Why Chins

I'm an owner of 3 chinchillas, originally I had a mating couple Buffy and Angel. Buffy, the most intelligent chinchilla I have come across, coming to you or to the front of the cage if you call her name and is no longer nocturnal because she craves for attention 24-7, gave birth to 3 baby kits. Unfortunately one kit was a runt and did not make it, I hand reared her for nine days before she passed, which was totally heart breaking. She was a charcoal grey colour, taking after her father (her mother and the two kits are light grey). Strangely she was the most intelligent of the three and was always finding ways to escape from the cage, she was so small she could fit through the bars of the cage. That was over a year ago (how time flies) the other babies have grown up to be healthy, beautiful chinchillas.

I have struggled with them now and again as I knew nothing about them when I purchased them (which was the wrong thing to do), but now I am a lot more knowledgeable about them. I have owned them for two years now and I am still finding out little facts about them from different owners. Another unfortunate incident happen during the summer earlier this year, and I lost the father of the kittens due to ulcers in his mouth.

Angel's teeth had grown slightly crooked and rubbed on his tongue and cheek, we hadn't noticed anything was wrong until he went off his food completely and he rapidly lost weight whilst we were treating him.

He was a strong little fighter he had a little procedure done to file his teeth down to let the ulcers heal and he had to go under anaesthetic, he survived that which we were amazed by. But unfortunately after two to three weeks of us hand feeding him baby food and water he gave up fighting and he passed away.

We knew there was a strong chance we would lose him but we were still optimistic, I think the hot weather was too trying for him and he may not have handled it as well as he would have if he had a bit more strength. We didn't think he would last through his last night on earth but when I checked on him a 6.00am in the morning he was still alive and no better, I peeked at him through the cage, and he recognised me, and with the last little bit of strength he had came to the front of the cage so I picked him up he deteriorated quite quickly from then on he lasted for two more hours and he finally passed away in my arms. It was one of the most traumatic, painful experiences of my life, it had brought back memories of when I lost one of his kits.

Through the time I was treating him we became extremely close to him, and my dad also made a significant bond with him, which is really unusual, and we cried when he passed away. But now I have to concentrate on keeping the two youngsters and the mother healthy and happy.

thanks for taking time to read my e-mail

received by e-mail 25/10/04