It can be hard to imagine something as cute as a cat smelling up the house.
But they do. And it can be bad.
Chinchillas are arguably even cuter than cats (ok, I’m biased).
Do chinchillas fart, too?
Or is this the one cute animal that won’t smell up the place?
Keep reading to learn whether chinchillas also fart and what you can do to minimize any potential flatulence or other emission of a bad odor.
Contents
Do Chinchillas Fart?
No, chinchillas do not fart. Not in the normal sense anyway. They are unable to release gas from their anus, but they do sometimes release a foul smell.
How is that different from a fart? And what are they doing exactly, when you smell a foul smell? Let’s find out!
Not Your Regular Fart
While chinchillas may fart in a certain sense of the word, it is not really the same thing. They do not release any gas. Instead, they may push on the smell gland in their anal opening, which releases a putrid smell. They usually do this when they are feeling bad or anxious.
The reason chinchillas do not fart in the normal sense, is because their digestive system is designed to be efficient and produce less gas. Additionally, their diet comprises mostly hay and pellets, which are easy to digest and do not produce a lot of gassy waste material.
A Bad Smell
The anal scent gland releases a thick, oily liquid that has a musky odor. Chinchillas usually use this scent to mark their territory and communicate with other chinchillas.
It is unclear what exactly makes the liquid so stinky. It is believed to contain a mixture of lipids, proteins, and other organic compounds, but more research is needed (by some very unfortunate researcher!).
Do Chinchillas Fart Often?
The good news is, chinchillas do not fart as often as other animals. In fact, it usually only when something is wrong. They do not fart regularly, because their diet is simple and made up of foods that produce less waste material.
However, when they do fart, the smell can be quite potent. And it is an involuntary behavior in chinchillas, so don’t blame your poor chin!
Reducing Chinchilla Farts
Chinchilla farts can be unpleasant especially if since you need to keep them indoors. However, there are ways to reduce chinchilla farts, such as feeding them a healthy diet and not causing them undue stress.
Your chinchilla should eat a diet consisting of plenty of fresh hay and pellets. That is all they need. If they eat this diet, the chances of digestive distress, which causes the liquid from the gland to have a worse smell is greatly reduced.
Additionally, providing your chinchilla with fresh water and plenty of exercise can go a long way in promoting healthy digestion.
Finally, it is important to ensure that your chinchilla’s cage is clean and well-ventilated to reduce stress. As we now know, stress can lead to your chinchilla farting.
Farting Causes
A common cause of a chinchilla emitting a foul smell from its anus is related to the diet. Chinchillas are mostly herbivores, which means that they have a diet that is high in fiber. This diet does not cause gas and normal farts, as mentioned. However, a poor diet can make the liquid in the anal gland smell much worse.
The biggest factor that can cause a chinchilla to emit this foul-smelling liquid is stress. When a chinchilla is anxious or scared, it may involuntarily release some of the liquid, leading to a nasty odor. This may lead to burping and farting. It’s important to keep your chinchilla in a comfortable and safe environment, and avoid loud noises, extreme temperatures, and sudden movements.
Your chinchilla may also be farting as a form of protection. In the wild, a chinchilla might emit a foul-smelling odor to warn predators. If your chinchilla is doing this in captivity, chances are it is feeling very threatened.
If this is the case, then you should identify the threat and remove it. If you think the threat is you, then try removing yourself and give your chinchilla some time to calm down.
Can Chinchillas Fart: Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever smelled the nasty stench that sometimes emanates from a chinchilla’s butt, you are certainly justified in wondering: do chinchillas fart? You now know that, despite the occasional smell, they do not.
At least not in that usual sense of the word. Chinchillas do not emit gas from their anal opening, but they can emit a foul-smelling liquid, when they get stressed, scared, or are feeling under the weather. It may not technically be a fart, but the end result is the same.
Leave a Reply