A Pet's View / June 2006
Wildly Soft Chinchillas
Chinchillas have the softest fur in the world, which almost brought them to extinction. Few chinchilla remain in the wild and they are an endangered species protected by protected by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Animal.
About half of the wild population is located within a fenced reserve.
Domesticated chinchillas have become increasingly popular as house pets. Although considered an exotic pet, chinchillas are actually in the rodent family. The little mammal is nocturnal by nature and generally odorless. Their incredibly soft fur has the highest fur density of any land animal, more than fifty hairs from a single follicle, more than 20,000 hairs per square centimeter. Chinchillas must regularly bathe in dust or volcanic ash to remove oil and moisture that gathers in their dense fur.
Virtually all domesticated chinchillas in the US are descendants of eleven animals captured in the Chilean Andes and brought to the United States in 1927. In their natural habitat, chinchillas live in colonies of about a hundred and make their home in crevices and burrows in rocks and caves in the mountains of western South America.
Domestic chinchillas like tall, roomy cages, at least thirty inches high, with ledges, boxes, sticks, other perches and large exercise wheels. Domesticated chinchillas can be quite loving and hand tame readily. Active and acrobatic in their cage, with proper food and care, they often live 15 years. Since they lack the under coat that creates dander in dogs chinchillas are often an alternate pet for allergy sufferers. Their fur is so thick, fleas cannot survive in it.
Chinchillas range from 9 to 15 inches long plus their 3 to 6 inch tail. Very fluffy, with their inch long fur they appear larger than they are, usually weighing just 18 to 28 ounces. Primarily herbivores (plant-eaters); they eat tree bark, grasses, seed, fruit, grain, and herbs, and occasionally, insects. Their two front teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, so they must gnaw and chew bark and other hard materials to wear the teeth down. They have exceptionally long whiskers. Chinchillas eat in a sitting position, holding the food in their hands. They chirp and coo according to their mood. Soft cooing can indicate comfort and quiet chirping is often their response while exploring a new place. A chinchilla that feels threatened, may bark like a squirrel.
In nature, chinchillas are gray, but they’ve developed other colors in captivity, from white, mosaic and white with gray or black patches to black and brown velvet.
In nature, chinchillas are monogamous and live in pairs. Females are much bigger than males and breed throughout the year. With the long gestation period of 111 days, babies are born with full fur and open their eyes soon after birth. The average litter size is two.
Although not demanding, chinchillas do have some special needs. They can’t sweat, and are prone to fatally overheating so they should be kept in air conditioned space with have ample air circulation.
These soft creatures clean their fur by rolling in a dust bath or one of specially processed sand made from pumice. Their fur shouldn’t be allowed to get wet, because the warm, moist environment invites ringworm fungus.
Many chinchilla owners enjoy playtime -and laptime -out of the cage.. The little mammals like to leap from furniture and run around, but must be supervised. Chewing toys should always be provided, during exercise time and in the cage, since chair legs or electrical wires may be at risk. Chinchillas enjoy cardboard and paper towel tubes along with wooden chew toys as canapes.
Chinchillas have rather delicate digestive systems and special dietary requirements, including hay, which should always be available. They should be fed specially formulated chinchilla food; rabbit food doesn’t meet their nutritional needs. The occasional treat might be a dandelion leaf, a raisin, a Cheerio or a rose hip, no more than once a day. Chinchillas require a water bottle, instead of a water bowl.
Bedding should be changed at least once a week, and food, water and hay changed and refilled daily.
Many veterinarians don’t treat chinchillas, so it’s important to find a vet that has experienced in their care.
Sweet and soft, chinchillas make quite, companionable pets. Their wild cousins are protected from hunting, but their habitat continues to be destroyed. Grazing, logging and mining are destroying this endangered animal’s last known habitat. The family living room may soon be their only sanctuary. PL
Copyright © 2005-2006 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
Femme Fair 2006
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