Chinchillas as Pets
No pet should be bought on impulse. Here are some points to consider if you are thinking about having a chinchilla as a pet:
- The inital set-up costs for keeping a chinchilla can be expensive, but food, litter and day-to-day expensives are fairly cheap.
- Chinchillas look very fluffy abut they usually don't like to be held for a long time.
- Chinchillas are beautiful and intelligent. They have the capacity to learn and to teach each other, but are too headstrong to be trained - they will do things because they want to, not because you want them to. They can also be very determined. Chinchillas are easily as intelligent as squirrels.
- Chinchillas are indoor pets and need room to exercise safely. They are also nocturnal and can be a bit noisy when you are trying to sleep.
- They need fresh food and water every day. Hay is equally as important as pellets.
- They need sunlight but should not be put in direct sunlight. They also don't cope well with drafts.
- They will test bite and chew anything, including expensive or dangerous things.
- They can live a long time, at least as long as a cat or a dog. They are not an ideal pet for children, as they can have short attention spans. Chinchillas also don't appreciate being grabbed at or chased around.
- Chinchillas are classed as exotic animals. You cannot pick up pet insurance for them as easily as you can for a cat or a dog. Chinchillas are also prey animals and hide outward signs of illness or being in pain for as long as they can as a survival technique. When they do show signs of illness, it is usually comes around quickly and should not be ignored - vet treatment should not be delayed. The vets bills can be expensive.
- Same-sex pairs can often live together happily if introduced gradually. Mixed-sex pairs do not live by the rules of human society. Unless sterilised, they will breed, even if they are closely related. Chinchillas with no background history should not be bred and breeding is not something to be considered lightly.. It is a good idea to keep a spare cage in case they fall out with each other or in case one becomes ill and must be housed seperately while they recover. There are fold-up cages available on the market.
- Chinchillas are sensitive to heat. They can die from heat stroke. They physically can't sweat to lose heat, so fans are no good for keeping them cool as they work through convection. Please see our Chinchillas and Heat section for more information.
- You should not get a chinchilla wet. If they become wet they can catch chills easily and go downhill fast.
- You will need someone who is trustworthy and reliable to look after your chinchillas if you go on holiday.
- Chinchillas can be messy. The dust they bathe in can cloak everything like flour and it is really difficult to get out of carpet! Their fur and droppings can end up in the most remarkable of places!