One of the questions that we're asked is whether it is safe to take a chinchilla on trips. Our general response is that taking your chinchilla on your travels is a bad idea.
The reasons for our response are many. Here are the top reasons to NOT travel with your chinchilla:
- Chinchillas are skittish to begin with. Moving them outside of their familiar surroundings can cause them great stress.
- If you move them very frequently, they may learn to associate your presence with the move and thus stopping trusting you.
- You don't have as much control with the environment when you travel. As a result, you may put your chinchillas in situations where the temperature and/or humidity are high enough to kill them.
- The more moving, the more likely your chinchillas will become physically harmed e.g. broken leg.
We also understand that sometimes you have no choice but to take your chinchilla with you. Breeders that attend shows are obviously taking their chinchillas to different locations with no ill-effects. So it is quite possible to do successfully. We do hope that you'll carefully examine your plans and make sure that at all stages you've considered the implications to your chinchillas.
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October 31st, 2007 at 12:09 am
Hi Katie:
I just relocated and brought my chinchilla on the plane with me (Westjet). I think it was a very stressful experience for him since he urinated all over himself while travelling.
Also, rabbits, small cats and dogs are allowed in the cabin with you. Chinchillas are not and the airline I travelled with specified chinchillas as having to go under the plane. If I had had him with me I'm sure I could have kept him calmer.
That being said, I watched him being loaded into the plane and the Westjet staff treated him with care and concern, sat with him until right before take off, and generally treated him the same way I would.
He's still recovering and seems to be more cuddly and "needy" than before. He's slowly calming down though. I've been here a week now.
Good luck!
August 14th, 2007 at 6:50 am
Katie,
There is no exact temperature that is too high because humidity is a factor as well, but generally the upper limit is considered to be 75 degrees. We don't know of any specific airlines that allow chinchillas but the trickiest part will be explaining what they are. It probably makes sense to ask if they allow rabbits or guinea pigs and once you get a yes to move in to the area of chinchillas.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
What tempeture is exactly too hot for your chinchilla and are there any airlines that allow chinchillas?are there any saftey issues or things I shoud purchase to make sure my chinchilla is out of harms way?
January 12th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Chinchilla_grrl,
We don't know of a good resource. The first thing you'll want to check is whether the airline you plan to use allows it. Other than that, you'll want to make sure you have the usual things covered such as temperature, safety, and food/water if the trip is a long one.
Good luck!
January 12th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Where should I look for information about flying with a chinchilla?