A Chinchilla? What?

When I tell people that I own a chinchilla, their initial
reaction is usually “Huh?” People hardly know anything about
chinchillas other than they are rodents, but there is so much
more. I have had fish, hamsters, lizards and dogs, but my
chinchilla has been my most interesting pet to raise so far.

A chinchilla is a rodent that upon first look resembles a
rabbit with a bushy tail. A chinchilla is much more active than
a pet rabbit, though. While they do hop like rabbits, they are
much more agile jumpers and are not afraid to jump from high
ledges. As an owner it is important to note this when handling a
chinchilla. You want to hold them firmly but gently, as to not
hurt them and not give them the chance to jump out of your arms
and risk hurting themselves. They tend to enjoy being cupped
against your chest or stomach which provides both comfort and
safety to the animal.

Like any animal living in a cage, chinchillas need a chance to
run free once in a while. This should be done in the house,
either under your supervision or in a safe setting. Often I put
my chinchilla in a hamster ball so she can get some exercise
without getting into trouble. It also is a good way to protect
your small animals from other animals that might cause problems,
like dogs.

If left to roam on their own, there are hardly any places safe
from your chinchilla’s expeditions. They are very adventurous
animals and are always looking for a new toy to chew on. Often
this is wood or electrical wires, though plastics, papers and
other reachable materials are not out of the question. The floor
should be checked carefully before letting your pet out for
their exercise. Electrical wires should be lifted off the ground
and out of the chinchilla’s reach.

You may think that you can keep up with the chinchilla and that
there is no need to take such precautions, but they can be very
sneaky animals when need be. They are easily timid if not use to
their owners and will instinctively find a safe place out of
your reach, usually under a large chair or behind a huge piece
of furniture.

The biggest problem with chinchillas is stocking up on the
right pet supplies. Most small, local pet stores don’t carry
chinchilla specific items, even if they have sold the pets in
the past. This was the case with my chinchilla. The most
essential chinchilla specific item is their dust bath. This can
be easily found in many stores though as usually a common item
to see.

Chinchilla specific toys and food can be rare, however. It may
run out and more stock may take weeks or months to come in. Do
not worry. Chinchillas love many things that gerbils, hamsters,
rabbits and even parrots do. They really enjoy wood blocks to
chew on, as do all rodents since it helps keep their teeth
healthy and perfect length. Chinchillas are very active even in
their cage, and wooden ledges for them to climb and jump around
on is wonderful too. They also enjoy a nice shelter within their
cage, usually some plastic house or igloo you can easily find.

Chinchilla are quite unique animals. While many needs can be
similar to a rabbit or hamster, they have a much more wild and
adventurous personality that can keep you on the go when taking
care of them. They are very affectionate too and can be just as
comforting as a dog or cat. If you haven’t considered buying one
before, it is a nice possibility to look into. Once you hold a
chinchilla and feel its soft fur nudge into you with its own
version of a hug, you’ll never want to put it down.

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