant activity. Give your chinchilla toys to chew on or place them within sight of a TV to keep them from getting bored. Keeping your chinchilla busy and entertained can also help them develop healthily.

Music therapy plays an important role in reducing stress not only for chinchillas but also for many animals and even humans. You can play music to your chinchilla to help him sleep, or even while he’s playing outside his cage to make him feel comfortable in his surroundings.

It is important that chinchillas have some time to play and explore their surroundings. At the very least, let your chinchilla out of the cage at night or leave the cage door open occasionally to allow them to come and go as they please.

The best time to bond with your chinchilla is outside of their cage during playtime. Use this time not only to explore and play with your chinchilla, but also to develop a good relationship with him. Give your chinchilla a little cuddle or let him ride on your shoulder.

5

Try changing the location of his cage. To keep things exciting for your chinchilla, you may want to try moving his cage to a different part of the room. This type of change is often greeted with enthusiasm as the chinchilla is still able to recognize the same environment. As long as the change is non-threatening and small enough for the chinchilla to adapt over time, you will end up with a happy and content pet.

Chinchillas love to chew, and they particularly love chewing wood, which helps keep their ever-growing teeth trimmed and sharp. But not all woods are good for your chinchilla, some woods are even poisonous.

Warning Avoid branches of cherry, citrus, sequoia, cedar and other evergreen trees. Do not use chipboard, plywood or other treated materials. They are poisonous to your chinchilla.

Even if you choose a wood marked as safe, e.g. B. From seed bearing fruit trees including apple, pear and hazelnut make sure you are giving your pet the real one and not treated, glued or painted wood.

Fruit trees and vines marked as safe include:

blackberry

blackcurrant

crabapple

grapevine

hawthorn

kiwi

mulberry

pecan

quince

rose hip

Some flowering trees are also considered safe. These options include:

strawberry tree

ash

aspen

cholla

poplar

dogwood

magnolia

manzanita

Also on the safe list are:

bamboo

elm

Pine – kiln dried white

poplar

sycamore

willow (but not white willow)

Preparation of the wood

Once you’ve found your wood, you want to make sure your chinchilla can handle it. Break the wood or twigs into pieces no larger than 5 inches. Any more than that and your pet might have trouble getting a handle on it.

Boil the wood for 15 to 20 minutes, then scrub off the tannins and any remaining debris with a toothbrush or scrubbing pad. You can also soak the wood in hot water and then scrub it until the water runs clear. Or combine the two processes,

Once the sticks are clean, spread them evenly on a towel and let them air dry. An optional step, once the sticks are completely dry, is to place the sticks on a flat foil-lined baking sheet and heat them in the oven.

How much wood you can give your chinchilla is entirely up to you and your pet. He will happily chew as much wood as you give him.

Warning A Word of Warning About Braids If you can see them on your wood, do not use them on your pet. No matter how much you scrub or cook, the lichen will permeate the wood and you won’t get it out.

From the marketplace

You don’t have to be a handyman. A range of safe wooden toys for your chinchilla are available at pet stores, retailers and online. However, be careful. You want to make sure that the type of wood you buy is one of the safe woods for your pet.

Many bird perches are made out of manzanita, but before you buy one, check the packaging to make sure it hasn’t been treated.

Also, avoid store-bought toys that contain plastic. You don’t want your pet chewing beads or other balls.

As you may already know, chinchillas are sensitive to fresh things. Sticks are no exception and need to be processed before you leave them to your chin.

First you need to collect live sticks from a tree that are not treated with pesticides and are organic. The most trusted source will be your own trees, but you can talk to your local organic orchards about buying their branches if they prune. Wild trees present some complications. Trees found in city parks or along ditch banks may not receive special treatment, but they can be invaded by environmental pollutants and it may be unlawful to collect branches from public land without a permit.

Enter the characters you see below

Sorry, we just need to make sure you’re not a robot. For best results please make sure your browser accepts cookies.

Choosing the best chinchilla treats can be tricky. Chinchillas have very specific dietary needs that are somewhat different from other small rodents.

Because of this, you will find that there are many types of generic small animal treats on the market that are suitable for a variety of animals, but exclude chinchillas.

So what are the best treats for a chinchilla? The best chinchilla treats should be low in fat, low in sugar, and high in fiber, since their natural diet consists largely of hay and grasses. Small amounts of dried fruits and vegetables are fine, but stay away from the seeds, nuts, and peas found in many small animal treats.

Let’s take a look at the best way to choose treats for your chinchilla and 5 of the best out there right now.

Choosing the right treats for your chinchilla

Chinchillas have very specific diets, so choosing the right types of treats is important.

Our furry friends have very delicate digestive tracts. The wrong foods in the wrong amounts can easily lead to an upset stomach.

Many small pet treats contain seeds, nuts, and peas, which are not ideal for chinchilla consumption. These types of treats are a great solution for hamsters and guinea pigs, but don’t work as well for chinchillas. They also have a much higher fat content than necessary.

Choose treats for chinchillas that are low in fat and sugar. Your treats should also be high in fiber, since chinchillas’ diets rely primarily on good quality hay and grasses. Small amounts of dried fruits and vegetables are also a great way to give your chinchillas a much-needed treat.

There are a variety of treats on the market that are suitable for chinchilla consumption. Let’s take a look at 5 of the best out there and why these would be great choices for your furry friend.

The 5 best chinchilla treats

Here are our top 5 chinchilla treats on the market:

We have more about each treat below, so read on to find your chinchilla the cream of the crop!

1. Crafting Small Critter Pops

Check the current price on Amazon

Ware Manufacturing’s critter pops are without a doubt one of the most popular treats for chinchillas. It’s the kind of treat you—and your pet—will want to come back to again and again.

