Chinchillas As Pets

You may wish to consider a chinchilla as a possible pet. They are of the rodent family, (but it doesn't seem that way).

Also known as "chins" they have incredible velvety fir, and they resemble a chubby squirrel with Mickey mouse type ears. They are nocturnal, although they do get up and play a lot during the day. Chins are very smart and playful, and I'm told can be trained. They are also very clean, so their cage area doesn't tend to stink as many other types of caged animals can.

I got my first pair of chinchillas, as adults, a proven breeding pair. They were nice enough but they never really did bond with us. We ended up having 3 litters total. They usually have 1-3 babies (also known as kits), and their pregnancy is 111 days (about 4 months), which is very long gestation period for an animal that size.

The babies are born fully formed, "ready to go" you might say. Fully furred, eyes opened, running around. They can even eat adult food almost from day 1, although they prefer to nurse.

Chinchillas eat prepared chinchilla food that comes in a pellet form. They also need 1 raisin a day (which they LOVE!). Every few days it's a good idea to give them a dust bath. You can purchase "chinchilla dust" at a pet store. You put it in a bowl and they dive in, roll and kick up a fuss, and is pure delight to watch. Company always love to watch her take her bath.

The real joy for us came as we kept one of the babies, we later sold mom and dad. She bonded really well with us, she was handled a lot from birth on. She has been one of the BEST pets I've ever had (of any kind of animal). She is playful, friendly, never bites, when she "barks" its a quiet, cute kind of bark. A whole lot of personality and character she is.

Chins are more playful type pets, than a sit down lap type animal. I would recommend getting a baby if you decide to get a chinchilla. They usually run about $100. in the US for a pet, but that price can vary a lot. Try to purchase one from a reputable breeder.

Another very nice quality about chins as pets, is they have no claws or fingernails. They have these little soft pads on the bottom of their feet, so you don't get scratched. I wouldn't recommend them with small children however, as young children could easily hurt a chinchilla.

They have a life span of about 25-30 years. They do need to live indoors, or climate type controlled setting. Chins come in a variety of colors but the standard gray color is the most common, and the other, more rare colors will cost more usually. Because of their very long life span, be sure you're ready for that commitment before getting one however.

I found when I was trying to sell the babies that most people had no idea of what a chinchilla was, or had even seen them. That made it a bit difficult to find homes at times, although with such few babies, this wasn't a problem. The people who did come to purchase a chin had this 1 thing in common: all of them had either owned a chinchilla previously, or had a close friend who did and had been around them. That really says something about this type of animal for a pet.

I would however, if you do decide to purchase a chinchilla, get only one and not a pair. If you have one, they bond much better to their human owner (you), than if you have a pair. That's probably the biggest reason why the original pair never bonded much to us, because they were so closely bonded to themselves.

By Valerie Garner-Mother, grandmother and candle maker / owner of Joyful Designs in Soy. She loves to write on a variety of topics with a warm, and engaging style. http://www.joyfuldesignsinsoy.com

PET NEWS & INFORMATION RESOURCES updated Fri. April / 19 / 2024

America’s animal shelters are overwhelmed. Pets – and staff – are at breaking point - The Guardian
America’s animal shelters are overwhelmed. Pets – and staff – are at breaking point  The Guardian

Woman fined $2,500 for abandoning pet ducks at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve because they were 'bad luck' - Yahoo Singapore News
Woman fined $2,500 for abandoning pet ducks at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve because they were 'bad luck'  Yahoo Singapore News

Pet owners could find more rental options under California bill - Yahoo! Voices
Pet owners could find more rental options under California bill  Yahoo! Voices

What Can Having Pets Teach You About Parenting? - The Atlantic
What Can Having Pets Teach You About Parenting?  The Atlantic

Pet Health Redefined As Chewy Opens Personalized Vet Care Clinics - Forbes
Pet Health Redefined As Chewy Opens Personalized Vet Care Clinics  Forbes

