How much attention a chinchilla needs?

[Kairenia]

I'm used to paying a great deal of attention to my pets.

My sister, however, never gives her pets the time of day.

She's the chinchilla owner. She was given the chinchilla by one of my friends who also never paid attention to the chinchilla.

I'm in college, so I can't devote time to her chinchilla.

Should chinchillas be given a lot of attention? I'm not comfortable with my sister simply changing its water and food and nothing more. I feel like this poor little chinchilla is caged up and deserves a home that will give it the attention it deserves.

Maybe my sister hasn't done anything wrong, and chinchillas don't like attention, so I'm just overreacting. But I made an account on this site to determine what real devoted chinchilla owners have to say. I figure "Chinchilla behavior" is a suitable topic because I don't know if chinchillas need a lot of attention like a rat or a ferret would.

I want my sister to sell or give her chinchilla to a home that the chinchilla deserves. She won't because she's stubborn and greedy.

What do you think? Please e-mail me if you need. I'm a huge animal lover and I hate when animals aren't treated properly.

[email protected]

<3 Kairi

 

[alli713]

I personally feel as though human attention is important for a chin. Many people on here give their chin playtime each day for anywhere from a half hour to a couple hours. So I think you're going to get the same response from many people.

Sure, breeding chinchillas don't get this much attention and they don't waste away, but I think a chinchilla is happier with attention. At least having a wheel to run on and plenty of toys is better than nothing. Does your sister give the chin anything to do in its cage?

 

[laurc19]

I am a huge animal lover too so I understand where you are coming from.

Chinchillas do need alot of attention. Especially if the little guy is all alone with no cage mate. He should be let out everyday to jump around and explore things. He will most likely become very sad, and maybe even physically ill, if he does not get the physical and mental stimulation he needs.

I consider chinchillas to be a semi-high maintenance pet and you really need to be devoted to your little guy (or girl). Chin ownership isn't for someone who just wants something cool to look at.

I suggest that if your sister does not want to take the time to properly take care of her chin then she should probably give him up because it is a very unhealthy and lonely lifestyle for the chin and that isn't fair

Hope this helps...

 

[iayla]

I dont give playtimes to most of my chins, but they do get interaction on a regular basis. I try to interact with them twice a day, but even if I'm gone for a day or two, my father checks in on them. And I know he's a big softy and baby talks them when I'm gone. They might not get petting & scritches while I'm gone, but they get daily attention of one form or another.
~Barb~

 

[addictedtochins]

I know they like attention, they are so adorable when you give them something new, and they look at us all the time incl. when you talk to them.

 

[Cuddlebug]

Most chins do love attention. If the chin has a wheel then it doesn't necessarily need out of cage time, but it should receive some attention from the humans in the home. How would you like it if you were put into a room and your only attention came when someone brought you food or water?

 

[Kairenia]

I personally feel as though human attention is important for a chin. Many people on here give their chin playtime each day for anywhere from a half hour to a couple hours. So I think you're going to get the same response from many people.

Sure, breeding chinchillas don't get this much attention and they don't waste away, but I think a chinchilla is happier with attention. At least having a wheel to run on and plenty of toys is better than nothing. Does your sister give the chin anything to do in its cage?

It does have a wheel, but most of the time she doesn't even acknowledge that the chinchilla is there. I walk in and the chinchilla is staring at me from its cage. I walk over and it runs to me. But it's TERRIFIED of people handling because my sister hasn't interacted very much with this chinchilla.

 

[Kairenia]

Most chins do love attention. If the chin has a wheel then it doesn't necessarily need out of cage time, but it should receive some attention from the humans in the home. How would you like it if you were put into a room and your only attention came when someone brought you food or water?

Exactly what I tell her. But no, she just types away on her laptop while the chinchilla sits there alone.

 

[Spoof]

Her being in the room is good. Some really don't like interaction, but do like to be involved in your day to day life.

