Chinchilla Chateau

09/20/2024

Adorable x 1000000000000

09/20/2024

Don’t get scammed when adopting a new pet!

Interested in adopting a chinchilla? Do you know how to avoid a scam? Check out our blog on “Smart Pet Adoption” in the GCA hub on our website and learn some tips to avoid being scammed!

09/16/2024

It was a good try! 😂

09/06/2024

🥰🥰

09/05/2024

Why are some of them like this?! 😅 Let me touch the floof!!!

09/01/2024

I think we need an angora here at Chinchilla Chateau… whatd’ya think?

08/31/2024

Chinchillas are adorable from every angle 📸

08/30/2024

They grow up too fast 😭😭

08/29/2024

Before surrendering your chinchilla (or any pet for that matter!), think of this: your chinchilla would much rather stay in its stable home with a familiar environment than be dumped or shuffled around into who knows how many new stressful situations - new surroundings, new sounds, new faces, new smells, new pets or other chinchillas.

Nobody should feel like they need to surrender their chin just because they can’t give it a ton of out-of-cage time. I promise that chinnie will be just fine. Rescues and shelters are overflowing and your chin would rather be in a place of familiarity than uncertainty!

Play time is a treat, not an obligation.

Our post last night was sparked by reading a few comments about how a 16 year old girl should surrender/rehome her chinchilla because she doesn't give it playtime. Do you know how ridiculous that is? Yes. Abandon your pet because you don't give it play time.

I own 11 Chinchillas, and guess what? We do not have a daily play time. Not even weekly. I interact with them from their cages, and occasionally pull 1 out or take a group to my bed to socialize. My lower cages are open during cage day, and they come and go as they please.

Should I abandon my pets? No. Are my chinchillas anti-social? lol no they're not.

More often than not, you hear someone tell another that "Chinchillas must have 1-2 hours of out-of-the cage play time daily." Which in essence sounds nice, right? Well it's not.

Chinchillas are prey animals who prefer a quiet, small, den-like surrounding. In the early or late hours of the day they will come out to explore - Mostly to scavenge for food or a mate - but not to "play".

When you pull them out of their comfort zone and place them in a big empty room, you will notice that they dart around and look for small spaces to hide, right? In a box, under the cage, behind a toy, etc. That is because in their mind, they need to hide from predators. SOME chinchillas may come out on their own, and others may be totally comfortable with coming out and that is fine. There is always a chance you have and extrovert, but naturally chinchillas are introverts.

Where this mandatory 1-2 hour nonsense came from beats me, but that is exactly what it is. NONSENSE. Pet owners like to tell each other how to do things, someone started saying 1 hour, no 2 hours and others ate it up, so now it is one of the widely spread myths in our community, plus it can be really dangerous!

Many breeders won't suggest a play time, Like, at all. This is to prevent overexerting your chinchilla. They are known to have scary drops in their blood sugar when working to much, and this can lead to becoming very lethargic ( ever see your chin plop on their side after play time? They're exhausted! ) and in some cases, provoke seizures.

Many owners forget that in this 1-2 hour time frame to provide water, or monitor your pet's tempature. Yep, running around in a fur coat can cause a heat stroke... even in a room that is only 72 degrees.

We suggest if you must do a playtime, keep it low impact in a small cool space for no longer than 30 minutes. For chinchillas under 6 months should only have 15 minutes, and any under 4 months should not have any. Young chinchillas need to conserve valuable calories to grow big and strong. If you over exercise them as kits, they will grow to be unhealthy looking adults.

Many chins have gotten injured, sick, or have died during play time over time. Accidents happen. Someone chews a wire, swallows something toxic, gets stepped on, dogs/cats get into the room, it gets too hot, heart attacks, seizures, broken limbs, fights, lost in the walls/ceiling, sat on, accidentally bred, and so on. That was just a glimpse of the sad emails and messages we've received about play-time nightmares.

This is a post to just say, you don't have to. You don't have to have ridiculous play schedules to be a good owner. You don't have to invest in play structures to show you care about your pets. You don't have to stress over appeasing someone who has apparently all the time in the world to do extensive play times.

Just do you,
your chinchilla may appreciate you more if you let them relax in their space.

