I wanted to add a new pet to our family, and the chinchilla was my first choice. As I was getting closer to making my decision, I wanted to know if chinchillas need to have a bath any how much it would take to help keep it clean. You may now be wondering the same thing if so read on.

Do Chinchillas Take A Bath? Yes, chinchillas do take baths. But not with soap and water, they take a bath in sand or dust. They will roll around in the dust, this removes any excess oil and dirt from their fur. Avoid getting a chinchilla wet, their fur is so dense it is hard to get them thoroughly dry.

You never want to bathe your chinchilla in water. It can cause fur fungus. They can also become cold and hypothermic very easily. If they get something sticky stuck in their fur, a chinchilla will reject or pull out that fur and grow some new fur. It is much more important to spread out their natural oils with the dust and to keep them dry than it is to get out something sticky.

Your chinchilla will not die without getting a bath. However, it will not be comfortable and happy. Just like when you don’t wash your hair you start feeling yucky, his fur will get oily and dirty without a dust bath. He will therefore feel gross and miserable.

What You Will Need

You will need to have something for them to bathe in. This can be a dry dust bath-house that you can purchase at most pet stores, or on-line. You may even be able to get one from Walmart depending on your location. They come in many shapes, colors, and sizes. They can also come in an array of materials from plastic, ceramic, wood, and even glass. 

You will want to watch if you get a plastic one so your chinchilla doesn’t chew on it. He will probably be so thrilled with the bath that he won’t unless he is left alone with it for to long. 

You may use something that you already have on hand, like a fishbowl. You just need to make sure it is stable. Your imagination is all you need to figure out what to use. You need to make sure that you can put about 2 inches of the sand/dust in and keep it contained. And that it will allow enough room for your chinchilla to move around and roll in the dust.

The Dust

I personally like the sand that is made of 100% Mountain Volcanic Pumice. It has almost no dust. This is what they bathe with in the wild. I think staying closer to their natural habitat is better. The more dust that the bath has in it the higher the chance that it will inflame and irritate the eyes. 

There are also a number of other bath dust products that come highly recommended. I will not list brands but I will say that all the best ones seem to be made with 100% Blue Cloud Dust.

Whichever product you choose to use, they can be used for multiple baths. You can usually get 2-3 baths done before having to replace the dust in the container. If it starts to clump or has a lot of debris in it that is when you will have to dump it and get new dust.

You should be able to get either the sand or the dust at any pet store or pet supply store. Of course, you can also find them on-line. You may also be able to get them at your local big-box store if they sell pet items. You will just have to try some and see what you and your chinchilla likes the best.

How Often and For How Long 

You should give them a bath every 3-4 days. This will vary if you live in a humid and hot area, then they may need one more often. If they are not bathed enough their fur will become oily and pick up more dirt. This can also keep their fur wet underneath. 

A dust bath should last from 5-10 minutes each bath. This will assure that the dust has penetrated the fur and also has worked its way back to the surface. This can be adjusted depending on the thickness of the hair and the humidity.

Your chinchilla can entertain you with the antics while taking a dust bath. They are rather comical while rolling and twisting during bath time. Sit back watch, laugh, and enjoy. 

So far I’ve covered for you what you will need to start. There are some very interesting things that go along with this dust bath. I’m looking forward to getting into some other aspects of this playful ritual.

Don’t Over Do It

Do not just leave the dust bath in the cage all the time. Your chinchilla may stay in it for extended periods and cause damage to its skin. If they are in it for to long they can actually get dry enough to cause their skin to crack, and in some cases even start bleeding. 

They may also start to use the bath as a place to do their business. It isn’t advisable to let this habit get started. Keeping bath time fun and good for both you and your chinchilla.

Other Benefits For Your Chinchilla

If your chinchilla has gotten fleas or mites, you can give the bath daily till the infestation is gone. The dust will dislodge the parasites from the hair causing it to fall off. If this happens you will want to change the dust after each bath, carefully disposing of the used dust. You will still have to watch and make sure their skin isn’t getting to dry. You will have to take them to the vet if this happens.

