Q: Hello, my husband and I are interested in adopting a chinchilla, but we have never owned a chinchilla before. I have had several hamsters and other pets, but chinchillas are new to me. I was wondering if someone from your organization could give me more information on chinchilla care.
A: Thanks for contacting us! It's wonderful that you're considering adoption and even more wonderful that your being so responsible and researching new pet species before considering actually bringing one into your home. We wish every potential home was so responsible!
Let's begin with a couple of websites:
www.chincare.com has tons of information. It may be a bit overwhelming, but just pick a few articles to get started.
www.chinchillaclub.com is another great one. They also have a nice forum for asking specific questons.
Just a few basics. Chinchillas are strictly nocturnal. They need a dim, quiet place to sleep during the day. Waking them up too often during daylight hours can cause stress and for a delicate creature like these exotics, stress can be fatal. Chinchillas need out of cage playtime on a regular basis, as well as dust baths using a special volcanic dust sold for their care. Chinchilla play areas must be carefully chin-proofed--easier said than done. They're clever, mischievous creatures and will find a way to get into tiny nooks and crevices and every last thing they find goes straight into their mouths. Any wires will need to be carefully bite-proofed, or choose a playspace without them (or with very few) such as a mudroom, bathroom, or similar.
Chinchillas do not like to be held or hugged most of the time, and if they do want petting/cuddling, it has to be done when *they* choose. If grabbed, they can snap their own backs trying to get away. While there are holds that can minimize the risk of this happening, they're not exactly fun for the handler or the chinchilla and are more for things like putting the animal into a carrier to take to the vet, doing health checks, or getting a chinchilla out of a dangerous situation than they are for interaction. Chinchillas are fabulous pets, don't get me wrong. I adore mine, but it does take a long time to build their trust, and even when they do trust you they may find it more fun to run away from you then to sit in your lap. Granted, mine does hop onto my knee for petting when I sit quietly, but it has taken years of patience for her to get to this point (keep in mind that she was unceremoniously dumped in the city pound before I adopted her, so we don't know her background as much as many of the chinchillas we have in the rescue. Personalities vary, and a chinchilla who has had a lot of exposure to people in their previous home or in one of our foster homes will make a difference in how outgoing they are.)
Overall, though, chinchillas are pretty hands-off most of the time. They love to run and jump and climb and hide, they perch on the tiniest edges and bars, being mountain-dwelling animals in the wild, and they will enjoy your attention, but they also enjoy hiding from you in any space they can get to. Sometimes I think they think the more dangerous their behavior, the better! They are definitely mischievous, definitely cute, and definitely fun. They also can be temperamental, they can spray urine (like a skunk sprays!) when they get angry (so far, though, I have never experienced this behavior. They give a vocal warning before doing anything extreme, typically. You can't misinterpret that strange buzzing wail! They can find trouble faster than any animal I have ever seen. Watch them like a hawk! They will escape the room if they can, climb behind appliances, chew everything you own (including the walls--if you are in love with your molding, a chinchilla is not a good choice), and everything--everything--they find goes right into their mouths. Even my cel phone has a bite out of it, not to mention my books, all of the cats' toys, my shoes, etc. As I said, they require a good amount of out of cage time to be happy and healthy (without it they cannot digest their food properly), and they need a quiet, undisturbed place to sleep during the day. They are smart little animals who also need a good amount of interaction and mental stimulation, usually between the hours of 5p.m. and 4 a.m.
Chinchillas are a big responsibility, but if you're ready for it, they make wonderful companions. I hope this information has helped with your choice. We look forward to hearing from you!
