FAQs

How long do chinchillas live? 10-15 years.

Do chinchillas like to cuddle? Not for long. They are very active and curious creatures. You might be able to get a few minutes of cuddle time or an ear scratch, but don't expect them to sit in your lap for hours on end.

What do they eat? You should feed your chinchilla a high quality pellet food, specially formulated for chinchillas. They also need a constant supply of timothy hay and alfalfa hay can be given a few times a week.

Can I keep my chin outdoors? NO!! Chins need to be in a cool dry place. They cannot tolerate temperatures over 75 degrees. If you put a chinchilla outside in Florida, it will die.

I am thinking about getting a chin for my kids. Do they make good pets for children? Chinchillas make great pets for older kids(12+), so long as parents are willing to help them care for their chin. Before buying your child a chin consider how long they live...15 years. If you buy your child a chinchilla when she is 14, you will be stuck with that chinchilla when she graduates from high school and moves out. Chinchillas should be a family pet, like a dog or cat, and parents must be willing to assume responsibility for that animal once their child grows up. If you have small children and you are considering buying a chinchilla as a family pet make sure you explain to your children how gentle they must be, never let them pick up the chinchilla, and put the cage in a spot that they cannot get to without supervision. Unless your child is used to handling small animals or birds, I would not recommend a chinchilla if your child is under 9. Chinchillas are very delicate and small children can be rough.

How should I pick up my chinchilla? You should always scoop your chinchilla with two hands, making sure not to squeeze his chest. They have floating rib cages that are very delicate, so they can never be squeezed. If your chin is squirming, it is better to hold him in place by grabbing the BASE of his tail, that holding him too tightly. Always hold them against your body, so they feel secure and are less likely to fall if they squirm. Never grab them by the hair, because it will fall out (it will regrow, but it takes a while) 

Do chinchillas like treats? Although chins love them, treats should be limited to twice a week. Chins have a very sensitive digestive system and should only be fed chin safe treats.

What type of treats can I give my chin? Raisins, rose hips, dried papaya, apple or pineapple, apple twigs, oats, dandelion drops and alfalfa rings are among some of the acceptable chinchilla treats. AVIOD peanuts, anything with corn, and dried fruit with added sugar or sulfites. 

Do I have to bathe my chinchilla? Chins bathe themselves with dust, which can be bought at most pet stores. Just provide your chin with a small amount of dust and they will do all the work. They should be allowed to bathe a few times a week to keep their hair from getting oily.

What types of bedding can I put in my chinchilla's cage? Do not use cedar! Cedar has aromatic oils that can be dangerous to chins and should never be placed in their cage. Kiln dried pine and aspen bedding can be found in most pet stores. Aspen has they fewest oils of the dried wood beddings. Pet stores carry other non-wood beddings for small animals, but make sure they are chinchilla safe. There have been some reported cases of chins eating paper based beddings, like Yesterdays News or Carefresh, and it becoming lodged in their intestines. This is pretty uncommon, and paper based litters are still considered acceptable for chins. I personally use the Aspen bedding for all of my chins.

Do I have to give my chin chew blocks? Yes. Because chinchillas' teeth keep growing over their life, they need to wear them down. Chins who are not given something to gnaw on can have very serious complications, sometimes resulting in teeth becoming ingrown into the jaw above or below them.

Do I have to keep my chin in a cage? While chins can be let out of their cage for playtime, they do need to be kept in a cage when not supervised. This is for the safety of the animal. Chins will chew on everything, including poisonous plants, electrical cords, and your nice furniture. Chins should be let out of their cage for exercise and socialization, but it's important that you chin-safe the room and keep an eye on the little bugger the entire time.

Can I train my chinchilla to use a litter box? No. Chinchillas cannot control their pooping. Fortunately, because of their diet, their waste is hard and odorless, very similar to a hamster. They do have complete bladder control and usually go in one corned of the cage. This is something to think about before adopting a chin, since it means surfaces in your cage will have to be wiped off regularly and you'll have to sweep up after you let them out for playtime.

How old do kits have to be before they can be adopted? Kits are weaned at about 8 weeks. If you are waiting on one of my kits, use the calendar below to see when he/she will be ready to go.

 I have a chinchilla, but I want to get him a friend. Is it easy to introduce a new chin? This depends on the chins' personalities. Some chins take to their new friends right away and others will not tolerate another chin. There are a lot of factors that can determine whether two chins will be able to be housed together. First is how long your original chin has been alone. Chins that have been housed alone for years are less likely to accept another chin. Also, the sex of the chinchillas is a huge factor. Two adult females are the hardest to introduce to each other, followed by two adult males. Males and females can be paired more easily as adults, but it is still not a sure thing. Introducing two chins is not as easy as it sounds. It can take weeks or months of work before your chins can be left in the same cage without supervision. If you are willing to put in the time, you must remember to be patient. If you rush things and your chins end up having a bad fight, they will hold a grudge and may never become friends. It sounds ridiculous but it is the truth, I've seen it happen.


How do I go about introducing two chins? Slowly!!  You will have to set up separate cages for them at first. Place them within a few feet of each other and observe their reactions toward each other. If they get aggressive, move the cages further away. You will slowly move the cages closer together as they come to accept each other (may take weeks). You have to judge by their reaction whether you wish to try introducing them this first week. Chins can be territorial and they may not want another chin coming into their space. NEVER put one chinchilla into the other's cage. You need to introduce them on neutral ground. This means an area that is new to both chinchillas, not an area that one of them is used to playing in. Now observe again. If they start to fight, break it up immediately (you may want to wear gloves, just in case) and put them back into their respective cages. Do not try again for a while, just keep their cages within eyesight of each other. Continue moving their cages closer together, a few inches a day. If they do not seem to mind each other  you may try introducing them again, but remember one bad fight could ruin any chance for uniting them. I've found that having treats on hand and a dust house present during introduction makes things go more smoothly. Most of my successful unions have happened in the dust house. Before adopting a second chinchilla consider what you will do if they do not get along. Although chins are usually social animals, some of them don't like company.