We've come across some interesting facts about chinchillas during our research. Here's a list of things that don't quite fit in with other pages on this site.

  • Chinchilla fur is considered the softest in the world and is thirty times softer than human hair.
  • Chinchillas must regularly bathe in dust or volcanic ash to remove oil and moisture that gathers in their thick fur.
  • Chinchillas have the highest fur density of any land animal with more than 20,000 hairs per square cm. Their fur is so dense that skin parasites (such as fleas) cannot live on one lest they suffocate. Whereas humans grow one hair from each follicle, a chinchilla has more than fifty hairs from a single follicle.
  • They are agile jumpers and can jump up to five feet above their head.
  • Martha Stewart has 15 pet chinchillas.
  • Chinchillas have no dander, which is the leading cause to pet related allergies.

Sources:
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Chintasia

flattened chinchilla


99 Responses to “Chinchilla Facts”
  1. Comment by Sierra:

    I have a pet chinchilla and he is sooo much fun.
    His full name is Otis Gordon O'Connor…
    I've found that he loves to be in dark warm places like my
    sweatshirt pocket or even in the sweatshirt itself with me.
    he likes to sleep in my bed too but only deep under the blankets..
    one down fall about having a pet chinchilla is their gastrial disfunctions.
    Seriously… I don't think they can hold it in. All otis ever does is hop around and ever hop he takes a little
    poop falls out. now they aren't gross fecal matter it is just amazing how much they poop

  2. Comment by john v:

    i am thinking of getting a chinchilla but i wanted to make my own cage for it. what type of cage should i get? and what should i use for the shelves for the levels? thanks for helping

  3. Comment by The Russelll:

    Chinchillas are the Best pets ever, so affectionate!!!

  4. Comment by jeane:

    hedgehogs are so much more fun than chinchillas but they are stilll cool

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