{"id":171379,"date":"2022-07-14T15:53:48","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T15:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/"},"modified":"2022-07-14T15:53:48","modified_gmt":"2022-07-14T15:53:48","slug":"can-you-pet-a-chinchilla","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you pet a chinchilla?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Can_you_pet_a_chinchilla\" title=\"Can you pet a chinchilla?\">Can you pet a chinchilla?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Why_chinchillas_are_not_good_pets\" title=\"Why chinchillas are not good pets?\">Why chinchillas are not good pets?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Is_it_true_chinchillas_cant_get_wet\" title=\"Is it true chinchillas cant get wet?\">Is it true chinchillas cant get wet?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Can_chinchilla_live_with_dogs\" title=\"Can chinchilla live with dogs?\">Can chinchilla live with dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Do_chinchillas_like_to_be_petted\" title=\"Do chinchillas like to be petted?\">Do chinchillas like to be petted?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Can_you_touch_chinchillas\" title=\"Can you touch chinchillas?\">Can you touch chinchillas?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Can_you_cuddle_a_chinchilla\" title=\"Can you cuddle a chinchilla?\">Can you cuddle a chinchilla?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Are_chinchillas_friendly_to_humans\" title=\"Are chinchillas friendly to humans?\">Are chinchillas friendly to humans?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Are_chinchilla_a_good_pet\" title=\"Are chinchilla a good pet?\">Are chinchilla a good pet?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#What_are_the_downsides_of_owning_a_chinchilla\" title=\"What are the downsides of owning a chinchilla?\">What are the downsides of owning a chinchilla?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Is_a_chinchilla_a_difficult_pet\" title=\"Is a chinchilla a difficult pet?\">Is a chinchilla a difficult pet?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Why_are_chinchillas_not_recommended_for_children\" title=\"Why are chinchillas not recommended for children?\">Why are chinchillas not recommended for children?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#What_happens_if_chinchilla_gets_wet\" title=\"What happens if chinchilla gets wet?\">What happens if chinchilla gets wet?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Can_chinchillas_bathe_in_water\" title=\"Can chinchillas bathe in water?\">Can chinchillas bathe in water?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Are_chinchillas_friendly_to_dogs\" title=\"Are chinchillas friendly to dogs?\">Are chinchillas friendly to dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Can_chinchillas_be_around_other_pets\" title=\"Can chinchillas be around other pets?\">Can chinchillas be around other pets?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Can_chinchillas_live_with_cats_and_dogs\" title=\"Can chinchillas live with cats and dogs?\">Can chinchillas live with cats and dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#What_type_of_dog_is_a_chinchilla\" title=\"What type of dog is a chinchilla?\">What type of dog is a chinchilla?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Why_do_chinchillas_not_like_to_be_held\" title=\"Why do chinchillas not like to be held?\">Why do chinchillas not like to be held?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#How_do_chinchillas_show_affection_to_humans\" title=\"How do chinchillas show affection to humans?\">How do chinchillas show affection to humans?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Do_chinchillas_love_to_cuddle\" title=\"Do chinchillas love to cuddle?\">Do chinchillas love to cuddle?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Do_chinchillas_care_about_their_owners\" title=\"Do chinchillas care about their owners?\">Do chinchillas care about their owners?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Can_you_touch_chinchillas_fur\" title=\"Can you touch chinchillas fur?\">Can you touch chinchillas fur?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#Can_you_pick_chinchillas_up\" title=\"Can you pick chinchillas up?\">Can you pick chinchillas up?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-you-pet-a-chinchilla\/#How_do_you_properly_carry_a_chinchilla\" title=\"How do you properly carry a chinchilla?\">How do you properly carry a chinchilla?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_pet_a_chinchilla\"><\/span>Can you pet a chinchilla?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With gentle handling from a very young age, <b>most chinchillas will become quite tame and bond closely with their owners, although sometimes they do not like to be held or cuddled.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_chinchillas_are_not_good_pets\"><\/span>Why chinchillas are not good pets?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Indeed, chinchillas are among a long list of animals that many veterinarians advise against keeping as household pets because <b>they pose a health risk to the people who own them. Certain infectious illnesses, called zoonotic diseases, can be transmitted from animals to humans.