Is a chinchilla the right pet for us?

[Becca]

A few months ago, my children started asking for a hamster. My husband immediately said no, as he had been bitten by one as a young child. I laughed this off, thinking what, a cute little hamster? I took the kids to the pet store just to look and play with some hamsters and when the store associate took one out I went to pet it - the little sucker bit me so hard it drew blood! I figured, ok - it is nervous, I'll try again. Stupid me, got bitten again, even harder. A week later, we're at another pet store looking at guinea pigs this time. The associate there tells us that oh - hamsters are nasty, they'll bite every time (I look down at my now infected finger), but guinea pigs are great, they don't bite and are very sweet. The kids seem to like the guinea pig but my husband views it as a large hamster and still is against the idea. Meanwhile, we continue to enjoy our two dogs whom we love to pieces - a standard poodle and a miniature poodle. This past weekend we were in NY and somehow get into a conversation with a waitress who has a chinchilla as a pet. We see pictures and the kids are hooked - and apparently so is my husband who does not tell my kids they can't have one. So now we are considering a chinchilla. But I want to make sure that a chin is the right pet for us. My kids are very gentle with animals and love animals and will want to hold, pick up and play with the chinchilla. If a chin is not going to want that type of human contact, is going to bite or run away every time we come near it, then it is not for us. I know that a chinchilla is not a dog. But will it allow itself to be held, cuddled for a little while? My son had a tree frog for a long time and even the frog would sit on his shoulder or head while he did his homework or watched tv - not a cuddly creature by any means though. We've looked at rabbits but they always seem so fearful that they might drop dead of a heart attack at any moment. We don't want something like that. I was referred to this forum/website by someone who has rescue chins; she felt that perhaps my expectations of chins as pets were not realistic. She described chins as NOT cuddly, more like rabbits and guinea pigs and they would not curl up in your lap. Is she correct? Thank you for your honest opinions.

 

[wombat]

I would highly suggest looking around the site and reading a lot of the FAQ's, especially the general one. It is true that chins normally don't like to be cuddely, and it could take anywhere from a day to 10 years for them to open up to you. They do grow with the family however, their average life span being 15+ years.

People always will tell you that they're really not a "kid pet" because, as you mentioned, they don't like to be too cuddely. A LOT of members on here, however, have Chins and their kids love them! It's all a matter of going over your pros-and-cons, because there's a lot of them. Chinchillas require a lot of attention, and they're pretty high maintenence...(Plus they're nocturnal)

The last thing is, they're addicting as soon as you get one, you want more, and more...Take it from someone who got two "males" and one was actually a pregnant female...they can surprise you, and it gets kind of tough. One last thing, is they can be expensive if anything does go wrong with them. Plus it's hard to find an exotic vet if something does happen to go wrong.

Edit: Here's the FAQ with the question you just asked, it'll give you a little more information.

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42

And this link will have more FAQ's in it that you should read.

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=857

 

[Sesame]

well... it really depends on the individual chin's personality. Perhaps if you get a chinchilla from a reputable breeder, the chances of it being more welcome to some petting and cuddling might be greater, but really it's just by chance. Sometimes it takes a very long time to build that cuddling relationship (if it ever happens). Most chins would welcome scratches under the chin and behind the ears, but may never allow you to hold/hug them. During playtime, they would be more than happy to bounce all over you, but that physical one-on-one bond that involves excessive petting may never happen. There are people that have chins that love to cuddle, but chances are that took time to develop that relationship, from a breeder that takes the time to hold the chins from the very beginning, etc.

Chins are great pets, but they aren't cuddly by nature. It's fun to give them sticks and watch them wittle it down, bounce from shelf to shelf, wallsurf, popcorn, eat food with their cute little hands, give them scratchies, watch them sleep in weird, contorted positions... but they do poo a lot (though the poo is relatively quite clean... not mushy poo) and aren't necessarily open to constant holding and hugging. My chin might sit on top of me for a few minutes, but then she's back to crazy running around during playtime.

Guinea pigs and rabbits tend to be more cuddly, in my opinion. Maybe you may want to consider rats as well. Rats are great hands on animals. My experience with rats have been quite pleasant, are more curious, and not biters unless they are extremely scared.

This forum is chock full of great information, so please feel free to browse around.

 

[Ruby]

It all depends on the chin's personality. I have two girls and they are about as far on opposite ends of the spectrum as they can get. Venus is a total sweetheart, I rarely hear a kack out of her. She also loves to be cuddled and enjoys being petted. Blitzen on the other hand, is just a mean chin out of nature. It usually takes me 10+ minutes to coax her out of the cage in such a fashion I do not get bitten. She can, and has drawn blood.

 

[alli713]

I think chins can work for a family pet, but it really depends on the chin and what you expect for the chin. Chins by nature generally are not a cuddly animal. I have one chin who loves people, but honestly my other 4 like me but aren't driven to get attention from me by any means.