08/26/2024

Genetics buffs: check out next month’s issue of “Chinchilla Connection,” the official magazine of Global Chinchilla Alliance! Lots of great info on the genetics of our furry friends! 🧬

08/22/2024

Whatcha gonna do about it? 😆

08/09/2024

They are p**p machines 😅

07/26/2024

Have you ever tried to do the “paws in” challenge with your chin? 😆😆

Cheeky Chins episode 133 - “ ”

07/26/2024

At least Linus stays still long enough for a picture! 😂

07/26/2024

Check out Global Chinchilla Alliance’s free digital chinchilla magazine for their launch!

07/26/2024

FREE youth memberships are available through Global Chinchilla Alliance! This is a great resource for the next generation of chinchilla lovers!

07/12/2024

FREE online event for kids, hosted by Global Chinchilla Alliance (GCA)! GCA also offers free youth memberships - check it out!

**Sign up as a Youth Member today! It's FREE!!!**

As a youth member, you will get access to all our free seminars and workshops, as well as a newsletter full of interesting facts and fun activities!

Join us for an exciting online youth event, free for all ages under 18. Discover the importance of Chinchilla Dental Health, learn to build a toy with a complimentary kit, and make new friends along the way! Meet our amazing youth leadership representatives and be part of this fun and educational experience. Don't miss out!

ARE YOU AN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH. Please join! We are global!

07/12/2024

Sign up as a Global Chinchilla Alliance member and receive your monthly magazine, filled with information on all things chinchilla!

🌟 Don't Miss Out! Subscribe Now! 🌟

Are you passionate about chinchillas and always eager to learn more about their care, health, and latest trends? 🐾 Our magazine is packed with expert advice, heartwarming stories, and exclusive content you won't find anywhere else.

07/08/2024

🌟‼️Attention chinchilla lovers of the world: a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit has just launched that is dedicated to the well-being and future of our furry friends! This is ✨ Global Chinchilla Alliance (GCA)✨

📣GCA serves as a shared voice with other chinchilla organizations, chinchilla groups and enthusiasts around the world, so that chinchillas can live their best lives!

🙏 Please like, share and join this awesome nonprofit and let’s make sure we are doing our best to care for these beautiful creatures! ❤️

🌟 Exciting Announcement: The Launch of Global Chinchilla Alliance (GCA)! 🌟

We are thrilled to introduce the Global Chinchilla Alliance (GCA), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the well-being of chinchillas worldwide!

At GCA, we are the future of chinchilla care, giving chinchillas a voice and ensuring their health and happiness through forward-thinking measures. Our mission is to promote proper treatment and care, provide comprehensive education, support chinchilla rescues, establish a global standard of care, foster youth development in animal well-being, and champion new research initiatives.

Follow us to learn all about these amazing animals and join us in making a difference! Visit https://globalchinchillas.com to learn more and become a part of our mission!

06/02/2024

Mine would try to take a nibble at it, regardless. Sorry, no human food for chinnies!

Cheeky Chins episode 130 - “The Food Inspector”

05/31/2024

‼️Warning chinchilla lovers‼️

There is a group of scammers promoting someone named Shiela Ann Hunt who is posing as a chinchilla breeder, using my pictures, and claiming that the person in the picture is them. This picture is of ME with Miss Macaron, my RGSC pink white girl at the CA ECBC Spring Show!

I’m not in the group this was posted in as the admins themselves are the scammers. Please report if you see it and do your research when talking to any supposed breeders online!

04/11/2024

Thank you Tokyo for joining us for the chinchilla seminar! You were a great audience and had lots of good questions! Thank you for spending your day with us! 🫶🏼💗☺️

04/09/2024

Huge thank you to everyone who attended the chinchilla seminar in Japan! Thank you, H&M Chinchillas for hosting this event for Royal Chinchillas and I to educate Japanese chinchilla lovers.

Thank you to those who brought their chinchillas for evaluation. Health is always of utmost importance and we can see that you all are taking good care of your chinchillas. We hope that you are also now able to see the different qualities that we look for in chinchillas, especially if they are going to be bred. When breeding, we should all strive to breed to improve!

Thank you for being an attentive audience! We appreciate all the kindness and graciously accept your thoughtful gifts! I am just glad we were able to share our knowledge and experience with you all!

Minasan, arigatougozaimash*ta! 🫶🏼☺️

04/08/2024

Everyone melts over chinchilla cuteness!

Cheeky Chins episode 126 - “Celebrity”

08/09/2022

There are several chinchillas at Cali_FID Rescue looking for their FURever homes!