Family says city DART raid of North Side pet shop was excessive - KSAT San Antonio
Family says city DART raid of North Side pet shop was excessive  KSAT San Antonio

Pets Seized from Home - Salina - KSAL
Pets Seized from Home - Salina  KSAL

PetSmart tattoo redo contest will gift winners a pet portrait cover up - USA TODAY
PetSmart tattoo redo contest will gift winners a pet portrait cover up  USA TODAY

Meet the CEO who makes your dog-food delivery feel like visiting a Disney resort - Fortune
Meet the CEO who makes your dog-food delivery feel like visiting a Disney resort  Fortune

Family Accidentally Ends Up With 50 Baby Octopuses After Their Pet—Thought to Be Male—Laid Dozens of Eggs - Smithsonian Magazine
Family Accidentally Ends Up With 50 Baby Octopuses After Their Pet—Thought to Be Male—Laid Dozens of Eggs  Smithsonian Magazine

Opinion | Octopuses aren't meant to be pets - The Washington Post - The Washington Post
Opinion | Octopuses aren't meant to be pets - The Washington Post  The Washington Post

Finding an apartment may be easier for California pet owners under new legislation - ABC News
Finding an apartment may be easier for California pet owners under new legislation  ABC News

Warm, Welcoming Environment For Pets At Puppy Cuts Pet Spa - Town-Crier
Warm, Welcoming Environment For Pets At Puppy Cuts Pet Spa  Town-Crier

Pets of the Week: Bettie, Binx, Charlotte and Seamus are ready for adoption - Long Beach Press Telegram
Pets of the Week: Bettie, Binx, Charlotte and Seamus are ready for adoption  Long Beach Press Telegram

Pets | News, Sports, Jobs - The Sentinel - Lewistown Sentinel
Pets | News, Sports, Jobs - The Sentinel  Lewistown Sentinel

WNCT.com's Best of Pets: Turbo - WNCT
WNCT.com's Best of Pets: Turbo  WNCT

Traveling Internationally With Pets? This 'Pet Travel Concierge Service' Streamlines the Process - TravelAge West
Traveling Internationally With Pets? This 'Pet Travel Concierge Service' Streamlines the Process  TravelAge West

Pets of the week | Features | davisenterprise.com - Davis Enterprise
Pets of the week | Features | davisenterprise.com  Davis Enterprise

Tattoo regret? PetSmart offering chance to cover up old ink with pet portrait - KABC-TV
Tattoo regret? PetSmart offering chance to cover up old ink with pet portrait  KABC-TV

How you can limit your pet's carbon paw print - CBS News
How you can limit your pet's carbon paw print  CBS News

Pet Policies for Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Other Domestic Carriers - The New York Times
Pet Policies for Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Other Domestic Carriers  The New York Times

CGHS/SPCA ‘Help Feed Hungry Pets’ food drive - NEWS10 ABC
CGHS/SPCA ‘Help Feed Hungry Pets’ food drive  NEWS10 ABC

Crazy Critters: Central Florida organization cares for exotic pets - WESH 2 Orlando
Crazy Critters: Central Florida organization cares for exotic pets  WESH 2 Orlando

Attleboro Woman Creates Pet Memorial Bridge to Honor Lost Pets - wbsm.com
Attleboro Woman Creates Pet Memorial Bridge to Honor Lost Pets  wbsm.com

For Pet's Sake: Bladder stones in pets - NBC Montana
For Pet's Sake: Bladder stones in pets  NBC Montana

Illinois House approves bill banning people from having servals, kangaroos as pets - WAND
Illinois House approves bill banning people from having servals, kangaroos as pets  WAND

I do not think people should keep octopuses as pets, but I d... - kottke.org
I do not think people should keep octopuses as pets, but I d...  kottke.org

Fairfax County Animal Shelter offering new program that gives pets 'trial' period with prospective adopters - DC News Now | Washington, DC
Fairfax County Animal Shelter offering new program that gives pets 'trial' period with prospective adopters  DC News Now | Washington, DC

