A Night in Front of the TV (Video)

Chinchillas love to watch television!! In fact, many rescues leave on televisions or radios during the day to keep their chins calm while sleeping. Since I don't have cable, our only means of watching television is through NetFlix, which sadly does not transfer over from one episode to the next like it does on an Xbox. So, Nimbus watches NetFlix or DVDs at night, instead. His favorite film of all-time is The Hobbit: There and Back Again!

This video below was taken on Nimbus's birthday. It shows what a typical evening is like with Nimbus while I talk about certain aspect of chinchillas and ownership of such rodents.

One such topic is Nimbus's bunny. There will be a post about the bunny later on, but let me just say that "Napoleon Neapolitan" is a very special bunny puppet indeed. He and Nimbus have a very intimate relationship, and you'll see what I mean. If anything ever happens to that bunny...!!!! I explain a bit of the story, except for how Nimbus discovered his friend.

Nimbus begins by rolling on the floor. He's not doing it for fun. There's actually chinchilla dust coating the linoleum that spilled out of his dust bathtub. And then, captivated by the camera, he sprints over ready for his close-up.

Nimbus the Snowman (Video)

SO MUCH SNOW!! SNOW EVERYWHERE!

Once again, my Kentucky trip has been postponed! It is pouring buckets of snow here, and... well, everywhere. My grandparents have snow down in South Carolina. My father has snow in Charlotte. There's snow all across Tennessee, so there's no heading to Kentucky.

In North Carolina, this is a lot of snow!

The snow started some time this morning and has been going ever since. According to the weather reports, it won't stop until 6 a.m. tomorrow. Chris and  I are huddled down with the pets, trying to keep warm and entertained! Since we thought I'd be gone on Friday, we've been celebrating Valentine's Day today. That means a whole lot of candy and later, we'll exchange our teddy bears we made at Build-A-Bear on Sunday. Yes, teddy bears... but Chris has never had a teddy bear before, and I wasn't about to stand for that. And, I find teddy bears irresistible.

I just went wandering around outside, and I couldn't see the bottom half of my snow boots!! Man, I wish I had a sled and a good hill!! We've got some awesome slopes around here, but they're pretty dangerous as far as backyard sledding goes. And if I wanted to use my own backyard, well then, the only sledding hill abruptly stops right at Scott Creek. WHEEEEEEE SLEDDING....and then.....YAY HYPOTHERMIA!

When we had a snow day last week, I desperately wanted to show Nimbus snow. Wouldn't it be adorable to see him bounding around in the snow??! Of course, that would kill him!! I would never do such a thing.

Today, we brought the snow inside instead!! I didn't have a clue how Nimbus would respond. For all I knew, he'd completely ignore me and scamper into his cage. I had no idea he'd do this!!!

Follow us on Twitter @ChillWithNimbus

A Turn for the Worst

My grandmother often complains about doctors and how they don't know anything helpful or accurate. She's dead certain that they're quacks, and in a small way, I believe her. I definitely felt this way heading to the emergency vet with Nimbus. Something just didn't sit right with me during the examination and after they handed him back to us. I should have trusted that feeling... Unfortunately, I was right.

Yesterday was supposed to be a happy day of celebration, dusts baths and relief. Nimbus was going to get his stitches out, and life would be restored to normal. No more corralling him on the bed. No more syringes with nasty medicine. No more stress.

Photo from http://scdocorg.files.wordpress.com

We entered our local vet to the great enjoyment of everyone there. Most had never seen a chinchilla nor petted its soft fur. Nimbus was a celebrity! One veterinarian assistant said, "I didn't know what it was until I looked it up on the Internet just now."

When Nimbus's fans settled down, Dr. Wall and two assistants held him down to examine his stitches... Except, there were no stitches!

Every single one had popped out, or Nimbus had taken them out. Not that it would have mattered if he did. By the size of Dr. Wall's frown, I knew REACH had messed up.

The wound was completely exposed. Although Chris and I had seen several stitches on Nimbus's arm two days before, they were gone now. The last one sat on the exam table with a tuft of fluffy gray fur attached to it. I had to turn away, and I began to feel my legs give way at the horrible sight of it. Nothing had healed. Nothing was better. We were right back the start of all.

Dr. Wall explained that REACH had used the wrong type of stitches, ones that require some very tight tying and glue to hold the knots in place. Dr. Wall insinuated that REACH should have known better and didn't understand why those were used. I had shelled out hundreds of dollars to that emergency vet with nothing to show for it except worthless medical assistance. In my opinion, REACH's only help was discovering Nimbus didn't have a sprained or broken leg. Everything else was shredded money.

