Cats are so overrated

Time for a cold one

2005-05-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

Well, so ends the BUAD477 blog project as well as my career here at UD. I'll continue posting for anyone who is interested. But for now, cheers!

P.S. No animals were harmed and/or intoxicated during this photo shoot

What have you learned?

2005-05-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

Well we are now reaching the end of the class project portion of this blog and I just wanted to see if anyone has learned anything. Take this quiz to test your chin knowledge. I got 9/10. Lemme know how you did!

Fat cat

2005-05-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

I'd like to take the time to stand up for my chinchilla. A few people have been calling him fat lately (see post "Inanimate friend" for their reasoning). OK, so maybe he attacks me for food, but actually, he's at a normal weight. I administered the "rib test".
According to Critter News , if you can feel your pet's ribs without applying pressure, it is generally underweight. If you can feel them with moderate pressure, they are probably at a healthy weight. If you can't feel the ribs without hurting the animal, you might have a fat animal. No problem...maybe Ben has a workout routine for your pet. It is very rare to find an overweight chinchilla though.

I can feel Ralph's ribs so I blame he's mammoth size on his fur.

Shop around

2005-05-03T14:59:00.000-07:00

Purchasing a chinchilla isn't like buying a car or house. In fact, I bought mine about 2 hours after I decided I wanted one. I did do a little research so I knew what to look for.

a) Clear, bright eyes
b) Dry fur below the chin
c) No signs of fur biting
d) Stool
e) Temperament

I chose Ralph because he was curious and friendly. There was another chin there but he was shy and not very active...but maybe you want a chin like that. If price is a factor in buying, just remember that a standard (grey) chinchilla is least expensive and the prices vary between different color combinations with rare/mutant colors being most expensive. So basically, your preferences determine how much you might pay.

Some more info on choosing a chin

Inanimate friend

2005-05-02T19:27:00.000-07:00

This is Ralph's new best friend...he always stand next to it. I see a small resemblance

Cheeky Chinchilla

2005-05-01T20:41:00.000-07:00

Cheeky Chinchilla is a pretty cool site for those who already own a chin. My favorite part is the shop where you can buy the door hanger. It's a great idea. I'm always afraid someone's gonna walk in and let Ralph out.

You know you wanna

2005-04-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

Chins for sale in the area (Delaware).

Or just have one delivered .

Again with the wheel...

2005-04-25T18:11:00.000-07:00

I believe I mentioned in a previous post that my chinchilla has gone through a plethora of wheels. Apparently this is a common problem, as most chin blogs I have visited have a whole topic devoted to exercise wheels. So anyway, the solution seems to be this . It looks pretty cool but I don't think my chinchilla would be smart enough to figure it out.

I do feel sorry for the chin under that saucer though

Chinchilla or chiuaua?

2005-04-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

I went to Petco today for my weekly chinchilla cage cleaning (better than changing a diaper) and I seriously considered buying my chinchilla a leash. I wasn't sure if he would slip out of it though...but the thought of walking Ralph down Main Street made me laugh a little.

For those actually interested in chinchillas, check out Technorati . I found some of the posts to be humorous...particularly this person who, as most, confuses the dog and the rodent. Thanks to Alex for the link

Proud of your pet

2005-04-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a blog, A Pets Blog , that allows you to post pictures of your pet. Prizes are awarded for best picture. Check it out!

I'm always trying to convince people to get a chinchilla. I figure I love mine, everyone else would love one too. Although I still think you should seriously consider owning a chinchilla, here are some things to think about before making your purchase.

Lone Star Chinchilla

2005-04-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

Just found another cool chin blog and thought I'd share. Not only can you find a chinchilla but you can ask those important new owner questions. If you are more passionate about another animal you can start your own discussion. It's definitely worth checking out.

Animal Lover Gift Store

2005-04-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

Kritters in the Mailbox offers a wide variety of gifts to accomidate every animal lover. From mouse pads to big horn sheep, this site has what you're looking for. But for those who are interested in chinchillas, Cafepress is the site to shop for apparel, cards, and more. Don't forget to pick something up for your little critter at Little River Pet Shop.com. Happy shopping!

Pets on the go...

2005-04-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

Planning to go anywhere soon? Want to take your pet with you? Check out Pets on the go. A special thanks to allikatt for the link!

How can you resist this face?

2005-04-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

Tell me your story

2005-04-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

Blogger 'greg fleck' was kind enough to share his chinchilla experiences. Ever encountered one of these curious animals? Tell us your story. Maybe your story can help someone decide if a chinchilla is really right for them. In the meantime, check out "10 Reasons Chinchillas Make Great Pets" and see if you can add to the list!

