Chinchillas and cats

outbackchin · 01-11-2004, 08:48 AM

I have been corresponding with someone who is interested in owning a chinchilla. She has been doing a lot of research but is still worried about owning one b/c she has 2 cats. i know that some of you own both cats and chins and i was wondering if you could give some advice or tips or precautions that this woman can take to make sure all is safe at her home. I gave some common sense answers to her but I just wanted ya'lls opinion. Thanks so much!

ChinnyOtaku · 01-11-2004, 09:38 AM

I keep my chins in a seperate room with the door closed, and let the chins out in the bathroom without the cats around. Back when I only had one chin I let her out in an extra large critter ball and she could chase the cats, so my cats are actually afraid of the chins. But my chins are very docile to begin with so I suppose some attention should be paid to the personality of the cat. if her cat is the type that chases birds; mice etc, then extra care should be taken to make absolutely sure the cat never gets to the chins. Mine however behave very well, and on occasion are let into my bedroom and they stay away from the chin cages as much as possible

neuroleptical · 01-11-2004, 09:41 AM

I agree w/ Chinny Otaku: Hank is petrified of Cub!! She avoids Cub @ all costs, so I don't worry. However I would never let them both loose in the same room together- I think the attraction of the scurrying chin would be too much for Hank's instincts to resist!!

suzoo · 01-11-2004, 09:58 AM

I think it all depends on the cat...
I have 2 cats and they are awesome with smaller animals... Wilson basically ignores them & Wiley is fasinated by them, but in a good way. He will lay beside their cage for hours and watch them... but he's never once tried to swat at them. They are in the same room everyday (I have my chins in the livingroom)...
When I put the chins in the bathroom (one at a time) for playtime, I have a board across the doorway so I can check on them quite often. Many times I have gone to check on them and found Wiley has jumped over the board and is in there hanging out with the chin. I always remove him immediately but that's only so the chin doesn't feel threatened.. I trust my cats completely.
This is the cat that brought my hamster to me in his mouth

when the hamster escaped from his critterball. Not a mark on him.. he just wanted me to take care of my little escape artist.
So... I'd say it's not totally impossible to have cats & chins in the same room but since this person's cat hasn't been exposed to smaller animals before I'd tell her to be cautious and only let them together while supervised.

outbackchin · 01-11-2004, 07:35 PM

Thanks everyone, i really appreciate it and will pass these posts onto the interested party.

pamm013 · 01-12-2004, 09:44 AM

Aspen will walk by and if something catches his eye from the chins cage he will go over there and look at them.. and if one of them sticks thier nose to the front of the cage Aspen will back off.. and he goes in the chin room with me when I go in for feeding time and cage cleaning and treats... but he just wants more to be around me than to even notice the chins.. there was once that Livvie jumped right out of her cage as soon as I opened the door.. and Aspen seen it and ran after her... I screeched Aspens name and Livvies Name.. I dont know who got more freaked out me or Aspen.. lol he stopped and Livvie stopped by the bedroom door and I was able to grab her.. but I have no idea what he would have done if he would have gotten to her... hopefully he would have just been curious and just looked at her.. maybe he thought it was a new toy.. lol