In recent years, the popularity of chinchillas as pets is exploded. Chinchillas are gentle, loving animals that make great companions. But what about rats? But if you’re thinking of adding to the family another pet, for instance, a rat, you might be wondering: do chinchillas get along with rats?
As a general rule, rats and chinchillas can coexist peacefully if kept in different cages. However, due to their different grooming habits and activity levels, it’s not always the best idea to house them together.
Rats are very active and like to explore, while chinchillas are timider and prefer to stay in their own space.
Moreover, chinchillas groom themselves by dust bathing in special sand or powder. This helps them remove excess oil from their fur and keep cool in the summertime.
I have written a recent article that goes more in-depth about the chinchilla’s dust powder. I even get into the sand alternatives that you can use for your chinchilla if you do not want to buy the powder.
Click the link above to learn more.
Rats, on the other hand, groom themselves with their tongues. If a rat starts licking a chinchilla’s fur, the chinchilla could ingest hair that’s been matted with saliva and bacteria. This, in the long run, could lead to health problems.
For these reasons, it’s best to keep chinchillas and rats separate. If you’re looking for a furry friend for your chinchilla, consider another chinchilla. They’ll be able to bond and groom each other, and you’ll have two happy pets!
We just scraped the surface of this topic. Let’s check out some more do’s and don’ts when it comes to chinchillas and rats.
Can chinchillas live with rats?
The answer is a resounding no! Chinchillas and rats are two very different animals, and they do not do well together. Rats have different behavior, diet, and needs than chinchillas.
Chinchillas are also very skittish animals, and they do not do well with loud noises or sudden movements. If you put a rat and a chinchilla together in the same cage, there can be serious consequences. The rat may hurt or even kill the chinchilla since rats have the tendency to be aggressive when they feel threatened.
(source)
That being said, even if the rat does not hurt the chinchilla, the chinchilla will likely be very stressed and unhappy.
So, please do not try to put these two animals together! It’s just not a good idea.
Can rats and chinchillas be friends?
As we mentioned above, rats and chinchillas do not do well together. However, there are some people who have had success in keeping them as friends.
So why is the general consensus that these two animals do not do well together?
- Chinchillas are very skittish animals, and they do not do well with loud noises or sudden movements.
- Rats have the tendency to be aggressive when they feel threatened.
- Chinchillas groom themselves by dust bathing in special sand or powder. This helps them remove excess oil from their fur and keep cool in the summertime.
- Rats, on the other hand, groom themselves with their tongues. If a rat starts licking a chinchilla’s fur, the chinchilla could ingest hair that’s been matted with saliva and bacteria.
- Rats need to gnaw on things to keep their teeth healthy, while chinchillas need hay in order to prevent their teeth from getting too long and keep an overall healthy digestive system.
- Chinchillas have the habit of eating their own poop; that is another reason why you do not want your chinchilla to be around rats.
All of these differences can make it difficult for rats and chinchillas to get along, even if they are in different cages.
That said, If you do decide to put a rat and chinchilla together, there are some things you can do to help them get along:
- Get a rat that is used to being around other animals, ideally from a breeder.
- Start off by putting the rat and chinchilla in separate cages and slowly introducing them to each other.
- Grow them up together, so they are used to each other from a young age.
Even if you do all of these things, there is no guarantee that the rat and chinchilla will be friends. It’s important to remember that these are two very different animals with different needs and behavior.
Do chinchillas attract rats?
No, chinchillas do not attract rats. Most likely, if you have rats in your home, it’s because there is food or water available for them.
So, if you’re worried about rats getting into your chinchilla’s cage, make sure there is no food or water available for the rats. This will help keep them away.
In fact, rats are known to be attracted to the scent of food. So, if you have a chinchilla that smells like food, the rats may be attracted to it.
To avoid this, make sure to clean your chinchilla’s cage regularly and give them a dust bath at least once a week.
What is the difference between a rat and a chinchilla?
There are many characteristics that distinguish rats from chinchillas.
- Rats are active and like to explore, while chinchillas are timider and prefer to stay in
- Rats are rodents, whereas chinchillas are lagomorphs.
- Rats have a larger head and body in comparison to their limbs, while chinchillas have a smaller head and body in comparison to their limbs.
- Chinchillas have more fur than rats, with the fur on their heads being especially long.
- The ears of rats are smaller than the ears of chinchillas, and rats’ tails are shorter than chinchilla tails.
These are just some of the differences between rats and chinchillas. As you can see, they are two very different animals! Even if some people think that these animals are related.
(source)
Chinchillas with rats: Do’s and don’ts
Do:
- Start off by putting the rat and chinchilla in separate cages
- Keep them in separate cages
- Provide them with plenty of space
- Grow them up together
Don’t:
- Try to put a rat and chinchilla together
- Allow them to play together without supervision
- Do anything that could stress the chinchilla out
Even if there are people who like to mix and match exotic pets, consider consulting with a professional behaviorist, trainer, or veterinarian to get their opinion on whether this is a good idea for your specific pet.
Frequently asked questions
Are chinchillas related to rats?
No, chinchillas are not related to rats. They are actually in the rodent family, but they are more closely related to guinea pigs and porcupines.
Do chinchillas get along with mice?
Although they are rodents, they do not seem to get along well with other types of rodents, such as mice. In fact, chinchillas often will avoid contact with other animals altogether.
Conclusion
Chinchillas are particular about their cage mates, and rats are not on the list of approved animals. If you’re looking for a rodent companion for your chinchilla, you’re better off getting a guinea pig or another chinchilla.
In this article, we’ve learned that chinchillas and rats should not be living together. We learned about the dos and don’ts of keeping them together since they have different needs and behaviors.
Then we looked at the reasons why rats and chinchillas don’t get along, including the fact that they are different types of rodents.
We also answered some frequently asked questions, such as whether chinchillas are related to rats and if they get along with mice.
This article was published on newpetsowner.com. If this content appears anywhere else, it has been stolen without permission from newpetsowner.com.