The best time of day to do the bath is when they are most active in the evening before playing. This is when they are well awake and ready for some time to play in the dust. However, if you can only do it in the morning hours your chinchilla will still be happy to get one.

What other things will keep them clean?

Chinchillas will also clean their faces and whiskers with their paws, much like a cat does. If 2 chinchillas are together they will groom each other. You can get a comb in the 5-7 range to help with cleaning, especially during heavier shedding.

You can aid your chinchilla in keeping clean by keeping his cage clean. His poop and all chewed chips should be cleaned out each day. And at least once a week you should do a total washdown of the entire cage and all contents. 

The bedding you choose can make a difference as well. Aspen or Kiln Dried Pine shavings. Even shredded newspapers can be used. You can pull out any bedding that has become wet when you see it, this will help your chinchilla stay clean and fresh.

There are also fleece linings, but these do not come pre-sized for most cages so you may have to make your own. The advantage to the fleece liners is that they can be washed and reused. They are also good for chinchillas feet, keeping them from injuries that some beddings may cause. And most chinchillas will not chew on it. 

Avoid using Cedar, scented shavings, blankets, and even cat litter. The chinchilla will chew on them and they are harmful to its digestive system.

While considering adding a pet to our family, it is important to think of how the pet is going to interact with young kids. Having a family with young children was something we wanted to make sure we considered for how well they would get along with small curious children, if you are considering a chinchilla, you too may be wondering this now.

Are Chinchillas Aggressive? Yes, chinchillas can be aggressive. There can be many reasons for this. It can be fear, anger, stress, discomfort, pain, boredom, territorial, and maybe medical reasons. The strikes are usually quick and short. The attacks are not fatal to humans but can be toward each other.

The stress causing them to act out maybe that a smell close by is irritating to them. It could be a fan you have running is making a noise that is driving them crazy. It could be that you need to leave a TV on with a low volume so they have something to catch their attention. Pinpointing the problem is sometimes difficult.

Their aggression can come in many forms. It can be barking at you, lunging, kicking, and even biting. Their bites can be very painful, and draw blood. Unless you let it become infected, they are not life-threatening to humans. With each other, they will pull hair and can become aggressive enough to kill each other. The females are the more aggressive.

Fear and pain are instincts that will cause most animals to become aggressive. Even humans respond to this in a negative way. If they start feeling yucky because they haven’t had a dust bath they can become very agitated and aggressive. What might seem like a petty reason for them to be aggressive is: If you have them on a schedule, but you get delayed and are a couple of hours late feeding them.

If trying to introduce a new chinchilla there may be a territorial problem. These fights between chinchillas can become fatal. It is best to keep them in separate cages beside each other and see if they will learn to get along before putting them together. Make sure that your cage is big enough to house 2 chinchillas, or there will be more of a chance of territorial problems.

Do Chinchillas Bite?

Yes, chinchillas do bite, they also nibble, and you can easily tell the difference. A chinchilla has poor eyesight so they do a lot of nibbling to familiarise themselves with things. This nibbling feels weird but isn’t done to hurt. And so long as you wash your hands before handling your chinchilla it will not usually last long. 

When a chinchilla bites you, he does so to hurt you, and make you back off. Chinchillas have very long and sharp teeth, so these bites do hurt. They are also usually on the hands which bleed easily. The bite usually gets the desired reaction for the chinchilla. You leave them alone, and go and take care of your wound. 

If your chinchilla does not have a habit of biting and this is something new, you will want to find out the cause. If he has become injured or sick you will need to get it to the vet. 

Do Chinchillas Attack?

Yes, Chinchillas can and do attack. While I didn’t find anything about them viciously attacking humans. I did find a few times when a child hurt them or an adult cornered them and they attacked. These attacks were usually short. A lot of the human attacks, were when they were reaching into the cage, and more often into the hiding house. 

However, there were many accounts of chinchillas attacking each other. Some of these attacks ended fatally. Many things can contribute to chinchillas attacking each other. Fear, stress, territory, mating, there is any number of reasons. Some of these attacks even happened after the chinchillas were together for a long time doing fine with each other.

Now that you know for sure that chinchillas can and do attack on occasions, I will tell you some sure signs to watch for before your chinchilla gets to the point of attacking. It may help prevent the problem from worsening.

