Hello from Virginia

[cmfinney]

I have been considering adopting a chinchilla from a local rescue for a couple months now and am really want to adopt but I just found out my roommate is allergic to a lot of animals. I know chins are non-allergic but is it worth the risk? The chin if i got him would stay in my room with the door closed during the day but I don't know if she would be have a reaction or not. Any advice would be appreciated and experiences with chinchillas and allergies.

 

[Shooper]

Sorry that your roomate is alergic to critters. I dont have any advice on allergies, but best of luck!

 

[smhluvsmh]

I think most people are allergic to the dust, bedding and hay, not the chin itself. My son has issues on cage cleaning day with the bedding so I do the cage cleaning. They used to be in his room and we have moved them out into the living room. We just keep things clean, vacuumed and dusted. It seems to help. Are you thinking of adopting from Whimsy?

 

[6Dusters]

Greetings from another Virginian from Richmond. Bedding/hay/dust are real problems for many people. I have many chins and the dust is my problem. Thus I don't dust as often as most people.

I'm sure having a chin in your room with the door closed wouldn't be a problem for the roommate.
You need to be aware chins are up at night and can make alot of noise. They chew up everything they can get their little beaver teeth into. If your renting I strongly suggest a playpen so the house or apartment doesn't have its base boards eaten to toothpicks. I know I wouldn't be a happy roommate knowing my roommates rodent ate the house down and we are out of a deposit and having to pay damages on top of that.

You didn't mention if you have air conditioning. And when the power is out ( perhaps for hours ) you will need to consider a back up plan for cooling them in our hot humid Virginian summer air.

If your considering a local adoption there are several members in Virginia ( including myself ) who have chins ready for adoption. And a few in Maryland as well as North Carolina. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[cmfinney]

Yes. I am planning on adopting from whimsy and she has an allergy free bathing dust which i will probably use. And my roommate is a senior so she will only be living in the apartment for a year.

 

[cmfinney]

Also, i was planning on using my bathroom as a play room for the chins. And yes we do have air-conditioning. I was thinking on setting it to 72 degrees. I'm going to discuss it with my roommate and she what she says. I just don't want to adopt and then have to give him back because of her allergies. So I have been thinking of doing an experiment. I was going to buy a cage and get some hay, bedding, and dust and put it in my room and see if she has problems. If not I would get the chin. What do you think? If she is I will just save the cage and wait till she moves out to adopt since I am a college student.

 

[bearcat55]

I am also in Richmond, Va. I'm allergic to cats and my partner is allergic to dogs, but neither one of us has a problem with the chinchillas. One of our daughters also has allergic tendencies and she has not had any issues since we got them 7-8 months ago. HTH.

 

[lauralynne]

Hello & Welcome

 

[Stackie]

Welcome! I have a Honeywell HEPA air purifier in my chin room and it has really helped me with my allergies to my chins' dust, hay, and bedding. That and keeping up on cleaning their cages really helps out.

 

[ChinnieShop]

Hello, for me I have very bad allergies to everything except for medicine, and my chins give me no allergies, but the hay and dust do give them to me, but only when I handle them personally and do not wash my hands immediately.