Photo from chinchillaclub.com

Dr. Wall wanted the wound to remain open instead of putting Nimbus through stitches again. By looking at the cut, he noticed that there was healthy pink tissue regenerating and that the injury should scab over and heal on its own. He prescribed us two weeks of antibiotics - here we go again with that one - and scheduled us an appointment for next Tuesday.

"If the wound starts to open more, you need to bring him back in," he said.

As I carried Nimbus in the cat carrier out to the car, I didn't feel the biting winds and finger-aching cold. I was already numb from such disappointment, stress and worry. I couldn't believe it. I also felt an overwhelming, choking anger boiling up my throat. The wrong stitches??? THE WRONG STITCHES?!?! What does that even mean, "the wrong stitches??" If that's the reputation of those stitches, that they need glue to just hold the knots in place, why on earth were they used on my chinchilla in the first place??!?!?!

Angry and in tears, the ride home was very silent.  I put Nimbus back in his cage, told him to go to sleep and get some rest, then went out into the living room to stare at a wall. My mind tried to process this tragedy, this horrible mistake. Dr. Wall said he'd need 2 more weeks of recovery time with medication through syringe twice a day! No dust bath. No playtime. When he said no playtime, I stood up.

"He has to be able to play," I said. "A chinchilla's health and happiness depend on him being able to run around and explore."

I said this to Chris later, "If anything, Nimbus is going to hurt himself more by trying to get out of the cage and throwing tantrums by flying around and banging against the walls."

Dr. Wall relented, thankfully. However, Nimbus will no longer play in my room or on the bed. Instead, we have created the perfect, safe chin play area we possibly could in the living room. No more running into the kitchen. No more jumping up on the bookshelf. No more sneaking behind the couch, thanks to a lot of cardboard alcohol boxes Chris picked up from the ABC store. Nimbus can hop around on the carpet, chew on his toys, and that's it! Still, he can't have a dust bath. There's no way we can allow Blue Cloud dust to get into that open injury.

Photo from annarboranimalhospital.com

That afternoon, Chris went to pick up the medication. However, the WalMart pharmacy said they didn't have it.

"But, the vet called me this morning and told me it was ready," I told Chris on the phone.

Still, there was no medication. This morning on my way out the door, I called the vet again.

"Yes, my chinchilla Nimbus was prescribed medication by Dr. Wall yesterday. When we went to pick it up, WalMart didn't have it."

"Ok," replied the receptionist. "I'll take care of that. I'll call them right now."

Six hours later, Chris returned to the gigantic chain store to pick up the medication. The pharmacy said they didn't have it. So, I called the vet again. They answered that WalMart had told them it was ready to be picked up. My temper started to flare. On the phone, I sharply told Chris to get aggressive and get that medication.

Poor Chris stood in line and at the counter trying to convince these people they had Nimbus's medication for 30 minutes! Once again, we encountered the chinchilla conumdrum. I think there needs to be a Chinchilla Awareness campaign. The guy helping Chris had no clue what a chinchilla was or why we were giving it a generic form of bactrim. Finally, they located our medication. And, here's why it was missing for two days:

Yeah, that's not how you spell my last name.

What Chris should have said to the pharmacy was, "I know with complete certainty that there is no other medication back there prescribed to the first name of Nimbus. Can you please search for Nimbus?"

It's just been roadblock after roadblock. At this point, I just want Nimbus to get better. Please, please, let him get better. I want my beautiful chinchilla to be happy and healthy again, to be able to roll around in his beloved dust bathtub, to scamper through the house, to use the bedroom door in order to "wall surf." He acts fine, but what if it gets infected? What if he suddenly becomes sicker in the middle of the night? I can't take him back to REACH. I would never. And, there's only so much money left in my bank account. What if that runs out before he gets better? How do you choose between not spending money and your pet's life? My mind can't stop reeling from all the "What ifs?" At this rate, both Nimbus and I will be sick, one from an injury and the other from stress.

Photo from clipartof.com

Heading to the Vet (Video)

Notice how happy and excited we are on the way to the vet. It's Day 10, and Nimbus was going to get his stitches out. As I try to put him in the carrier, you can hear his angry, defensive noise. However, the trip back from the vet was not so happy. Actually, it was very silent and involved a lot of tears.