Chinchilla Stress Signs.

Signs of stress can come in a number of ways. It usually starts vocally, however, some chinchilla parents don’t realize what the sounds mean. Stress can progress and be biting, fur slip, urine spray, teeth chatter, fur chewing, hiding in, chew on, or pacing in their cage, acting lethargic. These are only some of the things that are common signs of stress. 

Barking at you or at other chinchillas on an ongoing basis is something of concern. It is a sure sign that something is bothering your chinchilla. A squealing sound can indicate that your chinchilla is in some kind of distress. This could be pain or some other internal discomfort. 

Biting can have many meanings but it’s a sure sign that your chinchilla needs some sort of attention. It could be as simple as it feels the need for a dust bath and hasn’t gotten one. It is more likely that something is hurting or frightening it. You need to address this right away so that it doesn’t become a habit.

Fir Slip always follows some type of trauma. While fur slip doesn’t hurt your chinchilla, the area may be sensitive, so you will want to be extra careful. The fur will grow back. However, you need to address the problem that caused it. 

Teeth Chattering usually occurs as a defensive scare tactic. This will usually happen before a urine spray or a lunging bite. The chinchilla is usually standing up in a defensive stance. This is a sure sign that your chinchilla is feeling trapped or scared. Or in some way feeling uncomfortable. 

Urine Spray Is not only disgusting, it is a way to keep you at a distance. They can shoot urine several feet away. If they start doing this you will want to find the problem fast and do your best to stop it. You may need to consult with your vet for advice for a solution. 

Are Chinchillas Good With Children

No chinchillas are not a recommended pet for children, especially small children. There are a number of reasons for this. First off is the noise. Children are usually noisy to some extent. This noise will be very stressful to the chinchilla. 

Chinchillas are considered nocturnal, so for the most part they will be hiding and sleeping when your child is up and wanting to play with them. This will either cause the child to keep the chinchilla disturbed and stressed, or the child to get curious and attempt to get at it when your back is turned.

Children are not naturally gentle, they are not good at sitting still and watching. This can lead to injuries to your chinchilla. Even if they are a gentle child there is always a chance of a momentary squeeze of excitement. Their attention may get diverted easily, this could be tragic.

Then there is the biting. A child could be devastated by the bite of a chinchilla. Their teeth are long and sharp. They also have a strong bite. The fingers of a child are small and could be damaged permanently by a swift hard bite from a chinchilla.  

This will let you know that chinchillas, can have some very difficult times. And habits that may be difficult to figure out. It may take some time to know just what the problem is that is causing your chinchilla to act like it is and to fix it. These pets are quite temperamental. 

Pet Chinchillas are becoming increasingly popular, but many people are unaware of the cost of owning one. We will explore the cost of a pet Chinchilla and what goes into taking care of one. From the actual cost of a Chinchilla to food and housing to vet bills and more, read on to learn more about what you can expect to spend on your new furry friend.

But first How much does a Chinchilla cost?

In total, a pet chinchilla can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000, depending on the breeder, quality, age, and gender of the animal. Pet stores typically have prices ranging from $100 to $300, while breeders may offer more rare chinchillas that will cost more on the higher end.

There are serval different types of chinchillas that people look for with their costs.

Type of Chinchilla	Cost
Standard Gray Chinchilla	$100-$300
Long-haired Chinchilla	$300-$400
White Chinchilla	$250-$600
Beige Chinchilla	$200-$350
Panda Chinchilla	$600-$1200

Just buying a pet is not the only factor you need to consider when getting one. Setting up a home for your new chinchilla is the most significant expense and requires careful planning. Essential items must be covered first, while others can be added later. Chinchillas have a tendency to chew, so this must also be taken into account when planning the setup costs. The setup for a chinchilla will be more expensive than for a smaller rodent and requires more consideration. Read on for further information about the other necessary items.

How much does a Chinchilla Cage Cost

In total a cage for a chinchilla will cost between $100 to $350. It should have a minimum floor space of 24 x 24 inches, And have multiple ledges and ladders for climbing and resting. The cage should be made of metal as they are known for their chewing habits and can chew through plastic.