Some interesting facts

2005-03-26T14:16:00.000-08:00

Everyone who has seen my chinchilla within the past week has commented on his long wiskers. I figured they were used to sense things so I did a little research. As it turns out, chinchilla wiskers can grow to be 110mm long and are used for sensory input. In their natural habitat (Andes mountains in Chile), they are concidered a threatened species and are protected by law. All of the domestic chins are decendant from the original 11 chinchillas brought to America in 1927 for fur trade. Chinchillas are most commonly used for auditory studies. They are also used to study Chagas' disease. Although females are monogamous in the wild, domestic chins can be both monogamous and polygamous. Females also happen to be the dominant sex. These are just some facts I have learned today and thought I'd share but there are plenty of other interesting things to learn. This is just one place to start. However, a simple "chinchilla" search in Google can get the job done as well.

Just like children (not as painful as it looks)

2005-03-20T15:32:00.000-08:00

I just spent 4 hours on my chinchilla...cleaning, buying, and rearranging. Okay, so maybe it's just an excuse to not study. But in the process of procrastination, I realized I have an expensive chin. He's on his 4th wheel now after breaking the past 3. He takes off in his wheel like he has a destination he's late for and ends up breaking the wheel AND sometimes the bars on the cage (since the wheel is attached to the cage). The wheels alone cost between $15 and $22 but I just leave his broken cage be with the help of a little duct tape. It doesn't help that I feel the need to constantly upgrade his accessories. The only thing I still use from when I originally purchased him is his water bottle. So really, it's my own fault Ralph is breaking my wallet. Since the majority of you are college students, I have a few money saving tips if you decide to purchase a chinchilla. Buy one from a breeder instead of from a pet store and save about $40. Have everything you need before the chin arrives. Purchase the cage and accessories on eBay. I purchase from seller huma102 who has cheap, high quality items shipped super fast. Most importantly, don't treat your chinchilla like your first born child. Buy him what him needs to survive and live happily and spoil him when you have extra funds. In my opinion, chinchillas are well worth the expense.

Good news, bad news

2005-03-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

Hey guys. The good news is Ralph (my chinchilla) just got back from his very first lecture. A friend of mine did a presentation on chinchillas so she borrowed mine. Of course, as always, everyone loved him (not just because he's Ralph, but because chins have a way of getting into everyone's hearts). So now he's tired and squeezed tightly behind a piece of furniture sleeping. The bad news is, there are no federal laws protecting chinchillas or any other type of animal who are raised for their fur. PETA invesigators discovered cruel acts like electrocution and breaking the necks of chinchillas just for their fur. IT TAKES 140 CHINCHILLAS TO MAKE 1 CHINCHILLA FUR COAT (and JLo owns one by the way). I don't want to sound like an 'animal rights activist hippy' because I know I have leather somewhere around here, but there is good news for anyone who wants to stop the cruelty. Just click here, to voice your opinion.

What is a chinchilla?

2005-02-28T16:31:00.000-08:00

Everytime I tell someone I have a chinchilla they either question what it is or think it's a chiuaua. Actually, it's from the rodent family, much like a hampster or guinea pig. Therefore, they like to chew on things as their incisors (teeth) grow. They have many unique characteristics but are many known for their fur. Around50-80 hairs come from one follicle so their fur is really soft. To keep the fur healthy, they bathe in dust or sand. In the wild, they find the dust in their natural habitat, the Andes mountains. Pet stores carry special dust for chin owners. They love to jump, run, bounce off walls, and even do flips. Perhaps I'm easily amused, but my Chinchilla, Ralph, can keep me entertained for hours. There is a lot of information on the web about chinchillas, including dietary needs, purchasing a chin, breeding a chin, and so on. This site should get you started on your search for more knowledge regarding these amasing animals.

Chin who needs a home

2005-02-27T10:55:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, a found a cute little chinchilla who needs a home. His name is Joey and he's a standard male chinchilla, one year old. His owner can no longer care for him. She's selling him at a very reasonable price with a cage included. Please let me know if you're interested

Sweet Lovable Creatures

2005-02-20T17:21:00.000-08:00

This blog is dedicated to informing everyone about the many joys of owning a chinchilla. Hopefully some of you will be persuaded to own one yourself. If you already are a chin owner, feel free to discuss your experiences with these precious animals. Enjoy!