Nimbus is still alive and quite alert. However, we hit a huge snag in his recovery. We're looking at another 2 weeks. I'll explain in a second post. Meanwhile, here's us heading to the animal hospital 15 minutes up the road. If you can't view the video, try this link that will take you directly to it on YouTube.

Recovery Update

Nimbus is doing well these days. Tomorrow, he will take the last of his pain killers/anti-inflammatory medication. The antibacterial will end on Monday evening. Last night, we noticed his purple stitches were more prominently showing, and Chris suggested that as the wound closed that they were being pushed out. But, I'm worried that he's messing with them. We can't watch him 24/7, but what if he does pull them out? We'll be back to where we started. It's just a headache.

He gets his stitches taken out on Thursday at 8:45 a.m. So, we have just under a week left to go. I've been slowly adding features back into his cage. Yesterday morning, I screwed in his pink lava ledge, which he's been very appreciative of. I also moved his metal hay holder, which dangles from the ceiling on a chain, to its normal location beside the lava ledge. He loves sitting up there, munching on hay. I also placed his Chinchiller back on the top floor next to his cuddle ledge. Gradually, his life is returning to normal. Personally, I believe the faster the better, but I don't want him to become overwhelmed.

For not taking a full body dust bath, his fur is surprisingly fluffy and clean. I'm sure he's grooming himself more without that dust bath. Furthermore, I know I complained earlier about losing our bond because I was sick and had to stay away from him. I shouldn't have complained. This injury has brought us closer together, but if that's what it took for him to bond, then I'd rather have never bonded at all. At least then he would have stayed safe and healthy.

Nimbus recovering.  His lava ledge and hay feeder are on the right.

Days 2 and 3

Day 2:

9:00 a.m. Nimbus gets his first dose of medicine. As a reward, we give him a pinch of dust to roll his cheek against. Eyes are bright. Still drinking water. No problems during the night.

9:40 a.m. Time for Nimbus's second medication. I take him out of his cage, wrap him in his blanket and hold him for Chris to give the syringe. Unfortunately, I wasn't holding tight enough and slips out of my grasp. Running through the cat water bowl and under the bed, we face a dilemma of how to safely get him back. However, his sense of adventure takes over, and he comes out on his own! I pick him up, and we get the medicine down. 

11:00 a.m. Give Nimbus his playlist.

12:12 p.m. Leave to run some quick errands, take iPod with me.

3:13 p.m. Check on Nimbus after being home for a few hours. He is up, moving around and eating. His eyes look much better! 

5:26 p.m. Nimbus barks from his cage. I check on and calm him down with a chin rub. Unsure of what set him off. 

8:30 p.m. Nimbus is allowed to play on the bed. He's nervous at first because a friend is over, but he's met her before. He scampers across the blanket draped over the bed. As a reward for his suffering, I fill a necklace box lid with some dust. He bathes and rolls his face in the box lid, overjoyed. Sadly, I realize that the ointment around his eyes that bother him so much is a process we'll have to go through again. When he gets his stitches out, there will be more ointment as he'll have to go under. I worry about money. 

9:05 p.m. Nimbus gets his third syringe of medication. He struggles, and Chris gets 2/3 of the medicine in. He goes to put in the rest, but Nimbus is at his limit. I refuse to put him through anymore and allow him to play on the bed again. We worry about how his stitches are doing. So, Chris brings out a Cheerio and gets Nimbus to balance on his back feet while reaching out with his paws for the treat. I'm able to see his shaved arm and the stitches. Everything looks normal. 

12:30 a.m. When cleaning Nimbus's cage of loose hay and dropping, the chinchilla makes his escape!   Although the door was open, we quickly retrieve him back into the bedroom. Then, we bribe and coax and corral for about 7 minutes until at last I capture him from under the bed.

Photo from memecenter.com

Day 3: 

Zero sleep occurs during the night. I wake up in a terrible mood. 

9:05 a.m. Nimbus is sleepy and moody, like me. We give him both morning doses of medication to get it over with. He pees on my hand but otherwise takes it quite well. 

11:00 a.m. I get my oil changed in town while Chris stays home with Nimbus and Sparta.

4:40 p.m. Nimbus is awake and bouncing around. I can tell he's been eating. Haven't heard him drinking, grinding his teeth against the metal tube of the water bottle. 

8:00 p.m. Time for play on the bed. I clean the top floors and blankets in his cage. At the end of playtime, I start his playlist on the iPod. 

