Cats and chinchillas can be housed in the same enclosure only under specific conditions. Consider your pet cat’s personality first before deciding whether he can be an ideal housemate to a pet chinchilla. Cats with mellow temperaments may be able to live with chins without any major problem.

However, if your cat’s predatory instincts are still very much intact, the chinchilla (which is a rodent), may be viewed as potential prey. Even when a chin is placed inside a cage, an aggressive cat can terrorize it by reaching through the bars or even just staring at it.

A cat with a cooler disposition may hardly give the chin a glance. This can make it easier for the new pet to adjust to his new surroundings without any potential threats or stressors.

When you think your cat and chinchilla can live harmoniously together in the same cage, make ... Read more »

During the process of desensitizing your pet against specific factors that trigger fear and anxiety, it is important for the animal to learn to associate the factor with positive things such as his favorite treats, lavish praise, or playtime. In time, the animal will soon learn to be less fearful of the stimulus and eventually conquer his fears.

The chances of successfully dealing with a pet’s phobia is highly dependent on several factors including a pet’s age, the length of time the fearful behavior has been displayed, and the owner’s diligence and dedication with training.

Generally, the younger the dog exhibited the behavior and the longer the duration, the less chance for the behavior to be successfully corrected. However, it does not necessarily mean that correction is impossible. Making the effort to recognize the trigger factor/s and being patient throughou ... Read more »

Hedgehogs are able to co-exist well in a household with other pets because they possess a remarkable defense mechanism. However, the temperaments of the other pets can also have a big say on the hedgehog’s safety and wellbeing. Thus, it is important to supervise any interaction between your pets.

Generally, hedgehogs are able to tolerate other pets inside the household. Cats and dogs soon learn to keep a safe distance from the hedgehog’s prickly armor, and are constantly wary about getting close. However, there are large dogs with strong prey drive that can injure a hedgehog with rough play.

If you have a pet ferret, he may try to pounce on the hedgehog; however he will soon come to respect the sharp quills. Since hedgehogs can easily be stressed, encounters with other pets should be kept to a minimum; always be on the lookout for signs of stress such as inappropriate e ... Read more »