To safe some money here you can also check and see if you can find a used cage in good shape, just be sure that it is cleaned well. Then there are the additions that must be added before you can put a chinchilla in it. 

Here comes the fun part of the setup.  Are you like me seeing $$$ rolling by your eyes. You get to make lots of choices that will personalize the space for you and your chinchilla. You can go cheaper now and upgrade a little as you go to keep things new and fresh for both you and your chinchilla.

As we did our research we came up with the best selling cages on Amazon and found the following with the best reviews.

Less than $100 dollar Range –

Metal Chinchilla indoor use with Greater than 1500 4 star reviews.

From $100-$350 dollar Range – This one has the most reviews and is an Amazon Choice

MidWest Homes for Pets Deluxe Critter Nation Double Unit Small Animal Cage More than 9000 4.5 star reviews!

What Accessories Does your pet chinchilla cage need?

A chinchilla cage needs a water bottle, food dish, hide box, chew toys, exercise wheel, litter box, and bedding for a comfortable and safe environment. Choose durable, appropriate accessories and maintain cleanliness.

Water bottle	$10-$15	A bottle that attaches to the side of the cage to provide fresh and clean water.
Food dish	$5-$10	A dish to hold food, pellets, and fresh vegetables.
Hide box	$10-$20	A small box or house that provides privacy and a sense of security.
Chew toys	$5-$15	Toys made of safe materials that help satisfy chinchillas’ chewing instincts and prevent boredom.
Exercise wheel	$20-$30	A rotating wheel that provides exercise and physical activity.
Litter box	$5-$15	A box filled with bedding material to control odors and maintain cleanliness.
Bedding	$10-$20	A soft material such as wood shavings, hay, or paper to provide a comfortable place to sleep and rest.
Dust bath	$10-$20	A container filled with special dust used for chinchillas to roll in and maintain their fur cleanliness.

Water Bottle For Chinchilla Cage

$5.-$25. . Your chinchilla must have fresh water available at all times. They are prone to overheat, and their health depends on them staying hydrated. Food Dishes The cost range here will be $5.-$10. I prefer the ones that attach to the cage to prevent tip-overs, this helps keep the cage cleaner, which keeps me, and Mr. Chin both happier and healthier.

Ledges

The Average ledge for a chinchilla cage will range between $10.-$17. Some wood ledges running upward of $30.  A variety of sizes and heights are needed to exercise your chinchilla and have several places to sit.

Chinchilla Dustbath

Your chinchilla will also need a Dustbath to keep clean, In the wild, chinchillas bathe in volcanic ash. This dry bath helps evenly disperse their natural oils. The average cost for a Chinchilla Dustbath cost between $10-$15. While you should should plan on spending roughly $30 a year the actual dust this item.

I put an old wicker basket in upside down as a ledge and he jumps all over it. With a hole in just the right spot it will also make a nice hiding spot. Like me I’m sure you like Free. You can save cost here and use something just sitting around like and old coffee carafe or a small fish bowl.  

Chinchilla Hideaway

Sleep is essential to keep them healthy. These little furry pets are entertaining when well-rested. If your chinchilla becomes lazy and lethargic it may not be getting enough sleep. These can range from $10-$40, metal ones can help your chinchilla stay cool, as they are temperature sensitive. Hay Feeders: can range from $4-$30 Chinchillas need as much hay as they can eat throughout the day. It is the important part of their dietary needs. Without enough hay they can develop digestive problems. This Item is an absolute must. 

Money saving tip, PVC piping also gives them places to hide, especially the Y and L shaped ones. Or a piece of carpet tubing can be cut, and you can usually pick them up free at a local carpet dealer. Free is a good price.

Remember that nothing that you choose now can’t be changed and upgraded as you go. That is what helps keep the cost down to start. Changing to an upgraded item later spreads the cost out over time.

Start-Up Cost

• Cost of chinchilla, $150.-$350.
• Initial Cost for the cage all set up will range in the area of $150.-$450.
• Food, Treats, Chews, Bath Dust, and Litter an average of $85.-$150
• Total Start-up on average $435-$900.
• This cost is if you buy everything new and do not use any cost-saving tips.
• Much of the cost is a one-time, or a once in a while cost.
•   Others are ongoing month to month. I found this information very helpful for long-term planning.

