Catch the Chinchilla Craze – Chinchillas make great pets!

Chinchillas make excellent pets. They aren’t as popular as cats and dogs, but their good natures and desire to play are good reason for you to get into the chinchilla craze.

Despite their soft and cuddly bodies, chinchillas are reluctant to be held for long periods of time. They like to move around and can appear quite skittish. Their movements are very similar to those of the squirrels that you may see in your local park. This characteristic of most chinchillas means that adult supervision is needed when young children handle your pet chinchilla. Chinchillas will make a great edit for any family. However, families with young children may want to wait up to a few years before bringing a chinchilla home to stay.

Chinchillas are low maintenance but require special care. However, it is not difficult to satisfy your chinchilla’s needs. As a native of the Andes mountains, chinchillas require a cool environment. If you live in a warm climate, make sure your chinchilla has an air-conditioned place to stay. Do not allow them to be in temperatures over 80 degrees for long periods of time.

Female chinchillas will outgrow their male companions. Generally, females will weigh about a pound and a half. Their life expectancy is long, about 12 to 20 years, compared to other pets in the rodent family.

Chinchillas love to chew. I’m not talking about chewing tobacco! They have teeth that continue to grow throughout their lives. Chewing and gnawing is the natural way for chinchillas to keep their teeth in check. Chinchilla owners should provide their pets with a chew-friendly habitat. Use chew-proof cages and accessories. Also provide chewy items, such as small bales of hay. Use simple items like cardboard boxes for them to hide and eventually destroy by chewing.

Dust baths are one of the unique pleasures of chinchillas. Powder bath products can be purchased at your favorite online pet store. Cornstarch and cornmeal are great alternatives to store-bought powder bath products.

Chinchillas are active and fun pets. They are easy to care for, but they need a family to spend time with them. Don’t buy a chinchilla and keep it in a cage 24 hours a day. Play and love your pet. This is a surefire way to get caught up in the Chinchilla madness.