stitch, the chinchilla






stitch, the chinchilla, was given to me by my former monk's hill colleague, soo chin. she started with two, one male and one female, and the number grew to more than ten. not many people keep chinchillas because they are not the cheapest among pets. if i had bought stitch from a pet shop, it would have cost me about $150.

chinchillas make charming pets, largely because each chinchilla has its own distinctive personality, but they are naturally skittish and are not considered to be good pets for small children as they have delicate bones and generally do not like to be held, although some are very amenable to being held. however, some enjoy snoozing in laps and posing for pictures as well as being held, petted and gently scratched.

as with most creatures, temperament depends largely on upbringing. intelligent creatures, chinchillas may be taught tricks (rolling over, sitting up, etc.) with enough patience, using clearly spoken verbal cues over time in a quiet room.

in captivity, chinchillas live past twenty years, and grow to about one foot in length, but they usually do not live for more than ten years in countries with a climate to which they are not adapted.

chinchillas clean their fur by rolling in a dust bath. fine dust cleans most effectively, but specially processed sand made from pumice avoids the problems of fine dust. the fur of a chinchilla should never be allowed to get wet. there are not enough guard hairs to shed water, and the underfur can retain water, creating a warm moist environment for growth of the fungus ringworm, (known as athelete's foot). a wet chinchilla should be dried with a towel, or a hair blow dryer with no heat added.

chinchillas cannot sweat, and therefore are prone to overheating, even death. an overly warm chinchilla is characterized by veins prominently visible in the ears, warm feet, and lethargy. heat stroke can lead to death. chinchillas should be kept in an air conditioned space which should always have ample air circulation.

chinchillas should be kept in a large cage, about 24" x 24" x 18" minimum per animal. if there is any possibility of a pregnancy, a sufficiently fine mesh should be used as small chinchillas are good climbers and can easily squeeze through small holes. cages should also avoid walking surfaces made of metal fencing as chinchillas can catch a limb under the metal.

animals of the same sex live peacefully together in a single cage with sufficient space, and a male can usually be kept with one or more females. male chinchillas will fight each other for a mate and therefore no more than one male should be kept with a female. if living space is too small, chinchillas will become extremely territorial.

however, chinchillas will mate with members of their own family, so male babies cannot be left for too long in the same cage as their mother.

chinchillas have quite delicate digestive system and so have special dietary requirements. it is usually easiest to feed them specially formulated chinchilla food. rabbit food does not meet the nutritional needs of chinchillas and frequently makes them fat, as does too much rusk or raisin. hay is an essential part of their diet. it is preferable that they have a water bottle, as water in a dish or bowl will be quickly soiled.

they enjoy leaping from furniture and running around. they must be watched at all times, as they can escape from even a well-prepared room. if provided with nothing else, they will chew on wood, wire (electrical or otherwise), and anything else they can find. to prevent this, items such as paper towel tubes or wooden chew toys should be provided both during the exercise time and in the cage.

prone to excited sounds, chinchillas will also emit chirps and calls according to their mood. over time an owner will hear a multitude of these orations - all indicating the animal's personal state. a soft cooing might indicate playfulness and comfort. a very quiet chirping can be heard while the chinchilla is exploring a new place. some sounds will originate from the grinding of teeth, which they will sometimes do after eating. they do sneeze audibly, sometimes from the fine dust in their bath. if a chinchilla feels threatened, a high and loud bark will be heard, much like a squirrel can bark. a last resort will involve the chinchilla standing on hind legs and emitting both a bark and a stream of urine.