9:10 p.m. Nimbus gets his last dose of medicine for today. He takes it relatively easy then is released onto the bed for playtime. Chris creates a game of Find the Cheerio with cups and small boxes while I clean the bottom tray of the cage. I clear out all the bedding, droppings, etc. then clean the bottom with cage cleaner. After spreading out new bedding, I'm allowed to join in the fun with Nimbus. 

11:18 p.m. Nimbus gets to play one last time before lights out. 

Photo from memecenter.com

Day 1

11:15 a.m. Wake up after a restless night and check on Nimbus. He is still hidden underneath his wooden house and after some coaxing, he comes out and moves to his second level. He eats a little bit of Timothy hay and snuggles with stuffed bunny. He keeps scratching at his eyes, which are still wet from some type of ointment used at the vet. His fur is matted, and his eyes look irritated. He rubs his face against his lava rock ledge, which has become a chew toy, in order to scratch himself. Completely distraught, I put some chinchilla dust in my hand, which he delightedly rolls against. Then, I place a little handful on his fleece mat. It is just enough for his face, and he draws his paw close to his body. However, he never drank any water.

11:45 a.m. Left Nimbus a soft music playlist going to keep him company and to keep him calm.

2:22 p.m. Call my regular vet to schedule an appointment to remove the stitches 10 days from now. They say I might have to leave him in order for them to observe him for negative effects of the anthesia. "So, you'll need to bring in his cage," the receptionist says. "Um," I reply, "his cage is 4 feet tall! Um, but he has a carrier!" 

2:30 p.m. Check on Nimbus. He takes a few fingertips of water from me but refuses his bottle. Eyes are still irritated. He eats a few Oxbow pellets from his radish bowl. Goes back into the wooden house soon after. 

2:45 p.m. Update the playlist so he'd have music when I step out of the house. Sadly, and I hate to do this, but I can't wait on these particular errands, like depositing money into my bank account after that huge vet bill last night. 

3:00 p.m. Call REACH to ask Dr. Gibson questions concerning Nimbus's lack of drinking. She does not come in for her shift until the 5 p.m. tonight. The vet on staff says Nimbus will be able to wait until then. Very unsure whether that doctor knows what he is talking about.... Also, have questions about Nimbus's medication, so I need to chat with Gibson anyway. 

3:35 p.m. Left the house to run my errands. 

4:45 p.m. Chris returns home to care for Nimbus. He sends me startling text messages that Nimbus is looking quite unwell and still won't drink water. His eyes look worse. 

5:08 p.m. I am finally able to leave the Verizon store. Really? I just want to get home to my chinchilla, people. At least they were very nice and apologetic. 

5:10 p.m. Get in touch with Dr. Gibson. After listening to my description of Nimbus's situation, she thinks it is best to bring him back to REACH. However, I cannot afford a second office visit. Instead, we will try some home methods to get him going again. 

5:25 p.m. Arrive at Harold's Supermarket. Purchase raisins, apples and baby food. 

5:50 p.m. Arrive home. Cut up apples as a source for water for Nimbus. By the time I get home, his eyes are looking significantly better. We try giving him apples. He takes one nibble and then refuses. Clearly, he's not an apple kind of chinchilla. Then, we have to give him his medication. After a long struggle, Chris is able to get the dose in his mouth in one go. He goes back in his cage with the most miserable look on his face, and I burst into tears. For the thousandth time, I wish animals could talk, and I hope that they can understand just how much I don't want to do these painful things to them. But, I have to.

7:43 p.m. Try to feed him baby food (carrot) mixed with water with a small spoon, and he isn't interested in the slightest. Left the bowl and a small cup of water in his cage. Still not drinking. He is being active, however, hobbling around his cage.

9:00 p.m. Let Nimbus play on my bed. I know he's not supposed to be out of his cage. But, eyes are bright. Ears are alert. He bounces on the fuzzy blanket and among the pillows. He establishes his Timothy hay bungalow as his safety place. He chewed the top off long ago so uses the open roof to look out for danger. I will not try to pick him up when he's in the bungalow to establish trust.

9:12 p.m. At the end of play time, try to get water down his throat with eye dropper. When he becomes too excited, I hold him until he calms down. Only get a little water in, but it's better than nothing. Will try again in an hour. This time, we'll go with water first then reward with play time on the bed. Take bowl of baby food out of cage.

10:08 p.m. OMG OMG HE'S DRINKING!!! HE'S DRINKING WATER!!! HE'S FINALLY DRINKING WATER!! YES, YES, YES!!!!