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_true_chinchillas_cant_get_wet\"><\/span>Is it true chinchillas cant get wet?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Chinchillas have dense fur that is not meant to get wet. Chinchillas are rodents that are originally from the Andes mountains in South America. They are tolerant to colder temperatures and enjoy lounging on pieces of cool granite, but they are also very sensitive to heat.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_chinchilla_live_with_dogs\"><\/span>Can chinchilla live with dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>They may or may not become best friends, but <b>they can live together safely. Start slow. Ritual, structure and scent are important to animals. With your chinchilla securely caged, let your dog get used to the smell of his new roomie.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_chinchillas_like_to_be_petted\"><\/span>Do chinchillas like to be petted?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Because chinchillas are so affectionate, <b>petting them is much easier than other small exotic pets. Most likely, your chinchilla will come right up to you and not care how you pet it as long as you are being gentle and respectful.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_touch_chinchillas\"><\/span>Can you touch chinchillas?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Every chinchilla is an individual but <b>generally speaking chinchillas will do just fine without handling and many prefer it. Most chinchillas will want to seek interaction with you after a time, but it is a rare individual that remains calm while being held and carried around.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_cuddle_a_chinchilla\"><\/span>Can you cuddle a chinchilla?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While <b>chinchillas prefer not to cuddle, they are still very affectionate with their pet parents. They are naturally curious and enjoy being out of their chinchilla cages whenever possiblesupervised by their pet parent, of course!<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_chinchillas_friendly_to_humans\"><\/span>Are chinchillas friendly to humans?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Chinchillas are docile and friendly creatures if you are affectionate, too. They rarely bite and can learn to tolerate and eventually enjoy human companionship. However, they are less affectionate with young kids and novice owners in the first few weeks of adapting to their new surroundings.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_chinchilla_a_good_pet\"><\/span>Are chinchilla a good pet?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To answer the question, <b>yes, chinchillas make good pets! They require minimal attention, they&#8217;re clean (although messy), and sleep while you&#8217;re at work. Chinchillas are not nocturnal, they&#8217;re crepuscular. This means that they are most active during the hours of dawn and dusk.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_downsides_of_owning_a_chinchilla\"><\/span>What are the downsides of owning a chinchilla?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This <b>can be messy, and some owners might have allergic reactions. Expensive  Chinchillas cost far more than small rodents like hamsters or gerbils. Their cage, food, dust, wheels, etc. will run the cost up even more.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_a_chinchilla_a_difficult_pet\"><\/span>Is a chinchilla a difficult pet?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Like any pet, chinchillas have their own unique needs and are considered an intermediate pet in terms of care, meaning <b>they are harder to care for than the average pet but aren&#8217;t the most difficult pet to take of daily.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_are_chinchillas_not_recommended_for_children\"><\/span>Why are chinchillas not recommended for children?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Although they&#8217;re gentle, chinchillas can be very agile and quick, and <b>they may not be appropriate for young children who aren&#8217;t able to handle them safely, Dr. Quesenberry says. They need a diet of chinchilla pellets and hay, with vegetables as a treat.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_chinchilla_gets_wet\"><\/span>What happens if chinchilla gets wet?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The rodents are notable for their extremely thick coats. If these coats come into contact with water and become damp or fully wet, <b>the fur can become tightly compacted together, creating a big, uncomfortable mass. The thick fur also can be extremely slow to dry, and can create chilling problems for chinchillas.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_chinchillas_bathe_in_water\"><\/span>Can chinchillas bathe in water?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Chinchillas shouldn&#8217;t be bathed in water to avoid fungal infections and other health issues. Luckily, they&#8217;re generally self-cleaning machines and don&#8217;t need too much help to stay fresh and soft. Just provide the dust in a safe bath hut for 10 minutes or so a few times a week.