Chinchillas as Pets

If you were to ask a pet chinchilla owner if chinchillas make good pets, you'll probably get an earful of all the care and maintenance they require. Only after getting through a laundry list of items will the owner respond with, "Yes, we think chinchillas are great!" Admittedly, we're the same way.

Responsible pet owners want to make sure that you're truly ready for the responsibility of caring for a chinchilla. Not because we don't want you to have one, but because we care so much about them that we want all chinchillas to live in perfect homes. We've already presented our list of reasons why not to have a chinchilla, so now we're going to get in to the more positive aspects.

• First off, they're really cute combining the features of a rabbit (body), mouse (ears), and squirrel (tail).
• Their fur is the softest thing you'll probably ever touch.
• They're fun to watch when let loose from their cage as they'll run, hop, and bounce off of the walls.
• Once your chinchillas trust you, they will be happy to run over to you and crawl on your legs, arms, and even in to your shirt.
• They don't need to be taken outside like a dog.
• They don't need a huge area to live in like a cat and dog.
• They don't bark when you leave the house, chirp early in the morning, or scratch at your bedroom door at night.
• They don't smell (although the cage can if you don't clean it often).
• Chinchillas are generally healthy animals that usually don't need vet visits.

Can you think of any other items we missed? Feel free to mention them below.