The Uncommon House Pet: Chinchillas

Chinchillas are bunny-like rodents that have odd squirrel like tails that are kind of spiky, and unkempt, yet they’re still fluffy and soft in every other part of their body. Chinchillas are native to the Andes mountains in South America and live in herds, large groups that live and travel together. They keep to high places, as the trees and bushes are where they like to reside, and in your household, they’ll try to get to the highest vantage point they can reach.

As fluffy and soft as chinchillas are, they may not enjoy the touch of human hands, as they are more solitary creatures when domesticated, but they can be cuddly if you grow a bond with them. Chinchillas are not animals you can neglect and let live without your intervention, as they are very fragile and have emotions and personalities as a human does. One could be nice and friendly, allowing you to stroke it’s fur and cuddle it after getting to know you, as another may wish to be left in solitude away from interaction and touching.

When you first buy a chinchilla, they will be very distant and scared of you, yet with time, lots of patience, and love, you can make this uncommon pet your best friend. Although you can grow a solid relationship of what can you do for your chinchilla and what can your chinchilla do for you, they aren’t the best pets for young children, as they may not be as comfortable with the immense amount of energy that a toddler or child may have. This pet is definitely for those who seek true companionship and are well experienced in caring for a pet.

As aforementioned chinchillas enjoy having “the high ground” or being able to adventure and climb as they would in their native home, thus you’d have to buy a nicer cage or enclosure for them than you would guinea pig or hamster. Also, as odd as it may sound, you would want to keep your chinchilla(s) is their own room, as the temperature and humidity that they can handle differ heavily from what most other pets can. They are not pets you can put in your room and assume will be “fine” as they are nocturnal, being active at dawn and dusk, for most of their lifespan. This can impact your sleep, you could impact it’s sleep, making both of you unhappy. It is possible to change their sleep schedule through lots of practice and training, basically having to make they active at what times you want them to be active at.

This aside, a chinchilla could be the pet to last, as they can live as long as 27 years old with proper and extensive care, making them last longer than most dogs and cats, not even to mention other small animals. Caring for your chinchilla could mean many things, from giving it at least two dust baths a week, giving it the veterinarian visits it needs, and they love they need.

A chinchilla could be the perfect pet for you or your child, given that they’re relatively above the age of thirteen and have great responsibility when it come to taking care of both themselves and are well able to take care of these wonderful pets. Either way I hope you learned a good deal of information about these fluffy rodents and can gladly consider adopting one and caring for one.