11:00 p.m. One final round around before bedtime. Significant improvement in attitude, energy and overall well being. Once returned to cage, Nimbus begins drinking.

Nimbus was not a fan of baby food.

The 1:30 a.m. Car Ride

Last night, I burst into quiet tears when I saw that Nimbus wasn't putting weight on his right front paw. Instead, it was tucked deep into his furry chest. He wouldn't come out of his cage or even his wooden house...where he never goes in the first place. Immediately, I called REACH, the region's 24/7 emergency animal hospital.

As we drove through the foggy and rainy highways to Asheville, I tried to imagine every situation possible of how he could have injured himself. I knew his foot was broken or sprained or something had happened with a ligament. The roads were disgusting and dangerous. Chris tried to round each curve as gentle as possible in the slippery, wet conditions. Meanwhile, Nimbus scrabbled and tried to chew his way through the carrier. He could have done it, too. Nimbus's carrier is also Sparta's. It's a cat carrier made of tough cloth and rubber mesh. It would take Nimbus 10 minutes or so to figure out how to escape. I tried every way of shushing him, even sticking my hand in the carrier. He let me stroke him for about a minute. Then, he realized how my hand was in the carrier with him. Biting and kicking, he tried to shove my hand out of the way to freedom.

Finally, we arrived at the emergency vet at 2 in the morning. REACH is a beautiful facility located just off I-40. There are two waiting rooms, one for dogs and one for cats. We choose the cat waiting area since there were two dogs and their owners waiting for help. I filled out all the paperwork. And then, we waited as Nimbus scrabbled, chewed, barked and tried to dig his way out of the carrier. He did manage to succeed in pulling apart a few of the rubber strands. Holding my heavy winter coat over the carrier to protect him from the fluorescent lights, I hoped to comfort him. However, with my scratchy, nearly nonexistent voice from the respiratory infection, I must have sounded like an alien frog to him. Finally, we were called back.

I'm not sure why the nurse assistant brought out a scale for a cat, but she did. She blamed the scale for not reading the weight of Nimbus and malfunctioning, but I'm beginning to think that the scale didn't even pick up Nimbus's presence at all. He's supposed to weigh about a pound, but it's all fluff. Finally, she brought in a much more appropriate scale, jotted it down along with his injury details and left for the vet. Nimbus, eyes bright and ears alert, kept hopping on the examination table then back into the carrier as he made short adventures to explore this world. It was the last time I saw him as my beautiful, happy, perky Nimbus.

Dr. Gibson was our vet, and she immediately went for Nimbus to examine his foot. I prayed that she'd have better luck than I and that we could just move along with a diagnose. No such luck. As she wrestled with my chinchilla, I had to hold back tears and tell myself this was all for his benefit. He certainly didn't take it that way. Chirping. Barking. Biting. Struggling. A tiny painful squeak. It makes me sick to remember it. But, what else was she supposed to do? In the end, Nimbus escaped into the carrier, and Dr. Gibson announced that they needed to take an X-ray. To do so, anesthesia was needed. My heart jumped to my throat. To sign that paperwork and hover a pen over whether to agree to resuscitate Nimbus if necessary, I suddenly couldn't remember a more important decision in my lifetime. I checked Yes, and then wondered why. What type of traumatic stress would he go through in order to get him back from death? Wasn't all this pain enough? Was I so selfish that I couldn't let him go peacefully?

When they took my baby away, I collapsed against the cushioned bench with tears streaking my face. I hugged his bunny to my chest and prayed and prayed. Chris ushered me out into the waiting. By now it was 2:45 a.m. Chris kept making comments about their frog tank, the different magazines and if I wanted a cup of coffee before I just snapped at him. When I'm handling a crisis, I don't want anyone near me. If I'm in physical or emotional pain, you better give me a wide berth because I'll take your head off. If I ever have a child (which isn't in my life plan at the moment), God help the father if he so much as shows up in the room.

At 3:15, Dr. Gibson returned and her diagnose left me speechless. The X-rays showed no broken bones. It was a healthy chinchilla skeleton, the scariest image I've come across. First, there's a standard rodent skeleton but with the outline of his large velvety ears and his large teeth. I was terrified!

"So, he has a large laceration on his bicep that goes under and around his arm," said Dr. Gibson.