Pellets

Pellets come in such a wide range of sizes and quality that the cost is hard to break down.  The average cost will be around $5. a month. 

Hay

Such as Orchard grass or Timothy hay, Should be offered at all times. If they do not get enough roughage it will be very detrimental to their health, most of their diet will be the hay. There are many forms of hay and if you should budget $5. a month for this item. It is important that hay is always available for a chinchilla. Treats: Do not overdo it with treats. Be very careful with the treats that you choose.  You will be safe budgeting $5. a month for these. Dried fruit like raisins and banana chips is another another thing they like that isn’t just a pet treat. Test you chinchilla to see what vegetables they like and how they react to them. 

Toys and Chews: Are two things in one. They will be an ongoing expense. These can range from $3.-$10.  An average of $5.-$8. a month should be a safe range for this item. You can learn what trees like apple, aspen, birch are around and you can get twigs for chewing just by picking them up. 

Veterinary Costs

You should have your new chinchilla checked by a vet within a few days of getting it. This will ensure that your new pet is in good health and it will help inform you on caring for it. You should plan on annual vet visits thereafter.

Vet visits can range from $30.-$100. just depending on your area and if your vet has exotic animal rates. 

Be sure to find one that has experience with chinchillas. Chinchillas are known to have respiratory problems if left untreated it can turn to pneumonia. Gastrointestinal stasis is a condition they get when they are not getting enough hay and will cause constipation.  

Insurance is a recommendation. For an exotic pet, it will vary, but the average is less than $10 a month. 

Ongoing Costs

On the average range from $25- $45. per month

Enjoy your new pet and have a lot of fun. Love it and treat it well.

While considering getting a chinchilla I did so much research, I felt almost like an expert before making up my mind. I’m sure you too wonder some of the same things. One of my main questions, when I started, was if chinchillas are affectionate. 

Are Chinchillas Affectionate? Yes, chinchillas are absolutely affectionate. They show their affection in many ways. Sitting in your hands and in your lap. They make cooing and crackling noises. They will make little grooming moves like chewing on your hair and petting you. They can cuddle up to you. 

There are a number of ways that a chinchilla will show his affection for you.

They will climb all over you using you as a jungle gym. They will take treats and food from your hands. As affection can mean different things to people I will hit just a few areas that seem to be the most in question. 

Chinchilla likes being petted, more than being held. They like to be rubbed around the head, and neck, and on the back. When just sitting in your lap they enjoy a good soft rub. They are even known to start petting you back. 

Yes, you can hold a chinchilla. Just do not hold them to tight, as they can get injured easily. Some chinchillas like to be held for a short time. Some even get used to it and enjoy it for longer periods.

While you can get them to be held and petted, cuddling is different. Some love to cuddle and some never will. You can’t force this unless you want your chinchilla to fear you and run from you.

Now that we know for sure that chinchillas are affectionate, I feel it important to tell you some more information, that will help aid you on your journey to get this affection from a chinchilla.

Patience

Trust isn’t something that happens the day you get one, or even in the first few days. It will take several weeks and in some cases even a couple of months. This is the first step you must get through. This step can take 2-4 weeks or even longer in some cases. Do not rush this. 

Just care for his needs, and talk to him softly. Going to the cage several times a day. Just letting him know you are there. Just keep it short and always calm. It is quite nice to reach the point that your chinchilla gives you high regard, trust, and affection. Before you know it your chinchilla will love it when he sees you near and will do whatever he can to get your attention.

Especially if you only have one chinchilla you will find that he will thrive on your attention. They are very social animals and need to both get and give attention and affection. This is very important as they are naturally part of a very large pack. They can even develop health issues if left alone for to long.

Holding a Chinchilla 

Chinchilla skeletons are delicate, and they can get rib damage easily. So you must be careful when holding a chinchilla that you do not hold them to tightly. Also, when picking them up you must take care not to grip them tightly around the rib area. Just knowing this can help you in finding a way to avoid the problem. 

