Chinchilla Trading JB
If you’re looking for your next new cafe spot in JB, there’s a chance Chinchilla Trading might make it on your list. With cute Studio Ghibli-themed desserts, drinks, and decor, every corner is perfect for pictures. The best part is you’ll also get to interact with many different pets and exotic animals.
What is Chinchilla Trading?
Nekototo Cafe.
It’s a Studio Ghibli photo stop, pet shop, petting zoo, and cafe all in one. The animals are located on the 1st floor, while the ordering and dining area, Nekototo Cafe, is located upstairs.
Unlike your usual pet cafes, there’s no entry fee at Chinchilla Trading – you just have to spend a minimum of RM15 (~S$4.86) at their cafe to interact with the animals.
The glass table for the Dine With Chinchilla experience.
Image credit: Syeerahlyna via Google Maps
While ordering your food, you can add on RM10 (~S$3.24) for a packet of hay and sticks to feed the animals downstairs later. Or top up RM25 (~S$8.10) for a 30-minute Dine With Chinchilla experience, where you’ll get to enjoy a meal while a chinchilla chills in a glass table right under your plate.
Are the animals well cared for?
Before we get into the details, let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, the staff assured us that the animals were well cared for. When we visited, the place was clean and had minimal smell. Although some animals were more shy, there were also others that were curious and comfortable interacting with us.
What animals can you find at Chinchilla Trading?
You’ll find at least 6 different types of animals, including some exotic ones, like meerkats, wallabies, and sugar gliders.
Chinchillas
Near the front of the shop is an open area with a single chinchilla that you can interact with. We were told that only 1 chinchilla will be in that area at a time, as they are solitary animals and have to be kept separately.
When we visited, the chinchilla in the area was on the more timid side and would hide in the wooden structures, popping out occasionally. The chinchillas are one of the animals you could feed with your RM10 packet of food, although this one didn’t seem really interested in the hay and preferred chewing on the sticks instead – we guessed it might be because they’re already pretty well fed.
Feel free to carry the chinchilla if it’s up for it, and for RM15 (~S$4.86), you’ll get a Polaroid picture to immortalise this adorable moment.
The rest of the chinchillas are usually resting in their own pet store-like tanks. If one catches your eye, check with the staff, and they may be able to gently bring it out for a brief, supervised interaction, depending on the animal’s comfort.
Cats
Besides chinchillas, you’ll also get to meet cats with all sorts of personalities – from nonchalant to friendly or playful. These felines are not timid when it comes to receiving pats and head scratches, so we had a blast playing with the cat toys and even got to carry a sleepy cat.
Guinea pigs
There are also guinea pigs to pet, and you can feed them with your purchased hay packet and carry these tiny critters on your shoulder.
Wallabies
There were 2 curious wallabies kept separated in a Spirited Away boiler room-themed area. We had to tread carefully as there was some poop and hay scattered around, so you’ll want to watch your step while you’re busy cooing at the cuteness.
And yes, feeding is allowed, although the wallabies were quite picky with which piece of hay they would eat and seemed to prefer sniffing at my hand to eating.
Meerkats & sugar gliders
You’ll rarely encounter meerkats and sugar gliders anywhere else. While we were excited to interact with them, the staff warned us that they may bite, so we just admired them with our eyes.
Iconic Studio Ghibli-themed photo spots
There are also plenty of photo spots you’ll recognise from scenes in Studio Ghibli movies. Sit next to No-Face and snap a picture at the iconic train scene from Spirited Away.
You’ll also find other scenes from the movie, like Yubaba’s desk, a large bathhouse standee, and the boiler room where Kamajī and countless Sootballs reside.
Movie scenes aside, the place is also lined with cute decor, like Totoro figurines, Calcifer the fire demon from Howl’s Moving Castle, and soot sprites from Spirited Away. Take note not to touch the decor here – you can purchase identical ones from the merch shop later.
What’s on the menu at Chinchilla Trading?
