Are cats a danger in same house as chinchilla?

Question
Hello, I would like to get a chinchilla, but I have two cats.  Would this be safe?  Do cats see chinchillas as prey?  Would the chinchilla be afraid of the cats?  

Answer
Hello there,
There's no reason why you can't have both as long as you think things through carefully. The chinchilla will need a safe cage and a room where the cats can be locked out of while you aren't home. That way there's no risk of your cat attacking the chinchilla. The cats could be allowed in the room when you are there and they may actually get used to each other. However if the chinchilla is afraid of the cats then it could actually attack them! Some cats are quite shy and may not fight back against a chinchilla. That means they could get seriously injured as rodent bites can be very deep and nasty. I actually have rabbits that were brought up with cats and dogs, they aren't afraid of them, actually the cats are scared of the rabbits! I can leave them out in the garden with the cats and know that the cats wouldn't attack them. However each cat is different and it really depends on the individual. My cats run away if the rabbits go near them! Chinchillas are very fiesty compared to rabbits so you would have to be very careful to ensure that your cats and chinchilla stayed safe. Keep in mind that chinchillas will chew EVERYTHING, it doesn't matter what it's made of and they can do a lot of damage to your home if you take your eyes off them for a second!! Good luck with what ever you decide