You really can't let a chin run around, they poop constantly (and that's something that comes with having a chin) and they will try to chew everything. So if your kids want a chin to come out and play with them, you have to have a room set up so it's safe for the chin. Most people use a bathroom since there isn't much there for the chin to get into. IE no wires, furniture etc

Also, holding a chin is not like holding a rabbit or guinea pig. Chinchillas have fragile ribs, so you can't just grab it's chest and expect it to be okay. Honestly their ribs are about the thickness of a toothpick, so you don't want to grab too hard. This is why most people hold the chinchilla by the base of the tail and allow the chin to rest on their other hand while holding the base of the tail with the other hand. So for the most part, you can't walk around just holding the chin. And, most chins would prefer not to be held. They want to be out running around. I've seen some chins that don't mind being held and walked around, but this is an exception mostly. And sometimes if they don't want to be held, they will slip their fur to try and get away (a clump of their fur will come off, but it will regrow eventually)

Rabbits and guinea pigs I've seen some people get harnesses for and take them outside. You wouldn't be able to do this with a chin. No harnesses for the reason of their small ribs again.

Most chins don't bite, but it can take chins a couple weeks to settle into a new home and during that time if you or your kids bothered them a bunch, they could potentially bite. I've never been bitten by any of my 5 but there is a possibility.

There is a possibility that you could search around the various breeders and get an older animal that the breeder knows it's personality and then maybe you could find a more cuddly chin. But know that a cuddly chin is not necessarily the norm.

So, if your kids are okay with having an animal that they can't carry around and constantly pet, and don't mind watching it in it's cage or allowing it to run around in a chin safe room (supervised at all times) then maybe a chin is right for you.

But, many families on here who own chins owned the chins first before they had children, or are the main caretakers of the chins so they know what to expect.

Another thought I just thought of... Chins can live up to 20 years. Are you prepared to own an animal that long? Or are your kids going to get not as interested in it in 2 or 3 years? So that is a thing you need to take into consideration. Also, sometimes it can be hard finding a vet who knows much about chins. And the vet bills can get expensive!

Haha I probably gave you mostly cons as to why not to own chins for kids, but I just wanted to point out that they may not be right for all families.

 

[Jenn]

I absolutely love having my chin and I have two boys, 8 and 10. My chin was 3 when I got her and she is pretty set in her ways. We have a playpen up for her and I will sit in there with her as she sits on me or jumps on me or poops on me! But she does not like to be held and will kack at me if I try. The kids can get in the pen also, but they haven't spent as much time trying to socialize and bond with her, so she doesn't give them the same attention that she does me. They don't really like to be pet, although they love scritches under the neck. It is possible to find a more cuddly chin, but your kids should go into this thinking they may not be able to carry or pet this chin much, and then if it does turn out to be a more affectionate chin, then that would be a wonderful surprise for them. As mentioned, it does take a chin a bit to relax in a new environmnet. I worked with my chin for a couple of months to really get her to relax and become a family member. But every chin is different. They are wonderful pets, but they are not a cat...just do a bit more research so you know what you're getting in to. I can't imagine life without my chin, she is wonderful. Good luck in your decision!

 

[mishellyshel]

I love my chins BUT they have special requirements. My one chin is ok being held and pet for a short period of time & during playtime will jump & sit on my shoulder for like 1 minute then he is off bouncing! My other chin hardly will come out of his cage and is a total spaz.
I have an 8 year old son and he loves them both and will sometimes sit in the bathroom with them during playtime, but it is ME who feeds them, cleans their cage, & generally takes care of them.
OH and make sure you have lots & lots of money or a good credit card 'cause I just got back from the vet and dropped 700 bux (and that is after spending 200 at another vet).
I would highly recommend getting one from a breeder and not a petstore. If i had done that I would probably be 1000 dollars richer!

 

[Stackie]

Even though there are some chins that don't mind being held, chances are you're going to get one that doesn't like being held because that is how a majority of chins are. I would not trust small children holding chins because of their very thin ribs. The longest I can hold my cuddliest chin is no more than 10 minutes or so, then he is over it and wants to be off to do his own thing.

They more like to do their own thing rather than interact with humans constantly. They sleep during the day and chances are they won't be active until your children are heading to bed.

 

[Jaina_Organasolo]

I have a lovely sweet Chin who you can cuddle - but even he will only allow it for 5 minutes.
I adore my boys and they are fascinating - but messy pets. If you want a pet for you, then great.
If you want a pet for your Children, then I totally recommend Guinea pigs. They are handable, friendly and generally love human attention. I've kept pet guineas for over 20 years as a pet and I wouldn't be without them. I find them less moody than rabbits and rather endearing, how they squeak their little heads off.

 

[Sugarmama]

I have children, and chinchillas. They both keep me on my toes!

Chins for the most part aren't going to be a cuddly lap animal. Having said that, however, my children enjoy the chins a lot, but my youngest(6) needs a lot of supervision with them.

They are a big part of our family--every one of us walks by the cage, and just can't resist scooping one of them out to play with for a bit. I have one who really doesn't like to be held, but he loves attention, scritches on the neck, and will climb all over us during playtime. Just don't hold him, and he's fine! LOL

But I have others, who love to snuggle for a while, and will even fall asleep on me. It all depends on the personality of the chin, and it takes awhile to gain their trust.