My jaw dropped. Chris didn't say a word. Our minds with buzzing with how on earth could he have gotten an injury like that? I could only think that there must be a sharp edge in his cage because how could Sansa have gotten a claw under his upper arm, a body part that is usually tucked into the fur of his chest... I still can't figure it out, and it torments me. How am I supposed to keep it from happening again if I don't know what IT is??

Dr. Gibson stitched Nimbus up while Chris and I waited and waited and prayed and prayed. I just wanted my baby to wake up. I couldn't stand the thought of him under the spell of drugged sleep. When we saw him again, I rushed into the room. There was my little chinchilla with large wet circles around his eyes and a fat cast on his right arm. I've never seen such a miserable creature. My heart broke at his pain and his misery. But, it only got worse. Nimbus is required to ingest medication twice a day. There is the antibacterial liquid every 12 hours but then there's the pain medication every 24 hours. Whether or not this stuff is good for his fragile digestive system, I can't tell you. I just had to trust them, and there's a big part of me that doesn't. It's not because they're bad vets or because it's a horrible facility. On the contrary, it is a beautiful place, and everyone we encountered was extremely helpful. I just don't trust my baby with anyone else but me. To watch this male assistant shove two syringes of medication into Nimbus's mouth while I held him down left me feeling faint. By the time I received the massive bill at the reception desk, my hands were shaking, and I could feel the blood rushing into my head. My feet kept swaying my body back and forth in impatience to get out the door and into the cool air. $436 ...approximately. For a jobless college graduate, I was at a loss for words. What am I supposed to do? What if he has to go back?? What if it gets worse? Chris and I are supposed to keep constant watch to keep him from pulling out his stitches (that cast lasted about 45 seconds before he sent it flying). How can we keep track of that or make sure he doesn't hurt himself? We walked out the door in silence at 4 a.m.

The little chinchilla cast that lasted 45 seconds

The car ride home was an extremely quiet one. Chris battled the weather again. I tried my best to stay awake, but I kept nodding off with my head suddenly going slack to the left or right of the headrest, pulling me back awake. Still, I kept my hand in Nimbus's carrier. This time, he didn't care about getting out. He huddled against the far corner in fear and pain. I made sure the tips of my fingers were touching a paw or whiskers the whole ride home. I wanted him to know that I loved him and that I wasn't going anywhere. I never wanted any of this to happen. I had to put him through so much pain to heal him.

At about 5:30 a.m., I finally laid my head on my pillow. We moved Nimbus's cage into my bedroom against the wall where he is safe and secure. Chris went over the cage inch by inch and found nothing to cause such a cut. We removed the lava rock ledges, added extra chew toys, took down his hammock and lowered a wooden ledge to keep him as comfortable as possible as well as removing any strenuous activity. But, here's the kicker: For the next 10 days, my baby Nimbus - who loves everything about being a chinchilla from his dust bath to "wall surfing" to scampering across the couch - is not allowed outside of his cage or to take a dust bath. He must then go back to the vet, go under anesthesia again and get the stitches removed. How do you explain to an animal that you aren't being cruel or unfair or hateful toward them when you can't give them anything that might make them feel a little bit better because it could hurt them?? All these posts I've written about cage boredom and the importance of setting aside 1-2 hours a night of playtime for your chinchilla and I can't give that to my own. It breaks my heart to know that his is just as broken. I'm at a complete loss. If you could just see him... his sad little face... I'm so thankful he's still alive, but I don't know how to get through this without either him getting hurt or him never trusting me again. As he gets his energy back, it's only going to get much worse.

Nimbus's pain meds

Nimbus's BFF is a Cat

Sparta is my beloved kitty of 7 years. My mother found him under a car at a gas station on a rainy night and brought him home. He was too cute and too sweet and too loving to be given away or taken to a rescue, so he became part of the family (he's named after The Mean Kitty). During my sophomore year of college, I took him as my own cat, and we've been inseparable ever since. He's the most important living being on the planet to me.

