Do Chinchillas And Cats Get Along?
Are you a pet enthusiast who is attracted to the docile and curious behaviour of chinchillas? These little fluff balls have a distinctive appearance and an explorative nature. Because of their various species, colour range, and behaviour, chinchillas are being kept as domesticated pets worldwide. Besides this, many pet lovers and breeders question whether chinchillas and cats get along.
The existence of both these pets together is questionable. Sometimes, your cat makes a good and friendly bond with almost every new pet, but it has rare chances. It has been observed that cats have an instinct to attack, and chins get terrified very quickly. Keeping both of them together is not a great idea. Mostly pet owners feel it scary to keep both of them together because we can expect any response from cats. Many people say that cats and chins could be the best buddies. In this blog, we will discuss people’s opinions about keeping these pets together and your cats’ behaviour after interacting with these little fluff balls.
Comparison Of Chinchillas And Cats
Both of these fluffy pets share resemblances but not more than dissimilarities. Both of them have a great value of being kept as domesticated pets. They show a crepuscular nature. They both have soft and dense fur on their skin. Besides these resemblances, they do have vast dissimilarities.
Cats show hunting behaviour, which means they are not fearful of anything and find it a fun activity to hunt little animals such as rats, mice, or chinchillas. At the same time, the chins are little innocent creatures that get scared easily and shed their tail as a defence mechanism. The dietary and nutritional needs of both these pets are entirely different. Cats belong to the family Felidae, while chins belong to the rodent family. Besides these differences, many breeders keep them as pets by following strict precautionary measures.
Cats Transfer Parasites To Your Chinchillas
You might not believe that cats can transfer parasites to your little innocent, fluffy companion. These parasites infect not only rodents but almost every other animal. Parasitoized cats spread contamination by infecting your chins. Breeders observe the transfer of parasites from cats to chins, but it happens rarely. Once the parasite is transferred, it could be fatal to your chin.
To prevent such an incident, it is advised to keep both pets in a separate enclosure and not let your little chin out of their dwellings. If you want to keep chinchillas and cats together, it is advised to ensure the cleanliness and grooming of both these pets and keep them under strict supervision to prevent any mishaps.
Can Cats Mistreat Chinchillas?
It is true that cats mistreat and attack chinchillas because of their hunting behaviour. Because chins are prey and cats are predators, they can’t live in the same place calmly. Training both of them might help to keep them together. It has been observed that cats treat these little pets as their toys and mostly threaten them to show their dominance.
Besides this, the large size of cats could also be a reason that chins can’t make a good bond with them.
Keeping chins and cats in the same place could be difficult. It would be a great idea to keep them in different places and allow them to get to know each other. Playtime should be under supervision to minimize the chances of mishaps.
Why Chinchillas Are Not Friendly With Cats?
Indeed, little chins are not friendly with cats and its primary reason is the larger size of cats as compared to the chins. Chins are relatively small in size and find it terrifying to make a bond with cats. It is not an excellent idea for pet owners to build a family of both chins and cats without proper training and supervision. Because of the sudden introduction of chins with cats, the chances of stress and threat increase, and in response to this stress, chins might shed their tail. It is, therefore, advised to introduce them to each other gradually. Let them take their time to get accustomed to each other. Chinchillas and cats get along by these careful considerations.
Precautions For Keeping Chinchillas And Cats Together
Firstly, it is advised that you never let your little chinchillas with cats, dogs, and other large animals together. Chins get terrified very easily and will take time to get accustomed to other animals. Below are some careful considerations that will help you keep both of these pets together.
- It is advised not to introduce them to each other directly or outside the cage. Let them take their time and gradually introduce them from a distance regularly. They will take time to get accustomed to each other.
- Keep both of them in separate enclosures. Since you can expect any response from your cats, it is advised to keep them separately to minimize the chances of injuries and mishaps.
- Train your cat to behave nicely with other animals. Try to minimize their attacking behaviour, which will help them form good bonds with other pets.
- Because cats carry diseases, it is advised to ensure their vaccination, grooming, and cleaning. These steps will minimize the chances of disease transmission.
- Once they become accustomed and friendly, allow them to play with each other. Don’t forget to let them play in supervision otherwise, you will have to bear the consequences.
- Make your chins fearless by placing their cage among other pets. Train them to stay calm in the presence of different animals. These rodents are very intelligent and can learn new things.
Final Words!
It is undeniable that chinchillas and cats have vast differences, and keeping both of them together is not a great idea. Mostly people avoid keeping them together because of the hunting behavior of cats. Besides this, chins are very sensitive and get terrified very quickly. Therefore, it is advised to avoid keeping them together. Chinchillas and cats get along if you follow the precautions, such as allowing them to get accustomed, introducing them to each other gradually, keep in separate enclosures, and keeping them with each other under strict supervision. These measures will help them to be the best buddies and fulfill your desire to keep them together.
