Choosing the best chinchilla treats can be tricky. Chinchillas have very specific needs in their diet that are somewhat different from other small rodents.
It is for this reason that you will find there are many types of generic small animal treats on the market that cater to 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 and sugar and offer plenty of roughage, as 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 that are present in many small animal treats.
Let’s take a look at the best way of choosing treats for your chinchilla and 5 of the very best on the market right now.
Choosing the Right Treats For Your Chinchilla
Chinchillas have a very specific diet, so choosing the correct types of treats is important.
Our furry friends have a very delicate digestive tract. The wrong foods in the wrong quantities can cause stomach upsets easily.
Many small animal treats contain seeds, nuts, peas which are not ideal for chinchilla consumption. These types of treats are a great solution for the likes of hamsters and guinea pigs, but do not work so well for chinchillas. They also have a much higher fat content than is necessary.
Choose treats for chinchillas that are low in fat and sugar. Their treats should also contain lots of roughage since a chinchillas diet relies mostly on good quality hay and grasses. Small amounts of dried fruits and vegetables are also a great way of providing your chinchillas with a much-needed treat.
There are a variety of treats on the market suitable for chinchilla consumption. Let’s take a look at 5 of the very best on the market and why these would be a great choice for your furry friend.
5 Best Chinchilla Treats
Here are our top 5 chinchilla treats on the market:
| Rank | Product | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ware Manufacturing Small Critter Pops | Crunchy, colorful rice and corn pellets |
| 2. | Kaytee Country Harvest Treat Blend | Fruits, nuts, grains, and veggies mix |
| 3. | Kaytee Healthy Bits Treat | Seeds, grains, nuts and honey mix |
| 4. | Oxbow Simple Rewards Strawberry Treats | 100% freeze-dried strawberries |
| 5. | Vitakraft Watermelon Star Drops | Berry drops made with whey and fruit powders |
We’ve got more on each treat below so read on to find your chinchilla the best of the best!
1. Ware Manufacturing Small Critter Pops
Critter Pops manufactured by Ware manufacturing is without a doubt one of the most popular treats for chinchillas. It’s the kind of treat you – and your critter – will want to come back to time and time again.
Crispy and Crunchy
Made with real rice and corn, this crispy and crunchy snack is ideal for chinchillas. Chinchillas love nothing more than something they can get their teeth into and this treat doesn’t disappoint! Critter pops can either be left in your chinchilla’s cage or be fed to them in smaller bits by hand. 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 however this product also has some great health benefits too. The crunchy and crispy texture helps to promote clean and healthy teeth and gums. Since you can’t clean your chin’s teeth with a brush, these types of foods really help to ensure your pet’s teeth and gums stay in good shape.
Pros
- Crispy, Crunchy, and Flavorsome
- Helps promote healthy teeth and gums
- Helps overcome cage boredom
2. Kaytee Country Harvest Treat Blend
Kaytee is a name you may have heard of before – we know we bring it up for sure! It’s no surprise either, as it is one of the biggest small animal brands on the market to date.
To say they take over the market is an understatement and they have a very loyal following of customers who absolutely rave about this product. If you are looking for quality, quantity, and value for your money then this Country Harvest Treat blend is not to be missed!
Natural Forage
The Kaytee Country Harvest Treat Blends are packed full of natural goodness and natural “forage” foods. Much of the composition is made up of grass and hay-based bites which are ideal for chinchillas since this is the bulk of their diet. Chinchillas require a treat of this kind to keep their digestive system flowing correctly.
Other ingredients include chinchilla-safe fruits and veggies. And although there are some nuts thrown into the mix, the overall distribution appears to be low. These treats are designed for bonding and training – or in other words, as treats and not as part of your chin’s main diet – so you don’t have to fret about your furry baby’s diet.
Premium Quality
Kaytee never lets us down with their quality, premium ingredients. Chinchillas need to receive good types of feed since their delicate systems cannot process poor quality feeds well. You will never have to worry about this tasty treat since manufacturing standards are high and only the best forage is included.
Pros
- Natural forage that fits in with chinchillas nutritional needs well
- Premium quality ingredients – only the best for your chinchilla
- Highly nutritious and packed full of flavor
3. Kaytee Healthy Bits Treat
Kaytee has made our top 5 list for a second time with their ‘Healthy Bits’ brand and we are not embarrassed to list them twice in a row. As we said before, Kaytee practically runs the market with these types of small animal treats and we love the fact they have a variety of different ranges to suit varying budgets and tastes. Even the pickiest chinchilla is bound to like one blend!
Healthy Choice
If you are looking for a much healthier style treat for your chinchilla, Kaytee’s Healthy Bits mix is a great option. These tasty bites are fused with small amounts of honey which are a much better option to many of the synthetic sugars that are used in treats these days.
On a side note, always remember that these are treats at the end of the day since they are still more calorific than regular feed. They’re meant to be fun, occasional snacks, not part of your chin’s main diet!
Great For Bonding and Playtime
These are wonderful treats to use during playtime or when you are trying to bond with your chinchilla. Snacks of this kind can be a great training aid. They are so tasty you will find your chinchilla is begging you for more and willing to do anything to get some more of these tasty treats. Despite the name ‘Healthy Bits’ always distribute these within moderation; they are healthy compared to other treats, not so much in general.
Pros
- Healthy and nutritious
- A great tool to use for bonding and playtime with your chinchilla
- High-quality ingredients that are highly palatable
4. Oxbow Simple Rewards Strawberry Treats
Oxbow is a well-known and trusted brand that provides some of the best-tasting chinchilla treats on the market. Many chinchillas can’t seem to get enough of this brand it seems, and with delicious flavors such as strawberry who can blame them?
These treats look like they taste so good we want to try them for ourselves! (We didn’t, but since these are pure strawberries, we can’t promise we never will!)
No Added Sugar
Although the Oxbow Simple Rewards are tasty and bursting with flavor we are pleased to see that these are natural treats that do not contain any added sugar. This is ideal for chinchillas since they do best on a low sugar, low-calorie diet. Chinchillas are prone to becoming overweight and obesity therefore the less sugar the better.
Freeze-Dried, Natural Ingredients
These delicious treats are simple freeze-dried fruit, which we think are probably some of the best types of treats for chinchillas.
Our furry friends love fruit, but too much fresh fruit can, unfortunately, cause them some stomach issues. Freeze-drying takes out most of the moisture from the fruit which works much better with our chinchilla’s delicate stomach and digestive system. As always, play it safe by keeping treats a small part of your pet’s diet.
Pros
- No added sugar to help combat obesity
- Pure freeze-dried fruit for better digestive function
- So deliciously tasty, you will want to try them yourself!
5. Vitakraft Star Drops Watermelon Flavor Treat
Last, but certainly not least, we have Vitakraft Star Drops. These are probably the most fun treats on our list thanks to their cute star-shaped design, vibrant colors, and unique flavor. Vitakraft is another well-trusted and popular brand.
Real Berries
Vitakraft Star Drops are made with 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 manage to provide a unique and tasty flavor.
However, these drops do contain sugar and are perhaps the least natural and most processed treat on our list. If you’re going to feed your chin a snack like this, be sure to do it very sparingly. A drop or two now and then shouldn’t hurt your furry loved one, but this is definitely not the same kind of treat as either of the Kaytee options, for example.
Made in the USA
Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how treats have been manufactured or where ingredients have been sourced from. You will be pleased to hear that all of the Vitakraft products have been sourced and produced in the USA, giving you complete peace of mind over the quality of this product.
Pros
- Made with real berries and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Produced in the USA for complete peace of mind
- Visually appealing, with a great fruity flavor
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