They are a truly enjoyable pet. But if it's a cuddly animal you want, then a chin isn't your best bet. Perhaps a bunny would be more suitable, if that's what you're looking for.

 

[xcoronaangel]

My family had every animal you can think of growing up! We had a mini-zoo!
(Horses, Rabbits, Hamster, reptiles, dogs, cats, sugar gliders and of course our rescued animals that we werent allowed contact with [raccoons, hybrids, possums ect]).

I can say from a kid stand point I really enjoyed having sugar gliders and bunnies (besides the normal cats n dogs). The bunnies I was able to hold, pet and play with and they ran around the house. The sugar gilders were allowed in the bathroom with us at night and they would "fly" from one of us to the next (really cool to show friends... of course when there was parents around).

Hamsters... had the same experience. My hamster Easter lived for 5 very long years and drew blood every time I tried to pet him/her. So that wasnt the pet I really hoped for but I did take care of it in till it passed on.

I dont own any chins yet (getting 2 in a few weeks). So I dont have person experience with them yet. Though chins seem to be more of the "turtle" type pets. The kind you may touch every now and then but mostly you enjoy their company but dont expect them to want to be held. Inless you're lucky and get ones who really enjoy you holding them.

Hope that helps :thumbsup:

(I cant imagine my chins costing me Any more then my rescue dogs have... I've spent 10,000.00 in the past 2 years on my personal dogs so the cost issue really isnt relative to me but something for a family who isnt use to paying for vet bills may want to think about!)

 

[alli713]

I just had a thought.. Have you guys considered a rat? From my friends that have had them, they're much more laid back and didn't mind the human interaction and would sit and play on you.
I know some people don't like their tails for whatever reason, but they can be a great pet.

 

[AnnShh]

I'll agree with everyone who says it doesn't sound like a chin would be a good pet for your family, and I'll also agree with the poster who mentioned rats.

Most chins do not like to be cuddled or held. Some will tolerate being picked up, some won't even do that. Chins can and will bite and spray if they don't want to be bothered. Occasionally you will find a chin who loves to be pet and cuddled, but not very often. A chin won't just chill with you and fall asleep on your lap while you watch TV.
They are adorable and fun to watch, and you can let them out in a chin-safe room for them to get some exercise. But as many have already said, they are the type of pet that you sit and watch, not one that you pick up several times a day to play with. I never recommend chins for families who want an animal that will enjoy being picked up, held, played with, etc... From your OP I honestly do not think a chinchilla would be a good choice for your family.


Guinea pigs are better than chins in the sense that a lot of them don't mind being held and they will usually be pretty content to sit in your lap (at least that has been my experience with them).

I don't have rats, but everyone I have talked to say they are GREAT pets. They are social, love attention, and they are a pet that will hang out with people and want to be played with. I would highly suggest looking into rats.

 

[Sugarmama]

Perhaps there is a breeder or a rescuer who lives near you, who would let you visit, and get a first hand look at their chinchillas. You may find one that is already very friendly and wants attention, and you would be able to see how well your children interact with them.

 

[Stackie]

I second the rat idea. I have rats and they enjoy interaction much more than chins.

 

[3CsMommy]

If I were you, I'd try to talk to a breeder/rescue in your area, maybe see about visiting a herd and really getting face to face time with them as a family. I learned *SO* much from visiting the rescue in Cleveland before we got our guy, and with kids in the house especially, I think getting everyone some exposure to them before you bring one home is safer for everyone. It's a heart breaker to get a new pet, fall in love, and then find out your son is allergic to their hay or something.

 

[jess_w]

Hi Becca, you've probably decided by now what pet you're going to get, but here's my "two cents" anyway : )
I have had hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils and rabbits growing up and all with a few exceptions have been friendly and tame. Were you looking at russian hamsters in the pet shop? They can be nasty little things and do usually bite. I'd suggest a syrian hamster, they're the bigger ones and are much more gentle and usually don't bite if you get them used to being handled.

You will get good and bad examples of every animal though. It really is luck - you could get a guinea pig or chinchilla that bites, and you can get incredibly tame rabbits and hamsters and vice versa. So I would try to encourage your husband not to dismiss hamsters just because he has had a bad experience with them as you can have a bad experience with any species! : )

I probably wouldn't recommend a chinchilla for you as with most of them it's very hard to get them to a stage where they'll come up to you wanting your attention (unless you have a treat!) They mostly prefer to do their own thing, although I have one who loves scratches on his neck and belly but he doesn't like being picked up. They're also classed as "exotic" and they are more complicated to look after than rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters etc - something to consider if the kids are going to be caring for it.

Whatever pet you get, chances are you have to put some work in to get it the way you want it. No animal comes with a guarantee that it's going to be friendly and tame, but buying from a good breeder is always a good start if you want it to be tame. Pet shops often don't treat them very well so that might be why you had a bad experience with hamsters in a pet shop.

Good luck whatever you choose : )