If you were to ask a pet chinchilla owner if chinchillas make good pets, you'll probably get an earful of all the care and maintenance they require. Only after getting through a laundry list of items will the owner respond with, "Yes, we think chinchillas are great!" Admittedly, we're the same way.
Responsible pet owners want to make sure that you're truly ready for the responsibility of caring for a chinchilla. Not because we don't want you to have one, but because we care so much about them that we want all chinchillas to live in perfect homes. We've already presented our list of reasons why not to have a chinchilla, so now we're going to get in to the more positive aspects.
- First off, they're really cute combining the features of a rabbit (body), mouse (ears), and squirrel (tail).
- Their fur is the softest thing you'll probably ever touch.
- They're fun to watch when let loose from their cage as they'll run, hop, and bounce off of the walls.
- Once your chinchillas trust you, they will be happy to run over to you and crawl on your legs, arms, and even in to your shirt.
- They don't need to be taken outside like a dog.
- They don't need a huge area to live in like a cat and dog.
- They don't bark when you leave the house, chirp early in the morning, or scratch at your bedroom door at night.
- They don't smell (although the cage can if you don't clean it often).
- Chinchillas are generally healthy animals that usually don't need vet visits.
Can you think of any other items we missed? Feel free to mention them below.
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August 27th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
MEM,
It sounds like you would do better with a guinea pig. They don't need nearly as much room and are more likely to deal better with constant handling. They're also a lot quieter.
August 27th, 2007 at 12:33 am
I have a 7 year old boy who would like a pet (and I really want one too) but between him and his dad, they are allergic to all "mammals"- cats, dogs, rats, hamsters, ect. It sounds like a chinchilla would be perfect-I had a rat as a child-BUT, we have a 4 year old boy and a 1 year old. Are they going to be too upseting for an animal like this? All three kids are really great kids, but they're still kids. I would be primarily resposible for a pets care. We also have a pretty small house and bedrooms don't sound like a good place, ideas? Thanks so much, I really appreciate any feedback I can get!
August 25th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
J.A,
It's hard to say for sure. A lot will depend on your chinchilla's disposition i.e. generally trustful or skittish of people? Our chinchillas are a little more "shy" when we return from trips of even just a week. The trust comes back quickly though.
August 25th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Hello, I am considering getting a chinchilla, but I have a question. If my chinchilla "trusts" me after a good amoutn of time but then I leave for college, would the chinchilla still trust me when I came home for visits?
August 21st, 2007 at 8:25 am
I've recently just bought my first chinchilla he's a silver mosaic called Ollie.They are great pets I've had him just over a week now and he's settled in fabulously, he dozes alot through the day then wakes up at about 6 in the evening. I let him out to run around the flat for a good 3 hours, he's already started approaching me and my boyfriend and loves to play although we've been handling him quite alot he hasn't once yet bitten either of us. As a new Chin owner your website is very informative, thank you.