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Caring for Your Chinchilla
By Mark Burgess, DVM
Chinchillas are large rodents that inhabit the Andes
Mountains at high altitudes. They have been in cap-
tivity since 1923. The lifespan of chinchillas is five to
ten years, but they have been known to live up to 18
years. They are clean, odorless, and generally friend-
ly pets, but they are often shy and easily frightened.
Because of this, they are probably not ideal pets for
young children. Chinchilla fur is very soft, and various
colors are available, including silver, beige, black, and
white. Their large ears and bushy tails contribute to
their adorable appearance.
If you’re thinking about getting a chinchilla, please
adopt your chin from a rescue group rather than buy-
ing from a pet store or breeder. There are many won-
derful chins out there just waiting to be adopted. To
find a chin rescue, do a search for “chinchilla rescue”
on the Internet. Or, check out the list of chinchilla rescue groups at www.chincare.com.
Diet
The chinchilla’s diet should consist of grass hay such as timothy (not alfalfa) and chin-
chilla pellets. If necessary, a guinea pig pellet may be substituted. The pellets may be ra-
tioned if obesity occurs, but the hay should always be fed free-choice. Avoid pellet mixes
containing seeds, nuts or dried fruits, since they may cause obesity or bowel upset.
Fresh, leafy green vegetables may be used sparingly (up to 10-15 percent of the total
diet). Restrict sweet items (such as fruit, corn, baby carrots, and tomatoes), high-protein
items (such as oats, beans, alfalfa, soy, and nuts), and veggies in the cabbage family,
since these may cause bowel upset.
Fresh water, of course, should always be available. A water bottle is cleaner and not as
easily spilled as a bowl. Remember to clean your chinchilla’s cage, food bowls and water
sources regularly.
Handling
Some chins bond well with their people. As with most pets, chinchillas become more
tame and affectionate if handled regularly; isolated