Some say to scoop them up, and some have said to pick them up back toward the tail. Each has their own reasons for their advice. I say follow the instructions of whom you get your chinchilla from, as that is what they are used to. You can then change this over time as you will learn your particular chinchilla and find a way that works well for both of you.

You can offer treats to make your chinchilla sit longer in your hands or lap. You can sit on a couch with a folded towel in your lap letting them explore the towel. They are naturally active, curious, and love to explore. So getting them to just sit and be held for extended periods takes some patience, extending the time a little bit longer each time. 

Petting a Chinchilla

Your chinchilla may never get to the point that they like being held and petted. But, getting their trust is the biggest hurdle. They can after a while enjoy just sitting quietly with you and being petted. Just be prepared for them to start petting you back. This again is very natural for these animals.

If you can have playtime with your chinchilla, then maybe you can get them to like sitting and being held and petted. If your playtime is letting them climb on you while letting them feel free to flee when scared they learn to trust you. Once they trust you are not just a giant enemy or predator, you will become a part of their pack and win their heart.

Cuddling your Chinchilla

Spending plenty of time with your chinchilla and learning what he likes and doesn’t like. Don’t push the boundaries he sets. You will have clear signs of what is and isn’t acceptable. I have found so much information on this. Some chinchillas really like to be cuddled. Other chinchillas do not want to be cuddled, even if they like to be held and petted.

You will just have to try it for a short time and if it doesn’t work, just wait a few days and try again. Do not force it for long periods of time if your chinchilla is unhappy with it. Even if you get lucky and get a cuddle, it doesn’t mean that you will get it on demand. Always be careful to not push it, and lose the trust you have earned. 

Your Chinchilla Love

You will be able to tell once you have gained your chinchillas’ trust, and therefore, his being around. He will start taking food or treats from your hands. Eventually working up love. First off he will not hide from you all the time. This is a sign of comfort with you to climbing on you. The greatest is when they will sit and let you hold, and pet, and cuddle a little with them.

Another sign is in the sounds that he makes. Sometimes a barking sound can mean that he is afraid, and another chinchilla can bark when it is excited. There are cooing sounds and an almost chirping sound. 

From everything that I have found there is no way to really know what these sounds mean until you know your chinchilla. I have found sites that say this sound means this, but then another site will say that sound means something else. The thing is that you have to know your chinchilla and learn what it means when he makes a certain sound.

Spend the time it takes to know your chinchilla. Love them just the way they are and have the patience to move forward together. Know that as people change with time so will your chinchilla. Some of these changes will come rapidly and some will take some time and lots of patience. 

For all the time you spend, you will find new traits in your chinchilla that are completely different than any information about another chinchilla. 

If you find that a chinchilla will join your family. Enjoy your new little furry baby and give them all the time and attention and love that you can. Forever, keeping the relationship with your chinchilla growing.

Chinchillas are very active and love to move around, most small pets can make a huge mess when you consider the different items that are in their cage. Knowing what you are getting into before you make a decision about a new pet for your family can make a huge difference in your decision. Some of the things that we wanted to learn about, such has how clean chinchillas were was a huge factor that we looked into before getting a new critter for our family. One of the questions we ask is as follows.

Are Chinchillas Clean Pets?

Chinchillas are very clean pets. They will groom themselves between baths. Their dense fur also protects them from parasites. Chinchillas shed little and have almost no dander. Their bath consists of rolling in volcanic ash or dust to eliminate oils and dirt.

As chinchillas need to have an open-air cage there is no way to eliminate this entirely. Hay, bedding, poop, and chewed-up bits may end up outside of the cage. There are things you can do to minimize it. Start off by getting a good quality cage, so you can add some scatter guards. This will not stop all messes from coming out but it will cut it down greatly.

Using fleece liners so the mess sticks to the lining instead of flying around will help even more. With fleece liners, you also do not have the mess or the expense of the bedding. The fleece liners just need to be thrown in the washer and they are clean and fresh and ready for reuse.

Vacuum or sweep out the cage daily, This will only take a few minutes, but you will find it helps keep the mess from falling out of the cage. Be sure to hit the ledges so the poo there doesn’t get knocked out the next time your chinchilla jumps up there. 