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_chinchillas_friendly_to_dogs\"><\/span>Are chinchillas friendly to dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Chinchillas with Other Pets <b>It is advisable not to allow your chinchilla to spend time with other pets. That includes larger pets such as dogs and cats and smaller pets such as rabbits and other rodents. There are a few reasons why. First, other creatures make you chinchilla feel vulnerable and threatened.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_chinchillas_be_around_other_pets\"><\/span>Can chinchillas be around other pets?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Ensure that your chinchillas are kept away from other animals during the daytime. They&#8217;re nocturnal creatures, so they need peace and quiet during daylight hours. Never allow larger pets to play with your chinchillas. Even if the other animal means well, they could injure your chinchillas during play.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_chinchillas_live_with_cats_and_dogs\"><\/span>Can chinchillas live with cats and dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Do chinchillas get along with dogs? Again, you may have the same problem with a dog as you do with a cat. <b>Dogs will attack prey and this can include both cats and chinchillas. If you&#8217;re considering having any small rodent as a pet, they may be happiest in a home that doesn&#8217;t contain a dog or a cat.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_type_of_dog_is_a_chinchilla\"><\/span>What type of dog is a chinchilla?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Type. The chinchilla is in the <b>mammal class (Mammalia). They are rodents (Rodentia), and their family is called the Chinchillidae (Chinchillas and Visachas).<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_chinchillas_not_like_to_be_held\"><\/span>Why do chinchillas not like to be held?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Chinchillas are naturally very skittish creatures and generally do not like to be held, although they can become very attached to their owners. <b>Because of their high-strung disposition, they are not usually considered to be good pets for small children.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_chinchillas_show_affection_to_humans\"><\/span>How do chinchillas show affection to humans?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Nibbling is a way of communicating and showing affection. Another type of nibbling that a chinchilla will do is grooming. Chinchilla grooming consists of a series of light nibbles and is done as a sign of affection. Chinchillas can also tell their owner to leave them alone.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_chinchillas_love_to_cuddle\"><\/span>Do chinchillas love to cuddle?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While <b>chinchillas prefer not to cuddle, they are still very affectionate with their pet parents. They are naturally curious and enjoy being out of their chinchilla cages whenever possiblesupervised by their pet parent, of course!<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_chinchillas_care_about_their_owners\"><\/span>Do chinchillas care about their owners?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>They tend to be affectionate, curious and social animals that <b>can bond closely with their owners and generally like to be held close and cuddled.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_touch_chinchillas_fur\"><\/span>Can you touch chinchillas fur?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Because chinchillas are so affectionate, <b>petting them is much easier than other small exotic pets. Most likely, your chinchilla will come right up to you and not care how you pet it as long as you are being gentle and respectful.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_pick_chinchillas_up\"><\/span>Can you pick chinchillas up?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Chinchillas have very delicate bones, and squeezing or dropping can cause fractures and breaks very easily. More often than not, <b>Chinchillas do not prefer to be handled. By nature they are prey animals, and have the urge to flee when caught and held. This can result in fur slip if handled roughly.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_properly_carry_a_chinchilla\"><\/span>How do you properly carry a chinchilla?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Adults should pick up Chinchillas by: Placing one hand under or around the chest area. Lifting and supporting their hind legs with your other hand. Holding your Chinchilla close to your body for security.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents Can you pet a chinchilla?Why chinchillas are not good pets?Is it true chinchillas cant get wet?Can chinchilla live with dogs?Do chinchillas like to be petted?Can you touch chinchillas?Can you cuddle a chinchilla?Are chinchillas friendly to humans?Are chinchilla a good pet?What are the downsides of owning a chinchilla?Is a chinchilla a difficult pet?Why&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[622],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171379"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171379"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171379\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}