If you are interested in a second rabbit and would like to let me know your city, I can check my rabbit rescue network and let you know who can help you locally. Rabbits do “fall in love” and they do bond for life. It’s also best to let your rabbit choose his own mate, rather than try to force friendship on two rabbits that really aren’t keen on it. (Spaying is critical because of the high incidence of uterine cancer in unspayed females.) Although once in a while you’ll run across a rabbit that prefers to be solitary, most do much better in pairs. Instead, I’d strongly recommend that you get your male rabbit neutered and find a spayed female rabbit to keep him company. “I would never put an adult rabbit together with a baby chin. Chins and buns need to be housed separately so that they aren’t exposed to each other’s secretions/ fecal droppings, they must have separate playtimes!įrom Rabbitwise, Memphis, On Petfinder in response to an email question that we forwarded: Rabbits can harbor Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (VHD) and they carry Pasteurella naturally- both of these are extremely dangerous to chinchillas and most often lethal. When your chinchilla interacts with any other species it is necessary to CONTINUALLY supervise their interaction no matter how well acquainted or for how long they’ve known each other, because animals aren’t entirely predictable, and unexpected tragedies can result in serious injury or death. If both the chin and the other pet have shown some mutual interest in each other while the chin is INSIDE his cage, where he can move to safety and neither animal appears to be frightened, stressed, or antagonized by the other, then it’s possible they may be able to meet. Whether or not a chin gets along with another species really depends a lot on the temperament and instinct of the other animal and whether it regards the chinchilla as prey, a playful toy, a potential threat, or whether it can be gentle and respectful of the chin and its need to feel safe and unmolested (and vice versa regarding the chin’s attitude). Even if your chin does get along well with other household pets, he still needs daytime seclusion away from them to completely relax and sleep. Having other household pets visit them during their waking hours can be disturbing or intimidating. There is also the potential for cross-species infectious diseases such as Pasteurella, Listeriosis, and VHD.Ĭhinchillas are chiefly nocturnal (but can be crepuscular, i.e., active at twilight in morning and evening) and most domestic pets are diurnal (awake during the day), this conflicts with the chinchilla’s daytime needs (some quiet solitude) for obtaining adequate rest. For the first couple of months after arriving at the rescue, he spent his entire out-of-cage exercise time racing between and hiding beneath the furniture. The photo below shows one senior rescue chin with severe fur biting that resulted from the long term stress of coping with other household pets. While some chins can adjust to the presence of other household pets and some may even form a strong bond with them, others will develop health and behavioral problems related to this potential environmental stress factor.Ī predatory animal may mean well but can accidentally injure the chinchilla during play ( e.g., by picking up the chin by the scruff of his neck) and another small animal such as a guinea pig, degu, rat, or hamster could be accidentally hurt by the chin. In the wild, chinchillas are hunted by birds (owls) and foxes. Generally speaking, it is inadvisable to put your chinchilla, which is a small animal of prey, in a household with predatory animals (dogs, cats, large snakes, lizards, etc.). Chinchillas need quiet during the day for resting, and most do not prefer the company of dogs and cats… Chinchillas may be stressed (or injured) by the jerky movements and rough handling of children, and children may be frustrated by a chinchilla’s disinterest in being cuddled.” (ref- New Hope Animal Hospital) “Clients who should not own chinchillas generally include those with very noisy households, children, and/or dogs and cats. Chinchilla Behavior: Are Chinchillas Pets For Kids?
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