Sparta in his favorite location: my lap

Since my sophomore year, life hasn't been easy for Sparta. He's moved from Mount Holly to Cullowhee to Raleigh to Greensboro to Raleigh (without me) to Cullowhee to Sylva since August 2010. It's caused him some separation anxiety and stress concerns, as one could imagine. He's never quite sure if rearranging the house is packing for good and if bringing out the suitcase is moving or traveling. We've now lived in the same house for nearly two years, and he's developed a routine and easy lifestyle. However, I've applied to some jobs in New York - one that would require me to start by the end of this month - and I'm hoping he doesn't revert back to old habits of worrying whether I'm going to come home at night or if I've left for a long while. I also hope I can find a house where he'll be comfortable. Over the years, I've learned Sparta's requirements for a home:

1. Large windows so he can watch the birds and be aware of any other cat or dog threatening his kingdom
2. A large open space to run from one side of the house to other in either a burst of energy or while playing catch with his toys
3. At least one window that faces the sun so he can bask in the morning sunbeams (like he's doing right now)
4. A screened-in porch (I've never lived in a home with a screened-in porch, but it's a feature I've always wanted, and I know he'll love. He wants to be an outdoor cat, but he's not very street smart! He wouldn't last an hour on his own.)

Sparta watching his favorite movie "The Mousehole Cat"

Sparta has also seen a lot of pets come and go. In the Greensboro home, he lived with a chocolate Lab and a cat named Mac. He didn't mind the Lab, but he and Mac didn't get along. He went to live with my former boyfriend without me for two months. He and I were both miserable without each other. He also lived with Nutmeg the hamster and Binx the cat, who came into my life last November and left it in July. Binx and Sparta never got along, but they eventually tolerated each other enough to where it was a safe environment for both. However, it could be very stressful at times.

When Nimbus came into the picture, I wondered what Sparta's reaction would be. At first, he was quite curious, as any cat would be. But then, he didn't really show much interest in Nimbus. He's always been quite a calm cat and has never hunted for his food. Sparta's go-to meal is human food, a long and hard habit to break him out of. Right now, he's allowed five different types of human food: a small amount of tuna when I have it for lunch, a few laps of milk from my cereal (because it's not healthy for anymore than that for kitties), small pieces of steak and slices of chicken or turkey. To me, it's important for Sparta to get real meat like steak, chicken and turkey. Cats' teeth are made for meat, not the crunchy, hard kernels we give them in cat food. Neither is canned food constantly the best option either because the slick meat and gravy can become caught in their teeth causing plaque to build up and gingivitis. Before he was trained, Sparta would make off with whole chicken legs, popcorn, potato chips, anything on your plate. He was a little devil, but thankfully, his tastes never really were inclined toward moving critters.

Sparta and Nimbus

To allow Nimbus playtime, both the cats were corralled into separate bedrooms for Nimbus's safety. I was never fond of the practice, though, because it meant that the longer Nimbus played, the longer the cats had to sit in their bedrooms. Already, Sparta sat in his bedroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays while I was at school. Binx sat in his bedroom on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They still didn't get along well enough for me to trust them together alone. To come home and have to lock them up yet again for Nimbus's sake always made me cringe and feel guilty. Since Sparta was so calm, I decided to try letting them interact with one another outside of the cage.

At first, Sparta wore his harness with his leash to become accustomed to the chinchilla's robust bursts of streaking down the hallway, his bouncy steps and his close encounters by tickling Sparta's face with his long whiskers. Sparta, of course, would lunge when Nimbus scampered away from him, but it didn't take long for them to grow used to each other. His reaction was more "What on earth is that thing??" rather than "Let's cook it for dinner!" In fact, I shouldn't have been worried about Sparta hurting Nimbus. It was actually the other way around!!

Nimbus and Sparta plotting how to conquer the world!

Chinchillas can be quite fierce and nasty when they are protecting their territory. Since Nimbus had never encountered Sparta during playtime, he felt that the living room was his and no one else's. Not even mine! That first interaction was led by Nimbus, who went after Sparta, testing him with nips to the tail and bluffs by dashing up to Sparta in order to scare him. It was quite hilarious, and Sparta received the message clearly: Nimbus is the boss!

Normally, I would never recommend introducing your cat and small mammal together. Sparta certainly never had access to Nutmeg the hamster unless she was in her exercise ball. In this special case, I felt Sparta was calm and even "chicken" enough to allow tolerance to form with this little puffball of power. And, it did very well. Instead, Sparta would rather play with catnip or his toys. On occasion, Sparta will have too much energy and need to be locked up again. Not because he's trying to hurt Nimbus by biting or scratching but because he's chasing the chinchilla. Every few weeks, I'll give a glance at them together and see Sparta, paw hovering over Nimbus' head, ready to bop him between the ears! It's a hilarious little game, but one we don't allow to go any further. Sometimes, they will play a gentle game of tag. Sparta will run after Nimbus, then Nimbus will run after Sparta. It's quite entertaining.