Before you get too distracted by all the furry residents, remember you’ll have to head upstairs to Nekototo Cafe to order your food and get a receipt, which is used for entry to the 1st floor. You can pay first and request your food to be served later if you’re eager to start your animal meet-and-greet.
The old physical menu at Nekototo Cafe. You can now order from your phones.
Scan the QR code at your table to access their menu, where you’ll find the most popular dessert: Totoro Tiramisu (RM25, ~S$8.10). If you’re lucky, you might find other desserts like Yam Boba Cake (RM16, ~S$5.18) and Matcha Lava Cake (RM26, ~S$8.43), which are subject to availability.
There are also plenty of refreshing fruity drinks to quench your thirst, like Honey Apple (RM13, ~S$4.21) and Orange Ponyo Ice (RM17, ~S$5.51), as well as caffeinated drinks like Matcha Latte (RM16, ~S$5.18) and Iced Tiramisu (RM17, ~S$5.51).
If you’re looking to have a full meal at the cafe, there are mains like Tomato Pasta (RM15.90, ~S$5.15), as well as Creamy or Curry Udon with Smoked Duck (RM21.90, ~S$7.10).
Totoro Tiramisu, Iced Tiramisu, and Matcha Latte.
We chose to get 2 drinks and a dessert. Although the matcha and tiramisu weren’t as strong as we’d personally like, in terms of aesthetics, every item is undeniably adorable and definitely worth a spot on our IG feed.
Take note that the cafe is not halal-certified, but there’s no pork or lard used in the food and drinks.
Studio Ghibli merch store
If you’re anything like us and find yourself wanting to take home every piece of adorable decor in sight, you’re in luck. You can actually snag some of that Studio Ghibli merch for yourself at their dedicated retail corner.
You’ll find cute pouches, keychains, music boxes, enamel pins and fridge magnets of various Studio Ghibli characters and scenes, all available for purchase.
Can you purchase animals at Chinchilla Trading?
All of the animals in the shop are for sale, so if you fall in love with or are chosen by any particular animal, you could take them home, not without parting with some money from your wallet, of course.
Image credit: Littlebrownie 1015 via Google Maps
The chinchillas are yours to keep for prices starting from RM950 (~S$307.84). Since the process for an individual to bring an animal across the Singapore-JB border is complicated, you can opt for their chinchilla import services, with transport from Malaysia to Singapore costing $1,100/animal. They also transport cats and dogs.
Do note that not all animals from the shop are allowed in Singapore. For example, you are not allowed to keep the more exotic animals like meerkats, wallabies, and sugar gliders as pets in Singapore.
All the chinchillas in the shop are locally bred by licensed breeders, meaning they are adapted to our tropical weather and won’t require air conditioning, unlike the chinchillas imported from colder countries.
Find out more about other prohibited goods that cannot be brought across from Malaysia into Singapore.
Retail section
If you own a chinchilla or are planning to get one, the store also sells premium chinchilla supplies here, like Timothy hay for RM15/kg (~S$4.86), pellets for RM40-RM55/kg (~S$12.96-S$17.82), bath sand for RM40/kg (~S$12.96), and sticks for RM60/kg (~S$19.44).
Where is Chinchilla Trading located?
Image credit: grassy via Google Maps
Just a 20-minute drive from CIQ, you’ll find the cosy shop along the street at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, near Sutera Mall, Paradigm Mall, and NSK Trade City Skudai. Avoid travelling there during the morning or evening rush hours, because the rush hour jams can lengthen your journey to as long as 1 hour.
Visit Chinchilla Trading to meet cute animals
So whether you’re looking to spruce up your Instagram feed, chill with adorable animals, or even bring a new pet home, Chinchilla Trading has got you covered. No reservations are required, so feel free to visit these cuties anytime.
Sign Up with TSL Connect
For more animal cafes in Singapore and JB:
- Fluffydolls Catfe’s cat pilates
- Dog cafes & cat cafes in JB
- Dachshund & Friends dog cafe in Mount Austin, JB
Photography by Ashley Hoon.