Chinchillas will at times when they are stressed, angry, or frightened throw their poop at you. Or just throw it out of the cage if the cage becomes to soiled. Another thing chinchillas will do if they get stressed is shoot urine at you. You will usually get a teeth-chattering warning before this happens.

You can also with patience train your chinchilla to pee in a litter box. Not all chinchilla parents have luck with this. No way to know if it is the chinchilla or the way you’re trying to train it. But some have had luck doing this and it will keep the cage cleaner and easier to clean.

These tips will help you keep the area around the cage cleaner. Luckily chinchilla poop is dry little pellets so they are easy to clean. And since this little furball will poop on an average of 250+ times a day it is a great thing that it is so easy to clean.

Do Chinchillas poop on you?

A blunt answer is YES! A chinchilla poops so much and they do not care where you or they are. If you handle your chinchilla you will at some point get pooped on. It is good that they will not soil your clothes when they poop. 

Chinchillas have been known to throw their poop. This could be because they are lacking attention, throwing their poop is a childish temper tantrum. This can also be a way of telling you their cage isn’t clean enough. Or it could be that they are just bored and need more things to play with.

It is advisable to keep the cage swept or vacuumed out daily or at least a few times a week. And do a deep scrubbing once a week. During the deep clean, you will want to make sure to use some vinegar or bleach with warm water. And rinse it well before returning your chinchilla.

What you have to watch out for is if their poop gets loose or if they stop going altogether, then you need to get them to the vet. An unnatural poop is a good indication that there is a digestive problem that needs to be addressed.

So, I have covered some of the messier subjects of the chinchilla. As you can see it is not all that bad when you think about other animals. Now will come some much better news on the cleaner part of the chinchilla. And it can be amazing at just how clean they are.

How Do Chinchillas Get Clean?

A chinchilla will keep itself groomed much like a cat will. Chinchillas use their paws to clean the face, ears, and whiskers. If they get something sticky in their fur they will reject those hairs and grow new ones. 

The best way for your chinchilla to stay clean is by giving them a dust bath a few times a week. They will roll, flip, and spin in the dust. It gets down into the fur and spreads out and removes the oil next to the skin. This will keep their fur clean and soft. This dust bath should last 5-15 min. They will make a mess with the dust especially if the bath you use isn’t large enough. This mess is easy to clean.

You should never clean your chinchilla with soap and water. It is very difficult to get them dry which can lead to fungus growth and even hypothermia. A chinchilla does not have an odor so you will never have to wash them for this reason. 

Do Chinchillas Shed?

This question has a double answer. No, they do not shed on average. You can feel free to pick them up and pet them without them shedding all over you. This is why you have to be careful in hot and humid areas. They should be kept at a temperature under 80 Fahrenheit. 

They do shed some if they are in an area that is to hot for them for an extended period of time. But the shedding is usually light. My research showed that if a chinchilla is shedding and the temperature around them hasn’t changed, it should go see a vet. 

Stress can cause a chinchilla to lose patches of fur, this is called fur slip. This doesn’t hurt the chinchilla, although, the spot may be sensitive to touch, so just be gentle. The fur will grow back.

Are Chinchillas Hypoallergenic?

Yes, as hypoallergenic means causing fewer allergic reactions and not zero reactions. Their fur is so dense, and they have nearly no dander, and do very little shedding. Many people who can’t be around cats and dogs are fine with chinchillas. That doesn’t mean that you will not have any trouble with them. Some have had reactions to the dust baths and those with extremely sensitive allergies can have trouble with the chinchilla. So you really need to spend time with one, before you can be sure that you will not be affected.

The dense fur of the chinchilla keeps parasites like fleas, lice, mites, and ticks at bay. This doesn’t mean that they absolutely can’t get them, but they are a lot less likely to.

So I have learned that yes, chinchillas are very hygienically clean animals, they can also be messy. I have found some tips to help you minimize this. Some big advantages are their resistance to parasites, No need to water bathe them, and the mess can be minimal with a good set-up. I hope some of this information helps you in your endeavor of getting a chinchilla.