How to Care for a Chinchilla

It’s surprising to realize that very few people actually know what a chinchilla is, often mistaking it for another animal entirely. Some people mistake them for bunnies, while others may even think they resemble a squirrel. The care of a chinchilla is not a particularly hard  process, but there are a few things one must remember when caring for a chinchilla.

One of the most noticeable, and possibly the most annoying habit that chinchillas possess is the inability to control their chewing instinct. A chinchilla will literally chew almost anything, as this is its way of exploration. Some take annoyance from this habit, but it can be quite a cute thing to see when the chinchilla uses its hands to hold the object it nibbles so furiously at. This habit can be much more bearable if you keep items around that are safe for the chinchilla to chew, and present them to him purposely. Feeding a chinchilla this chewing habit, but as this process is natural for him, it cannot be totally contained.

Besides [chewing it is also imperative that you provide your chinchilla with a regular bath of dust. This bath is nature’s way to protect its fur and keep the outer coat healthy. Just as we bathe our bodies to keep them clean and our skin healthy, chinchilla’s need the same for their coats. So make sure to maintain regular dust baths with your chinchilla.

No matter what kind of pet you have, it is important to accustom the pet to a certain social life. Pets must have certain amounts of social interaction, much as we do. This can be done by simply holding them while they take food from your hand and letting them explore the house in a supervised manner. If you do decide to let your chinchilla venture about the house, it’s a smart idea to set up barriers around the area safest for your chinchilla to roam around. A playpen can work great, just remember the chinchilla’s chewing habit!

Chinchillas really do make great pets!You are sure to find a great deal of pleasure in owning one as long, as long as you keep him happy. A chinchilla’s happiness is simple: see to his well-being and make sure to give him plenty of attention. Just keep these pet chinchilla care tips in mind and you’ll do fine!