Meet Papaya
Papaya is a sweet old lady, looking for a quiet home to living her golden years in. She would prefer to live alone due to past experience with other chinchillas. She has a heart murmur that will require further observation and potential care, our staff can discuss more of the details with interested adopters. She has lived in a home with dogs/cats well, she is okay with handling but would prefer interactions on her own terms. She does enjoy playing with toys and enrichment.
Chinchillas can be smart, inquisitive and loving, and can even live up to 20 years! These animals are very active, and their acrobatics can be very entertaining! As social creatures, chinchillas should always be housed with same-sex companions except for a behavioral or medical reason. Chinchillas must be provided with lots of chewing enrichment to keep their teeth properly worn down.
We recommend a large solid floored, multi-level cage similar to those made for ferrets or chinchillas. Paper bedding or other appropriate nesting material (wood shaving are NOT appropriate) should be provided to allow the chinchilla to dig, stockpile food and nest. The cage must include a solid (no rungs) exercise wheel and houses or other structures for the chinchilla to hide in. Chinchillas bathe using a dust bath and should be provided a shallow bowl of dust several times a week. Cages should always be well ventilated but kept away from direct sunlight, and drafts. Timothy hay is an important piece of a chinchilla’s diet and must always be available.
The needs of each chinchilla are unique and if you have questions about the right type of enclosure for the chinchilla you are interested in, please let us know in your inquiry! We are happy to provide guidance and advice.
* If you are not ready to adopt, but are in a position to donate, please visit www.mspca.org/nevinsgift .