Chipmunk as a Pet

Nature enthusiasts are happy to welcome playful and funny chipmunks among their pets. These animals have become popular as amusing companions. It’s easy to tame a chipmunk – they get used to humans quickly. However, if you try to hold them immediately, they might bite. Give your pet some time to get to know you and feel that you are a friend.

What do chipmunks eat?

Chipmunks are not picky eaters. They enjoy nibbling on seeds, acorns, and various nuts, except almonds, which are harmful to them. They also like fruits and berries, oatmeal, cottage cheese, and other dairy products. Of course, chipmunks have a sweet tooth. It’s important to include animal protein in their diet (meat, insects, crickets, beetles). Feeding them is simple, and you can find food for them in pet stores.

Note! If you’re giving chipmunks fruits or vegetables from the store, always peel them, as they may detect chemicals used in processing.

Chipmunks are natural hoarders, so you will have to search for their ‘stashes’ and clean them periodically, as stored food can spoil. Hard food is essential for these rodents, or their incisors will grow too long and prevent them from closing their mouths, which can lead to their death.

Chipmunk’s Home

The cage should be spacious, about one meter high and 50 cm wide. Even in such a large home, the chipmunk needs the ability to run, so be sure to install a wheel. Chipmunks must stay active to maintain muscle tone. There should also be a small nest where your pet will sleep and store its supplies.




For bedding, the chipmunk will need leaves, hay, and cloth scraps. They will air out their bed during the day and remake it at night. However, you’ll still be responsible for cleaning the cage, as stored food can spoil. For convenience, it’s best if the cage floor is removable.

Note! Chipmunks shed once a year, at the end of summer. Though they are very clean animals, a “mouse-like” smell may appear during shedding, which is important for allergy sufferers to keep in mind.

Chipmunks and Their Offspring

In the wild, chipmunks hibernate during winter, but as pets, they don’t because indoor temperatures allow them to remain active. However, if you want your chipmunks to breed, hibernation is necessary.

When late autumn arrives, chipmunks become aggressive toward each other. You’ll need to divide their cage and block the passage between sections. Then, place the cage on a balcony to induce hibernation, but be cautious not to let them get too cold – the temperature should not be too low. During winter, chipmunks don’t require much care. In spring, when the air warms up to +10°C, the female will call the male with a unique whistle. At this point, remove the divider, and you can expect offspring. However, this doesn’t happen often as chipmunks rarely breed in captivity.

After the offspring are born, the female takes care of them, and it’s best to separate the male.

Where to Buy a Chipmunk?

Chipmunks are not as common as other rodents, but if you wish to get one, you can place an order with a pet store. It’s best to get chipmunks at six to eight weeks old, as they are independent but still small enough to fit in your hand. You can tell if a chipmunk is domestic by how it behaves, as hand-raised ones will use the bathroom in specific places.




These adorable creatures are found from Finland to China, with some in northern Japan. Many chipmunks also live in grain fields.

Note! Never grab a chipmunk by the tail. The skin there is so thin that it can be easily injured, which may lead to amputation.

Why people love chipmunks:

• They are beautiful, elegant, and harmless animals.
• They are trusting and easily get used to people.
• They don’t require much space.
• They are clean and only develop a scent during shedding.
• They are active during the day.
• They are very fast and curious.

Note! Don’t let a chipmunk roam free unsupervised – you might not be able to find it.

Nowadays, these cute animals are becoming more popular with pet lovers. Their cheerful personality, energy, and endless curiosity have always appealed to people. Keeping them is not too difficult, and after the popularity of cartoon chipmunks, children especially are drawn to having them. With such a pet, you’ll never be bored, but you’ll need to stay vigilant!