Do Chinchillas Like to Cuddle & Be Held? Cuddling Chinchilla
Chinchillas can almost be mistaken for large fluffy balls, and this is a reason you might always want to squeeze them. As a chinchilla owner, you might enjoy squeezing your chinchilla. That, however, is not without any question. One question associated with squeezing chinchillas is, “will your chinchilla enjoy being squeezed?” Although you might not like this. However, the truth is chinchillas are not animals that exactly enjoy being cuddled. They are animals that prefer climbing on their owner.
Chinchillas are animals with a high level of activity. Due to this, they prefer playing all around their owner to being cuddled by their owner. The closest thing to a cuddle that chinchillas seem to be comfortable with is being scratched very gently. The fact that chinchillas do not like being cuddled does not, however, mean you should give up on cuddling them if it is something you enjoy doing. Your chinchilla might not like to be cuddled. But this does not imply that you should not make attempts at cuddling it. As a pet owner that enjoys cuddling, you can take out time to discover ways to make your chinchilla comfortable when cuddled.
Build a Good Relationship with Your Chinchilla
It is vital that you make interacting with your chinchilla a habit. You can make your pet happy being around you by spending time interacting with it. Interacting with your chinchilla constantly involves singing and speaking to it. This is great because chinchillas derive a lot of joy from listening to the voice of their owner. When building interaction with your chinchilla, get close to its cage and gently put your hand inside. When done, your chinchilla will most likely respond with a nibble.
When trying to get the attention of your chinchilla, it is vital that you do not pick it up by force. Doing so will make it scared, and it might end up biting you.
How to Properly Handle a Chinchilla
Chinchillas should not be picked up around their abdomen because of their very sensitive rib cages. To lift your chinchilla, hold out your palm and let it climb. As soon as your chinchilla climbs your palm, you can pick it up very carefully. When doing this, you might want to guide it with the use of your second hand.
Another way to pick your chinchilla up very carefully is by picking it up around its tail. When picking a chinchilla up by its tail, ensure you hold its tail at its base.
Look out for Health Challenges
Just like every living thing, your chinchilla can have a couple of health challenges. When battling with pain and other forms of discomfort, your chinchilla might not want to be handled by anyone. So, if your chinchilla suddenly starts exhibiting a change in attitude, it might be going through some pain. You will, therefore, have to check its body for any signs of injury. If your chinchilla shows any aggression while you check it, you might have to take it to a vet.