Crunchy and crunchy

This crunchy real rice and corn snack is ideal for chinchillas. There’s nothing chinchillas love more than something to bite into, and this treat doesn’t disappoint! Critter pops can either be left in your chinchilla’s cage or hand-fed to them in smaller pieces. We can see why chinchillas can’t get enough of this tasty snack!

Keeps teeth clean

Critter pops are a delicious snack for your chinchilla, but this product also has some great health benefits. The crunchy and crunchy texture helps promote clean and healthy teeth and gums. Since you can’t brush your chin’s teeth with a brush, these types of food really help keep your pet’s teeth and gums in good shape.

advantages

Crunchy, crunchy and aromatic

Promotes healthy teeth and gums

Helps overcome boredom in the cage

2. Kaytee Country Harvest Treat Mixture

Check the current price on Amazon

Kaytee is a name you may have heard of before – we know we’ll definitely mention it! That’s no surprise either, as it remains one of the largest small animal brands out there to this day.

To say they are taking over the market is an understatement and they have a very loyal following of customers who absolutely rave about this product. If you’re looking for quality, quantity and value for money, don’t miss out on this Country Harvest Treat mix!

Natural lining

Kaytee Country Harvest Treat Blends are packed with natural goodness and natural “feed” foods. Much of the composition is grass and hay based bites which are ideal for chinchillas as this makes up the majority of their diet. Chinchillas need a treat like this to keep their digestive systems working.

Other ingredients include chinchilla-safe fruits and vegetables. And while some nuts are thrown into the mix, the overall spread seems small. These treats are designed for bonding and training – or in other words, as a treat rather than part of your chin’s main diet – so you don’t have to worry about feeding your furry baby.

premium quality

Kaytee never lets us down with its high quality, premium ingredients. Chinchillas need to be given good quality foods as their delicate systems cannot process poor quality foods well. You don’t have to worry about this tasty treat as the manufacturing standards are high and only the best feed is used.

advantages

Natural food that goes well with the nutritional needs of chinchillas

Quality ingredients – only the best for your chinchilla

Very nutritious and full of flavor

3. Kaytee Healthy Bits Treat

Check the current price on Amazon

Kaytee has made our top 5 list for the second time with its Healthy Bits brand, and we’re not ashamed to list them twice in a row. As we’ve said before, Kaytee practically runs the market with these types of small pet treats, and we love the fact that they have a variety of different ranges to suit different budgets and tastes. Even the pickiest chinchilla will like a mix!

Healthy choice

If you’re looking for a much healthier treat for your chinchilla, Kaytee’s Healthy Bits mix is ​​a great option. These tasty morsels are fused with small amounts of honey which are a much better alternative to many of the synthetic sugars used in treats these days.

As a side note, always remember that these are treats at the end of the day as they are still higher in calories than regular food. They’re meant to be fun, occasional snacks, and not part of your main chin diet!

Great for bonding and playtime

These are wonderful treats to use during playtime or when trying to bond with your chinchilla. Snacks of this nature can be a great training aid. They’re so delicious, you’ll find your chinchilla begging for more and willing to do anything to get even more of these yummy treats. Despite the “Healthy Bits” name, always give these out in moderation; They’re healthy compared to other treats, not so much in general.

advantages

Healthy and nutritious

A great tool for bonding and playtime with your chinchilla

Quality ingredients that are very tasty

4. Oxbow Simple Rewards Strawberry Treats

Check the current price on Amazon

Oxbow is a well known and trusted brand that offers some of the best tasting chinchilla treats on the market. Many chinchillas can’t seem to get enough of this brand, and with delicious flavors like strawberry, who can blame them?

These treats seem to taste so good we want to try them for ourselves! (We haven’t, but since these are pure strawberries we can’t promise we never will!)

No added sugar

Although the Oxbow Simple Rewards are delicious and full of flavor, we’re happy to see that these are all natural treats with no added sugar. This is great for chinchillas as they thrive best on a low-sugar, low-calorie diet. Chinchillas tend to be overweight and obese, so the less sugar, the better.

Freeze-dried, natural ingredients

These delicious treats are simple freeze-dried fruits that we think are probably some of the best types of treats for chinchillas.

Our furry friends love fruit, but unfortunately too much fresh fruit can give them stomach problems. Freeze drying removes most of the moisture from the fruit, which works much better with our chinchillas’ sensitive stomachs and digestive systems. As always, play it safe by including treats as a small part of your pet’s diet.

advantages

No added sugar to fight obesity

Pure freeze-dried fruits for better digestive function

So deliciously delicious you’ll want to try them yourself!

5. Vitakraft Star Drops Watermelon Flavored Treat

Check the current price on Amazon

Last but not least, we have Vitakraft Star Drops. These are probably the funniest treats on our list thanks to their cute star-shaped design, vibrant colors, and unique flavor. Vitakraft is another trusted and popular brand.

real berries

Vitakraft Star Drops are made from real berries, which means they have a real fruity flavor that chinchillas seem to love. One of the best things about these treats is that they don’t contain any added preservatives but still offer a unique and delicious taste.

However, these drops contain sugar and are perhaps the least natural and most processed treat on our list. If you feed your chin with such a snack, do it very sparingly. A drop or two every now and then shouldn’t hurt your furry friend, but this is definitely not the same type of treat as, say, any of the Kaytee options.

Made in the USA

Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how treats were made or where the ingredients came from. You will be pleased to know that all Vitakraft products are sourced and manufactured in the USA, giving you complete assurance of the quality of this product.

advantages

Made from real berries with no artificial colours, flavors or preservatives

Manufactured in the USA for complete peace of mind

Visually appealing, with great fruit flavor

Next: Can Mice Eat Hamster Food?