Chinchillas

Chinchillas are adorable, soft pets that come from the mountains of South America. They have the thickest fur of any land animal. Chinchillas are active, playful, and can live for 15 to 20 years. They are most active in the evening and at night.

Super Soft Fur

A chinchilla has about 20,000 hairs growing from each follicle. Humans only have one to four hairs per follicle. Their fur is so thick that fleas cannot live in it. Chinchillas take baths in special dust instead of water because water would make their dense fur clumpy.

Chinchilla Care

Chinchillas need a tall cage with platforms to jump on. They love to hop and bounce around. Chinchillas eat hay, special pellets, and small amounts of dried fruit. They need to be kept cool because they can overheat easily. A dust bath a few times a week keeps their fur soft and clean.

Fun Facts

• Chinchillas can jump up to 6 feet in the air.
• They can release patches of fur to escape a predator's grip.
• Chinchillas can make over 10 different sounds to communicate.

Did You Know?

Wild chinchillas live high in the Andes Mountains at elevations up to 15,000 feet. That is almost three miles above sea level!