A site literally called 'Spy.pet' claims to have scraped billions of public Discord messages and wants to sell them - PC Gamer
A site literally called 'Spy.pet' claims to have scraped billions of public Discord messages and wants to sell them  PC Gamer

vermont, vt, pets, springfield, humane society, barn cat, adopt, adoption, cat, pet - The Vermont Journal & The Shopper - Vermont Journal
vermont, vt, pets, springfield, humane society, barn cat, adopt, adoption, cat, pet - The Vermont Journal & The Shopper  Vermont Journal

Two people, pets unharmed after electrical fire rips through Derby home - KAKE
Two people, pets unharmed after electrical fire rips through Derby home  KAKE

PETS OF WEEK: Brooklyn and Klaus - WiscNews
PETS OF WEEK: Brooklyn and Klaus  WiscNews

Pet of the Week: 2024 pets - WTOP
Pet of the Week: 2024 pets  WTOP

A pet cremation service is scamming customers, victims allege - Los Angeles Times
A pet cremation service is scamming customers, victims allege  Los Angeles Times

Got any of your pet's fur to spare? This Hong Kong artist wants it - South China Morning Post
Got any of your pet's fur to spare? This Hong Kong artist wants it  South China Morning Post

Best Pet Wellness Plans for Routine Care (April 2024) - MarketWatch
Best Pet Wellness Plans for Routine Care (April 2024)  MarketWatch

California Tenants Pets | National News | goshennews.com - Goshen News
California Tenants Pets | National News | goshennews.com  Goshen News

California Tenants Pets | News | goskagit.com - goskagit.com
California Tenants Pets | News | goskagit.com  goskagit.com

Best Pet Insurance Companies for April 2024 - NerdWallet
Best Pet Insurance Companies for April 2024  NerdWallet

BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters™ reduces adoption fees for shelter pets this spring - OBX Today - Beach 104
BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters™ reduces adoption fees for shelter pets this spring - OBX Today  Beach 104

Finding an apartment may be easier for California pet owners under new legislation - goskagit.com
Finding an apartment may be easier for California pet owners under new legislation  goskagit.com

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Young boy violently kicks pet guinea pig to death - KMPH Fox 26
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Young boy violently kicks pet guinea pig to death  KMPH Fox 26

There's One Stardew Valley 1.6 Pet Type You're Going To Want To Save All Your Gold For - Screen Rant
There's One Stardew Valley 1.6 Pet Type You're Going To Want To Save All Your Gold For  Screen Rant

The Best Products and Tools to Clean Up After a Pet - Lifehacker
The Best Products and Tools to Clean Up After a Pet  Lifehacker

How much is a vet visit? Behind the soaring cost of pet care - USA TODAY
How much is a vet visit? Behind the soaring cost of pet care  USA TODAY

Dogs aren’t the only ones who use smell to identify loved ones. - Psychology Today
Dogs aren’t the only ones who use smell to identify loved ones.  Psychology Today

Pets of the week: Lyric is an energetic puppy. Binx loves to get attention - MLive.com
Pets of the week: Lyric is an energetic puppy. Binx loves to get attention  MLive.com

New Mexico Living Pet Pics April 18, 2024 - KRQE News 13
New Mexico Living Pet Pics April 18, 2024  KRQE News 13

Pets pass antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs' to humans - UPI News
Pets pass antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs' to humans  UPI News

Pets And The Solar Eclipse - Texas A&M Today - Texas A&M University Today
Pets And The Solar Eclipse - Texas A&M Today  Texas A&M University Today

California Tenants Pets | National News | clintonherald.com - Clinton Herald
California Tenants Pets | National News | clintonherald.com  Clinton Herald

It's Never Easy to Say Goodbye to A Family Pet - 101.9 The Bull
It's Never Easy to Say Goodbye to A Family Pet  101.9 The Bull

Liquid Gold for Pets: Beloved Pets Brand's New Liquid Supplement - News Channel Nebraska
Liquid Gold for Pets: Beloved Pets Brand's New Liquid Supplement  News Channel Nebraska

