The Bunny Bunch S.P.C.R.
A No Kill Non Profit Rabbit Rescue Organization
909-591-7200 PO Box 2583 Chino, CA 91708
Serving Southern California

Before adopting a chinchilla, you need to do as much research as possible about chinchilla care to be sure you are making the right choice about adopting one.

Here at Chin Rescue we receive calls from people who did NOT make the right choice - they bought a chin from a pet store or breeder, without considering if they could care for the chin for the rest of its life.

Chins live about sixteen to twenty years, so this is a long commitment. They are wonderful, delicate little creatures, and have their own unique personalities.

The cost for getting everything you need is about two to three hundred dollars. After the initial expense you will need to buy litter, good quality pellets, hay, toys and chews on an ongoing basis. You will also need to be able to afford taking your chin to a chin knowledgeable vet for a yearly check up. If your chin becomes ill, the cost for vet care and medicine can be quite high, sometimes hundreds of dollars. Please make sure you are willing and able to do what it takes to care for a chin for the rest of its life, both financially and timewise.

Chins are nocturnal; they sleep all day and are awake all night. Will that fit into your schedule?

Chins need a large safe cage to live in. We suggest a four story cage available through www.bunnybunchboutique.org. Chins need to come out for supervised exercise sessions for a minimum of two hours a night.

Chins can get into very small spaces, so chin proofing is required before letting them out to run in a room. Chins also love to chew, so you must cover all your electrical cords with tubing to prevent your chin from getting electrical shocks, along with anything else you do not want them to chew. Plus, make sure you keep any poisonous plants out of their way.

Chins do not tend to use a litter box. Their cage must be kept nice and clean. Their poops need to be swept up every day as they will fall outside the cage onto the floor.

Chins also need to have a dust bath about every three days. This is to keep their fur clean. The dust is put into a dust bath and the chin will get in and roll around. This is very interesting and entertaining to watch. The dust does, however, tend to settle on things in your home.

We do not suggest getting chinchillas for children. They are delicate creatures that like quiet surroundings. They can be hard to handle and children can easily scare, injure or kill them by chasing, stepping on them or holding them too tight.

Another thing to consider: Do you have other animals that could harm or kill your chin?

Heat can quickly kill a chin so it is very important to make sure their cage is in an area that will not get above 77F (25C) and where they will not be in a draft.

Chins can never live outside due to weather extremes, predators and the fact that if they ever get out of their cage you probably will not be able to catch them.

Chinchillas make wonderful companions. If you do decide you are the right person to have a chinchilla, remember, make sure you can commit to care for your chin for the rest of its life.

If you have any questions about chin adoption or care, please email us!