Chinchilla

I'll be honest, there have been a number of occasions where I have looked over at Gary's cage and have freaked out that he was dead just because of the way he was sleeping. You see, the majority of the time Gary, our chinchilla, likes to sleep scrunched up like a bread loafing kitty or rabbit. Thing is, this isn't how Gary sleeps all of the time, so any changed to his habits … [Read more...] about Are Chinchillas Nocturnal? Chinchilla Sleeping Habits

I don't think it's possible to have a pet and not be tempted to give them a bit of human food every so often. I think this temptation is especially true for pet owners who have small mammals. Arguably, one of the cutest things about small mammals is the sounds that they make when they are nibbling a piece of food. Gary tends to squeak happily especially if we give him a … [Read more...] about Can Chinchillas Eat Carrots? Are Carrots Healthy For Chinchillas?

If you're anything like me, you dread cleaning your home regularly and will find any excuse to put it off. Chores can be extremely daunting, but if we don't do them and leave things dirty it can become a health risk for our pets and ourselves. Adopting a schedule or a routine is a great practice, especially if you're someone who tends to slack. I know for us, we've actually … [Read more...] about How & How Often Should I Clean My Chinchillas Cage?

Whenever my pets are being extra cute it's difficult not to want to give them a treat or two. Treats are a great tool for training for your pets, rewarding your pets when they've done something great, or quite frankly giving your pet treats is one of the easiest ways to get them to start liking you (if you're experiencing difficulty). Similar to candy or chips, which I have … [Read more...] about What Treats Can I Give My Chinchilla? Healthiest Treats for Chinchillas

It can be extremely concerning when one of your pets stops eating or drinking. This is especially true if your pet has been refusing to drink for a few days. While chinchillas can go quite some time without water, this does not mean that it shouldn't cause for alarm as a chinchilla may quickly become dehydrated depending on the temperature they are in. Dehydration can take … [Read more...] about Why Is My Chinchilla Not Drinking? How to Tell If a Chinchilla Is Dehydrated

Whenever I try to introduce my chinchilla, Gary, to any of my friends or family, I swear the first question I always get is "does he bite?" Since chinchillas are fairly small in size it's easy to assume that they are going to be a nibbler or a biter. It's also true that chinchillas eat a lot and need to grind their teeth down on chew toys to stay healthy. So, I don't … [Read more...] about Do Chinchillas Bite? Do Chinchilla Bites Hurt?

When we first took in our chinchilla, Gary, we didn't know very much about chinchillas. We pretty much only knew that they were small mammals that needed to eat a diet that consisted primarily of hay. I'll be honest, at the time I wasn't thinking about what taking care of a pet who ate a diet that consisted primarily of fibre really meant. It didn't take very long for me to … [Read more...] about How Much Do Chinchillas Poop? Should I be Worried?

Growing up, anytime anything was dirty my mom would grab a JCloth and give it a good rub down. If things had a spill or a mess, she would soap up a sponge and scrub a bit harder, making sure everything was clean. I'm sure everyone has heard about the importance of washing your hands after using the washroom, and everyone knows that you should take baths or showers often to … [Read more...] about Why Can’t Chinchillas Get Wet? How Do I Clean My Chinchilla?

Shortly after taking in Gary, our chinchilla, we unsurprisingly started hearing sounds and noises we've never heard before. Being that adopting a chinchilla wasn't originally thought out or planned, we didn't actually know a whole lot about the species or even what the most common questions or concerns regarding chinchillas were. So, when we heard Gary make noises like barking … [Read more...] about Why Do Chinchillas Bark? Identifying Chinchilla Sounds