I’m a Chinchilla

I’m a Chinchilla 

I am a furry little animal of the rodent family.

I’m tiny in size and weight with soft hair, expressive eyes, long ears, paws and a bushy tail. 

I am native to South America and lay claim to the Andes Mountains which is my natural habitat. 

Baby chinchillas, known as kits are nurtured up to 3 months of age when they become mature enough to go on their own.

They start their adult stage at 1 year old and grow to about 8 to 11 inches in length with a bushy tail 6 inches long. 

In the wild chinchillas eat nuts, seeds, twigs, tree bark, stems and roots of plants, fruits and vegetation. 

Chinchillas in the wild live in large colonies as they are very social animals but they do have shorter lifespans than those living in captivity in some of the zoos that showcase them or in households as family pets.

Chinchillas must be properly cared for in domestic settings because they are prone to anxiety and depression and must be treated with tender loving care, respect and compassion. 

Chinchillas also need to have a large enough cage to roam around in with plenty of toys and fun activities to keep them busy throughout the day.

The cage must also allow for ample eating space and for a water bottle to drink from in addition to a litter box that must be cleaned at all times and a comfortable place to sleep on the surface of the cage. 

Chinchillas also must be kept in a room cooled as they have difficulty in the heat so make sure the room you keep your pet chinchilla in is adequately cooled. 

Chinchillas are adorable little creatures and make for wonderful pets but need lots of care. They also need to be seen by the veterinarian regularly and if need be administered medicine when they are feeling sick.

Chinchillas should have dust baths as part of their grooming and not be bathed in water as that can cause considerable harm to their fur.

As a domestic pet, chinchillas rely on a diet of hay, pellets and vegetables. 

Chinchillas love to play and they enjoy the company of other friendly chinchillas and the loving attention from their owners. 

You can have one chinchilla as a pet but you must engage it and make sure it is provided love, attention and plenty of nurturing and a healthy diet and an adequate sized cage that addresses all its needs.

Chinchillas are listed as an endangered species in the wild and there are measures in place to protect these wonderful animals but it depends on an end to hunting them for their fur and saving their natural habitat from the dangers of disease and climate change. 

There are conservation efforts made with protective areas established for the care and safety of chinchillas in the wild. 

There are 2 species of chinchillas in the world. The chinchilla can leap to a height of 6 feet which is necessary for them as they must navigate mountainous terrain as part of their natural habitat.

Chinchillas are grey, beige, white and black in color and are very cuddly and cute.

I have a unique ability to jump and run around and love attention and playing with my toys.

I’m a chinchilla.