Introduction to the Pet Chinchilla

Becoming more and more popular as a pet, the chinchilla, with its timid and gentle nature, big black eyes, large round ears, long whiskers, long bushy tail and the finest and densest fur of any animal in the World is often described as the nearest thing to a real life cuddly toy. Chinchillas make ideal pets, they are very clean, rarely bite unless frightened and with a little effort and patience are easy to tame. They are also hardy and quite simple to care for provided a few basic rules are followed, the most important of which is correct diet. In the wild chinchillas are ground dwelling animals living in crevices in rocks and belong to the group of animals known as ‘rock hoppers’.

They are nocturnal by nature dozing during the day and becoming more active and feeding in the evenings, being nocturnal makes them quite a good pet for someone who is out at school or work during the day as they enjoy the peace and quiet during the day to doze and enjoy their exercise period in the evenings. Being nocturnal they can be quite active and noisy during the night so may not be the ideal pet for the bedroom!

The best location for their cage would be a cooler part of the house away from direct sunshine and radiators.
The chinchilla has the finest fur of any animal in the World, isn’t it strange it should be closely related to the porcupine!
How is the chinchillas fur different from other animal? Animal hair grows from tiny follicles (holes) in the skin, each follicle usually growing one hair, but with chinchillas, they have approximately the same number of follicles, but each hair splits into 50-90 hairs giving the chinchilla its beautiful, fine silky, dense fur and because the fur is so fine and dense no parasites (fleas or lice) can live in it.

Responsibilities attached to chinchilla ownership;
Fresh pellets( not a mix!), hay and water need to be supplied daily
A daily dustbath is essential to keep their fur in good condition.
Chinchillas are very intelligent and inquisitive, they get attached to their owners so you should be prepared to spend a little time with them every day.

They are very clean animals with little odour but need to be cleaned out regularly.
Chinchillas are rodents with continuously growing teeth, it is in their nature to spend much of their time gnawing, a continuous supply of correct materials should be supplied for this purpose.
Treats and titbits should be fed sparingly, their digestive system has evolved to deal with a very basic diet, rich foods can cause problems.
Chinchillas enjoy raisins and if used in moderation, two or three a day, do not seem to cause any problems.

Another unusual factor with chinchillas is their long life span, the average being ten to twelve years the documented record being twenty two years.
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Paul Spooner Chinchillas, Cages & Accessories
Paul Spooner has been a breeder and judge of chinchillas for almost 20 years
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Some Tips To Help You Get Ready For Your New Pet

Perhaps your children have begged and pleaded for a new pet, promising to take care of it so that you won't have to. Maybe you live alone and decided to get a pet to keep you company or to provide safety for your home. Whatever the reason, you finally decide to go for it and adopt a new friend.

There are so many types of pets to choose from that the choices are endless. Aside from the conventional cat or dog, you can choose fish, snakes, mice, birds or any number of furry or feathered critters. The important thing is to be ready for them before you even bring them home.

If you don't know how to prepare for your new pet, the first place to seek information is from the veterinarian that you plan to take it to. Not only will they be able to tell you what you will need to prepare for your new pet, you will also be able to find out about vaccination and annual checkup fees. You can inquire about pet insurance so that should a medical emergency befall your pet, you can be assured of having some or most of the fees covered. It's important to read pet insurance policies carefully so that you are aware of what is covered and what isn't. You will also need to know if you will need to pay for the care upfront and be reimbursed or if the insurance agency will allow the vet to bill them for the services.

Ask the vet what the best food to provide for your pet is. Walking into a pet or grocery store and seeing the countless brands and types of food can be extremely confusing. There's food that fights tartar or hairballs. Some are easy on the digestion while others are made to keep your pets active. Your vet will best be able to advise you on the type of food that you should provide your pet with.
Grooming supplies are another concern. Long haired pets may need more attention to grooming than the shorter haired ones but either way, you will need to know how to clean their fur or feathers and know how often this needs to be done. There are plenty of professional groomers that can take of this for you but if you choose to take care of this yourself then you will need to make sure that you are using the right products.

The same way that humans are encouraged to take vitamins to help to improve and maintain good health; the same rule applies to your pets. There are plenty of vitamins on the market but it can be difficult to know which ones that you should give to your pets. Again, you can ask your vet about this to get suggestions on which of the many vitamins on the market are the best ones to give your new friend.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as pet supplies at http://www.petmedicationandsupplies.com/
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