Question:
Hi there! My name is Jo, and I found my way here through a happy chinny mom on another board I frequent. Her pictures and stories have converted me. Next month, I am going to take the plunge and get some chinchillas.
Actually, a year ago, I got to hold one, and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven... he was the cutest thing I have ever seen in my life, and he immediately started gnawing on my ring, and then did a somersault into his dustbowl, and I thought I'd never stop laughing. Little munchkin!!
Okay, so I am sure if I plowed through the old posts, I might find the answers I am looking for... but perhaps it's easier just to start a new one, especially in light of the fact that I am looking for some local information.
First off, should I get them from a breeder? I do not plan on breeding chinnies, just perhaps getting a pair (if they get along), so I don't require history. In fact, I am more inclined to get a rescue, because I am fundementally opposed to breeding, and I would rather give a home to one or two that NEED a home. That being said, OTHER than breeders, where can you get chinnies? I'm in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Or, if you suggest breeders... can you name a few good ones in the area? How can you tell a reputable breeder from a shmuck?
Secondly, if I get two, should I get two males, two females or one of each? I don't want to breed, so I suppose one or the other should be fixed... what is the scoop on fixing chinchillas? A complicated process? I have a FABULOUS vet (Beattie's in Brantford ON) and they deal with all types of animals, not just cats and dogs. So I am sure they will do the fixing if it's needed, but I just wondered how that all works in the chinchilla world.
Also, I have two cats, and I'm wondering if that might pose problems. I've been reading that chinnies need to run around a lot, and I have visions of my cats taking a diving leap. This won't do. Eli, my 10 year old cat, is just a gem with other animals -- I've seen him sit on the stoop not 2 feet from a squirrel eating a nut, and not even bat an eye... but Stanley, the 4 year old cat gets a bit... pardon the word... squirrelly... around other creatures.
I have the space and money to get the largest cage (well, I could save up, is what I mean!! LOL) so I will get the best cage I can. Any suggestions for where to buy one in Southern Ontario or upstate or Western New York? I don't mind driving a ways if means getting a good deal. I saw a ferret cage at PetSmart for about $300 that looked okay... until I started surfing the net and seeing there were far better deals to be had.
I am soooo excited about this! And I am so glad Deniselynn linked me to this site, because I just can't wait to get the stuff together so I can get the little guys in my life!
Thanks in advance!!!
Jo


Answer:
Hi! Welcome to POTN, congratulations on your decision. Chinnies are awesome. I actually just got another (my 3rd, lol) today. They become addicting.
OK, first thing's first: pet-store chins are alot more expensive than breeder chins. Rescues are ok, but uaually they have been severely mis-treated and take a LONG time to warm up to people. I'm sure people with more experience on this topic.
Anyway, back to the questions. You should get a 1-gender pair, and the gender is just a personal prefrence. Males tend to hump each other for the first while, to kind of get the dominance issue dealt with, but either ones make great pets. Don't get each sex, it is not very safe for a chin to go under the knife. Mainly it's that it's quite tricky to knock them out, but many people have done it fine. Again, it's all about personal prefrence.
When you let the chins out for their play-time, let them out in the bathroom. It's usually the best place for them. Close the toilet lid, take out anything they shouldn't chew, that kind of thing. Chins can't get wet, so don't try and give it a bath. Anyway, just make sure your chins can't get out of the room, and your cats can't get in, and try not to leave them unattended.
A good cage shouldn't be too cramped. Many levels may look cool, but chins would rather just have ledges (like Leap 'N Ledges, you can get them at the petsroe) and stuff than many floors. They're more jumpers than anything
I hoped this helped, if you have any more questions there will be many more people on here to help you out.
Love,
Shayna × Zeus × Zoe × Val


Answer:
Thank you so much, LoveGun!!! took a peek at your site, and your little guys are just DARLING!
I live alone, well, with cats, so my apartment is the pets' apartment. The thought of getting an itsy bitsy cage just breaks my heart. I don't mind one bit having a huge cage as the centerpiece of my living room! As it is right now, I have a 6 foot kitty condo that is kind of the centerpiece of this room!! LOL
I have read that grated flooring is really hard on chinchilla's feet, and that flat flooring is a must. Any words on this?
Thanks!
Jo


Answer:
I have 3 rescued chins... and they are wonderful! I got them at the Humane Society (I work there).. some shelters don't adopt out chins (send them to rescue groups instead) so if you want to go that route... check with Hamilton Humane Society and ask them if they do or not...
Not ALL rescued chins are abused... my first one came from a confiscation where there were over 250 animals in the house so I'm sure she didn't get the socializing she needed early on and she's still shy but not aggressive at all... my other two were surrendered by their owners.. they probably didn't have time for them or discovered chinchillas weren't for them... who knows?
If you can't get a chin from your shelter I'd go to a breeder over a pet store... better quality, probably get some sort of health guarantee, and cheaper...
Good Luck whatever you do!