Zoetis Stock Slumps on Report Suggesting Its Arthritis Drugs May Make Pets Sick - Investopedia
Zoetis Stock Slumps on Report Suggesting Its Arthritis Drugs May Make Pets Sick  Investopedia

Did Ancient South Americans Keep Foxes as Pets? - Smithsonian Magazine
Did Ancient South Americans Keep Foxes as Pets?  Smithsonian Magazine

Call Kurtis Investigates: Grieving pet owners say they didn't get their pets' ashes back - CBS News
Call Kurtis Investigates: Grieving pet owners say they didn't get their pets' ashes back  CBS News

Street Dog, Asheville Humane Society, Least of These host free vet clinic - Citizen Times
Street Dog, Asheville Humane Society, Least of These host free vet clinic  Citizen Times

Would your dog eat you if you died? Get the facts. - National Geographic
Would your dog eat you if you died? Get the facts.  National Geographic

Pet Travel | Domestic and International Travel With a Pet - USDA APHIS
Pet Travel | Domestic and International Travel With a Pet  USDA APHIS

How To Keep Pets Safe During the Solar Eclipse - TODAY
How To Keep Pets Safe During the Solar Eclipse  TODAY

Why the CEO of a $12 billion pet services company still responds to customer emails himself - Fortune
Why the CEO of a $12 billion pet services company still responds to customer emails himself  Fortune

Pets | Lucille: Your Next Furry Friend - Out South Florida
Pets | Lucille: Your Next Furry Friend  Out South Florida

Costco Pet Insurance Review & Pricing (2024) - MarketWatch
Costco Pet Insurance Review & Pricing (2024)  MarketWatch

Rabies Vaccination Clinics & Pet Health | Environmental Health - Erie.gov
Rabies Vaccination Clinics & Pet Health | Environmental Health  Erie.gov

Chow Chow Makes Friends with Bumblebee and It's Too Cute to Handle - Parade Pets
Chow Chow Makes Friends with Bumblebee and It's Too Cute to Handle  Parade Pets

Oriental Shorthair Cat Is Totally Unimpressed When Mom Takes Him Bird Watching - Parade Pets
Oriental Shorthair Cat Is Totally Unimpressed When Mom Takes Him Bird Watching  Parade Pets

Tiny Kitten's Epic Stomps Every Morning Have Neighbors Wondering If Bigfoot Lives Upstairs - Parade Pets
Tiny Kitten's Epic Stomps Every Morning Have Neighbors Wondering If Bigfoot Lives Upstairs  Parade Pets

Amid summer sizzle, parents go extra mile for pets - The Times of India
Amid summer sizzle, parents go extra mile for pets  The Times of India

Pet Catchers codes for April 2024 - VG247
Pet Catchers codes for April 2024  VG247

American Airlines revises its policy for bringing pets and bags on flights - CBS News
American Airlines revises its policy for bringing pets and bags on flights  CBS News

Pet owners warned after coyote snatches small dog in Delco - NBC Philadelphia
Pet owners warned after coyote snatches small dog in Delco  NBC Philadelphia

Police chiefs back law which helps them tackle pet thieves preying on animals - Express
Police chiefs back law which helps them tackle pet thieves preying on animals  Express

Terrance the octopus has dozens of babies an Oklahoma family now cares for - The Washington Post
Terrance the octopus has dozens of babies an Oklahoma family now cares for  The Washington Post

WoW Dragonflight Best Hunter Pets - GameRant
WoW Dragonflight Best Hunter Pets  GameRant

New York state Senate passes bills aimed to protect animals, sale of pets - Spectrum News
New York state Senate passes bills aimed to protect animals, sale of pets  Spectrum News

9-year-old boy discovers 50 reasons why you shouldn't have a pet octopus - Boing Boing
9-year-old boy discovers 50 reasons why you shouldn't have a pet octopus  Boing Boing

Pet Travel | How To Bring Your Pet to the United States - USDA APHIS
Pet Travel | How To Bring Your Pet to the United States  USDA APHIS