 

[Tiatrack]

How would you like it if you were put into a room and your only attention came when someone brought you food or water?

You are anthropomorphizing chinchillas. They are not humans. I wouldn't like it if someone gave me sticks to chew on or kept me in a cage either, but we certainly do that.

As long as chins have proper chew items and a wheel, I don't think they need run time at all. I used to give it and every time my chinchillas would stand there terrified and/or run and hide. It never got better, so I stopped doing things they clearly didn't like. Mine are much happier just getting scritches and "treats" (applewood sticks) from me.

It sounds like your sister could stand to at least talk to the chin a bit more. However, it doesn't sound like he is being neglected and needs a new home. I always look at it this way - if she sold him he could unintentionally be given to a home with no A/C, no proper food, no dust bath, etc. That is WAY worse that not having tons of interaction.

 

[saphire]

For sure I prefer having these little guys in a home that will give them play time every day and attention galore, but reality says otherwise in some cases. There is no question about that. As Spoof has mentionned, not all like to interact.

This being said, I rather see him in a clean home, with food, water and dust bath than having to rescue him because of total neglect.

He's got a wheel which is good, and if you feel he is lonely, you can ad a chin safe plush toy.. that seem to do the job for some. You can give him lots of hunged toys and other types chin safe toys which will keep him occupied. When he runs to you, acknowlege him and with time who knows, a possible friendship may grow with him.

 

[Classic Chinchillas]

I think it totally depends on the chinchilla. I've had some that couldn't care less about attention and would rather be left alone. I've also had others that love scratches or let me hold them and sit with me a little while or jump on my shoulder. If the chin comes up to you, maybe see if you can give it scratches under it's chin to up under it's ears, maybe if it enjoys that (they'll tilt their head so you can get the right spot) show your sister and maybe she can show it some more attention if she knows the chin likes it.

 

[ticklechin]

The more they are handled, at least with my chins, the more attention they want. I spend alot of time with them and I think I am repaid with cuddly chins.

 

[saphire]

The more they are handled, at least with my chins, the more attention they want. I spend alot of time with them and I think I am repaid with cuddly chins.

I have found that also with mine, but for a few exceptions... just love them.
Can't win them all

 

[Brittney]

The more they are handled, at least with my chins, the more attention they want. I spend alot of time with them and I think I am repaid with cuddly chins.

That's true with my little guy too. I just think he is very unique personality wise. Even from day 1 he enjoyed being held and would get very upset if I didn't talk to him or give him a scratch or an apple stick when I walked past his cage. He wakes up from sleeping and puts his paws on the bars of his cage and just waits for me to pet him with his heavy sleepy eyes Now he knows when I'm about to go to school or work and demands a cuddle before I leave. If I don't, he will bark at me until I come back in the room . It's only when I get to work that I notice that I have a button missing on my shirt :laughitup:

 

[saphire]

that is just adorable:hearts:

 

[AndreaMD02]

I think thats Chinchillas are very social animals and need some sort of "living being" interaction. maybe, if the cage you have is big enough, you should get a second chinchilla. it will give the chinchilla so much more to do, and then i don't think it'll need any human attention at all. (cept for food, water and cleaning ofcourse).
just make sure to separate the chinchillas first to get them used to eachother. there's a lot of posts about how to do this.

also maybe set up the cage by a tv? i heard chinchillas really like that kind of stimulation.

good luck.

 

[Grumbles]

I think it totally depends on the chinchilla. I've had some that couldn't care less about attention and would rather be left alone. I've also had others that love scratches or let me hold them and sit with me a little while or jump on my shoulder. If the chin comes up to you, maybe see if you can give it scratches under it's chin to up under it's ears, maybe if it enjoys that (they'll tilt their head so you can get the right spot) show your sister and maybe she can show it some more attention if she knows the chin likes it.

After reading this, I just tried this for the first time a minute ago with my three-month old that I just acquired last week.

I was rewarded with squinty eyes and a sideways head! :dance3:

Thanks a lot.