People often think that rodents only damage things, dig holes in the ground and walls and are detestable little creatures. But few know that certain breeds of rodents make some of the best pets for small animal lovers. Among these pet rodents, Chinchillas are the cutest pets. Their life span is not more than 18-22 years.
Origin of Chinchillas
The scientific name of Chinchillas is Chinchilla Lanigera and they are nocturnal animals as they belong to the crepuscular family of rodents. Such animals are mainly active during the night. Chinchillas are native to the Andes mountain range of South America and their name has been derived from the local Chincha tribe, who used to wear their fur for protection from the cold of the snow clad mountains.
Towards the end of the 19th Century, chinchillas had become an endangered species as they were hunted relentlessly for their fur due to its texture, softness and thickness. But nowadays they are raised in farms in order to breed higher numbers and produce more fur.
Chinchillas are a marginally larger version of squirrels and possess highly thick and soft fur. The density of their fur is so high due to a special feature in their hair follicles. Every hair follicle sprouts about 60 hair strands making their fur so soft. These little furry cuties are found in multiple colours such as gray, white, black, beige as well as certain extra-ordinary colours like violet and sapphire.
Petting Chinchillas
Chinchillas make excellent pets as they are amiable by nature and are quite low maintenance. They are harmless animals which make them one of the best pet companions for children as well as old people. The most suitable way to keep chinchillas is in large cages with wire meshes. They also need a lot of exercise in order to stay healthy which means their cages can be installed with runners and should be spacious enough for them to move around.
All pets come with certain advantages and disadvantages, so do chinchillas.
Advantages of Petting Chinchillas
- Being nocturnal animals chinchillas sleep through the day enabling them to be left alone at home without the fear of any impending damage to any object in the house
- Due to the thick texture of their fur, it makes it virtually impossible for fleas or parasites to penetrate it or reside in their fur
- It is quite easy to feed chinchillas since pet stores provide ready-made food mixes specifically for them
- They are comparatively much cleaner than many other rodents and hence are free from too much stench
Disadvantages of Chinchillas as Pets
- Chinchillas have sharp teeth which need constant trimming as they grow at a rapid speed quite frequently
- They have a constant gnawing habit which makes it impossible for them to be left alone out of their cages without supervision
- Their fur should not be made wet at all as it doesn’t dry easily due to its thickness and can cause fungus infections on their skin or rot their fur
- They have quite a sensitive digestive system which is why they cannot digest complex proteins properly
Certain Tips to Care for Chinchillas
- If a chinchilla gets wet accidentally, it should be dried up instantly with dry towels or non-heat hair drier
- They can be fed low fat, low protein fresh food such as broccoli, apple along with dry hay and a constant supply of fresh water
- They should not be fed with other rodent animal mixes or at irregular intervals as it can disrupt their digestive system
- Companionship is essential to keep a chinchilla healthy, therefore they can be kept in pairs which should consist of two females or one female and one neutered male as they multiply quite fast
It is quite sad that even in the modern age some farms and countries use these harmless and defenceless little creatures for creating fur. Belonging to the 21st century fur farming is an abominable practice which includes skinning these furry animals. It is best not to indulge in the sale and purchase of fur made out of poor little animals. One of the major concerns in today’s day within the domain of animal preservation attempts is the fight against fur-farming.
Make chinchillas your pets and not a part of your wardrobe.