Answer:
Umm, wood floooring is great, but it's harder to clean and you have to (at least try to) litter-train them. If you have wire, like 1/4" x 1/4" it's ok on their feet, as long as they have a non-wire place to go, like the Leap 'N Ledges. The new cage we're builing has 1/5" x 1/5" mesh floor, and little wooden shelves and stuff everywhere along the walls.


Answer:
Originally Posted by LoveGun
Umm, wood floooring is great, but it's harder to clean and you have to (at least try to) litter-train them.
I disagree with this statement. If you have a solid bottom floor and use wood as shelving, you do NOT have to litter train your chin. From my experience, most chins will not pee on wood ledges, but will go down to the shavings at the bottom of the cage. If for any reason, some urine should get on the wood shelves, you can take a bit of sandpaper and sand it down. I would personally recommend wood over wire any day. If you're worried about pee stains, I suggest you look into melmine. A few members here use it for cage dividers or whole cages and it cleans very easily.
If you're planning on having a cage more than 3 feet tall, I would recommend a solid floor halfway through the cage to avoid a chin falling from high up and hurting itself. You can leave a smll hole to allowe chins to move easily from the bottom half to the upper half of the cage. And of course, you can put shelves and ledges at will in each half


Answer:
Originally Posted by Solarsis
Originally Posted by LoveGun
Umm, wood floooring is great, but it's harder to clean and you have to (at least try to) litter-train them.
I disagree with this statement. If you have a solid bottom floor and use wood as shelving, you do NOT have to litter train your chin. From my experience, most chins will not pee on wood ledges, but will go down to the shavings at the bottom of the cage. If for any reason, some urine should get on the wood shelves, you can take a bit of sandpaper and sand it down. I would personally recommend wood over wire any day. If you're worried about pee stains, I suggest you look into melmine. A few members here use it for cage dividers or whole cages and it cleans very easily.
See? You learn something new everyday. That's interesting, because I found that mine like to pee on the ledges more than anything, except for their litter-box. Hmm...
Also, about the 3 foot thing, that's what I'm doing with my new cage. 24" on the bottom for climbing, running, jumping, etc. etc. etc. The bottom has shelves everywhere. The top has a shelf with 12" between it and the roof. That's where their hammock, wood house, and food dishes are going. Mainly the living area.


Answer:
i have one chinnie who likes to use her shelves to go pee on.....the other 2 don't.....


Answer:
First off, welcome! So glad to see another ontarioan! I would highly recomend going to a breeder or rescuing over a pet store, even if it is for the simple fact that you are paying way too much at a pet store. Pet store chins usually (not always) seem to develope problems, or have them already. Since you have no idea of their background, you do not know what you are buying. The same could be said for a rescue, but alot of the time you get some history from the owner that dropped of the chin, so you have some idea what you are getting. You will also have the satisfaction of giving a needing chin a home. I have seen them occasionally at the Toronto Humane society, but not very often. You can contact the society in Hamilton and see what they have available. Buying from a breeder will give you the best experience in buying a chin. You will be able to see the chins parents (in most cases), have a history of the line, and know that your chin has been handled daily. Breeder chins are more often then not, the friendliest chins you can get. Most breeders will stand behind their chins, and will always be there to answer your questions. You can be reassured you are buying the best (provided you buy from a reputable breeder). As for a breeder in the area, you can check out the breeder listings at the top. I myself have nothing at the moment, but am *hopefully* expecting in July/August. Of the list, I have delt with David, and he has wonderful chins.
As for the cage, I have wire, but would prefer melamine. They are easier to clean, and upkeep. However, they are something you have to do yourself ( I don't have them as I have not the tools with which to build them). My wire cages do not have a wire floor, they have a solid floor with shavings. This gives them a place to rest their feet. I also have Mandie's chin nets, which they love to sleep in. The leap'n ledges Shayna mentioned are also great. My chins do pee on them, but a little sand paper does wonders.
I would also recomend same sex pairs as opposed to fixing the male. I have had better luck with females, but I am sure others can say the same of males. I find it better if they are from the same litter. They should atleast be younger, as the older the chin is, the harder it is to introduce them (ususally). As for the cats, I have 6. However, I keep the chins in their own room. When I was in a 1 bdrm apt, I kept them in my room. While the chin can move to the other side of the cage, the chance of an eye getting poked, or simply stress on the chin was not something I wanted to risk. I also did not want the cats to keep the chins awake during the day (and mine would). If you are not able to keep the chins in a seperate location, make sure the cage is large enough that the chin can 'escape' any curious paws. Also make sure you have a hidey house they can go into, to feel secure.
Hope that helps a little