The bond with pet dogs and cats is strong, deep and uncomplicated - The Washington Post
The bond with pet dogs and cats is strong, deep and uncomplicated  The Washington Post

Humane Society sees unprecedented number of shelter dogs due to families leaving Hawaii - Hawaii News Now
Humane Society sees unprecedented number of shelter dogs due to families leaving Hawaii  Hawaii News Now

One person, five pets dead in Danville house fire - wcia.com
One person, five pets dead in Danville house fire  wcia.com

Amazon Pet Day 2024 is May 7-8: Deals on Purina & Furbo - About Amazon
Amazon Pet Day 2024 is May 7-8: Deals on Purina & Furbo  About Amazon

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost? (April 2024) - MarketWatch
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost? (April 2024)  MarketWatch

Bernese Mountain Dog's Adorable 'Happy' Bath Routine Is Going Viral - Parade Pets
Bernese Mountain Dog's Adorable 'Happy' Bath Routine Is Going Viral  Parade Pets

Tick season is here: Here’s how to protect yourself and your pets - NEWS10 ABC
Tick season is here: Here’s how to protect yourself and your pets  NEWS10 ABC

Why Crag Dogs Are a Bad Idea - Climbing - Climbing
Why Crag Dogs Are a Bad Idea - Climbing  Climbing

How does the solar eclipse affect animals? Veterinarians share insights and pet safety tips - CBS News
How does the solar eclipse affect animals? Veterinarians share insights and pet safety tips  CBS News

O'Hara adoption event highlights role of pets in addiction recovery - TribLIVE
O'Hara adoption event highlights role of pets in addiction recovery  TribLIVE

Zoetis falls 8% after report that its arthritis shots may have sickened pets - MarketWatch
Zoetis falls 8% after report that its arthritis shots may have sickened pets  MarketWatch

The Best Pet Insurance for Multiple Pets (2024) - MarketWatch
The Best Pet Insurance for Multiple Pets (2024)  MarketWatch

Pet of the Week - Max - Come Meet Me! - Sierra News Online
Pet of the Week - Max - Come Meet Me!  Sierra News Online

Pets - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (U.S - National Park Service
Pets - Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (U.S  National Park Service

Dad Gets Son Pet Octopus, Who Lays Over 40 Eggs (Exclusive) - PEOPLE
Dad Gets Son Pet Octopus, Who Lays Over 40 Eggs (Exclusive)  PEOPLE

Stolen puppy returned to Frisco pet store by disguised man, Petland says - CBS News
Stolen puppy returned to Frisco pet store by disguised man, Petland says  CBS News

Pet Insurance That Pays Vets Directly (2024) - MarketWatch
Pet Insurance That Pays Vets Directly (2024)  MarketWatch

The Best Pet Insurance for Older Dogs 2024 - MarketWatch
The Best Pet Insurance for Older Dogs 2024  MarketWatch

Photos of your pets sent in to mark National Pet Day - Herald Series
Photos of your pets sent in to mark National Pet Day  Herald Series

The Pet Industry Is Doing Great. And Getting Worse. - Forbes
The Pet Industry Is Doing Great. And Getting Worse.  Forbes

Oklahoma family grows unexpectedly after pet octopus lays dozens of eggs - WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland
Oklahoma family grows unexpectedly after pet octopus lays dozens of eggs  WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland

A 9-year-old boy's dream of a pet octopus is a sensation as thousands follow Terrance's story online - The Associated Press
A 9-year-old boy's dream of a pet octopus is a sensation as thousands follow Terrance's story online  The Associated Press

Warning: New Research Indicates That Your Pet Dog or Cat Could Be Spreading Deadly Superbugs - SciTechDaily
Warning: New Research Indicates That Your Pet Dog or Cat Could Be Spreading Deadly Superbugs  SciTechDaily

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Chinchillas As Pets

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Pet News, Pet Care, Pet Training, Pet Supplies, cat pictures, dog pictures, pet pictures