For me, it couldn't have been more of a relief, and I've found videos of other chinchilla owners who have tried the same experiment.This first video is of two chinchillas and what appears to be a Maine Coon.

This video shows a Siamese with his chinchilla buddy. I completely agree with the statement made by the owner in the description: "PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ALWAYS SUPERVISED AND DO NOT ATTEMPT UNLESS YOU ARE COMPLETELY CONFIDENT THAT YOUR CAT WILL NOT ATTACK."

If you are thinking about introducing your cat to your furry friend, I suggest taking into consideration your cat's temperament. While a chinchilla can be harmful to the cat because of its sharp teeth, the cat's behavior needs to be considered more so because of the claws, the teeth and the size. You should also begin with a controlled environment like using a harness to restrain the cat to gauge his or her reaction.

In my next post, I'll tell you what happens when a cat and chinchilla don't get along.

My perfect Sparta, who does not live up to his name!

The Number 1 Rule is Hard to Follow

Chinchillas are mischevious, naughty and cunning.

And, Nimbus is the king of mischievousness, naughtiness, craftiness and wiliness. He is the child of a demon.

The known story of Nimbus's life began at a breeder's. Where he was born or how he ended up at the breeder is anyone's guess. At this breeder's, he served as a stud chinchilla, mating and mating and mating to create new litters of chinchilla pets and possibly (who knows?)... chinchilla coats! He had little interaction with any one chinchilla or people. He arrived at the rescue because the breeder's mom became ill. Unable to to even see to his chins, the breeder took them to rescues.

With this in mind, I tried to make Nimbus's transition to my home as easy as possibly... Well, note that I said tried. I was overly excited, at the same time, about this new, fluffy critter in my house. I probably overwhelmed him more than I provided a smooth transition.

Due to his background, Nimbus is not a people chinchilla. Now, most chinchillas aren't the cuddly, sweet pets we want them to be. It's just not in their nature. However, you can "tame" and "bond" with your chinchilla. One of the best suggestions I've read in order to bond is to hold your chinchilla for five consequent minutes once a day. I've tried to do this with Nimbus, but he's so fidgety that I feel like I'm squeezing him more than I'm bonding with him. Still, chinchillas will grow to learn their names and their owners in given time. Nimbus knows my voice, that when I say "Nimbus" I am speaking to him and what tone I use for disciplining.

Nimbus's first few weeks were a disaster. He chewed everything! Running after him was a constant chore and trying to get him in his cage usually ended with me out of the breath and a bruise or two on my knee from tripping over myself. Chinchillas are FAST! I had no clue what I was in for. Book covers, DVD cases, the wallpaper on my living room wall, the ethernet cable, pens, papers, iPad case, charger cords... you name it, he chewed it. His new favorite snack is my carpet. He'll graze on the stuff like a cow! I have two somewhat noticeable bald patches on my living room floor!

There's a point during the evening and nighttime play hours where you reach a breaking point, especially on a bad day.

The number one rule is "Never yell at your chinchilla." Forever Feisty Chinchilla Rescue Inc. is not only a beautiful organization but also boosts a wonderful, very informative website. The bulk of my research came from their webpages. A very helpful page is Emotional Health & Behavior. I learned more about a chinchilla here than any other website, and why not? The people in charge of this rescue have come in contact with hundreds of chinchillas since the inception of their rescue. They know how to keep them happy, how to keep them well and active and how to interact with all the different personalities present in the chinchilla species. The webpage reads, "Yes, chins are very sensitive, caring and emotional little critters. They are very curious and love to interact with their friends whether human or another chin." Thus, their number one rule is not to yell. Here comes in one of my biggest flaws: little to no patience!

One of the biggest mistakes a first time chin guardian makes is lack of patience! Showing your chin patience, having respect for how he lives and trying to see life the way he does will be one of the greatest things you can do for him. There are no words to describe how wonderful a trusting, loving relationship can be with your chinchilla. They are so sweet, affectionate, energetic and just plain silly at times. As much as we love and adore chinchillas, we are very honest to acknowledge that they are not for everyone. - Forever Feisty Chinchilla Rescue Inc.

They continue to say that yelling at a chinchilla, particularly when he's "barricaded" himself in a tight spot or is showing you aggression is only going to end in a destroyed, untrustworthy relationship for both you and him. But, one day, I just snapped.

* * * *

Back in August, I was finishing my last semester as a college undergraduate. It was a stressful time. I was caring for three pets and my two-bedroom house by myself while also attending classes and going to work. It was the first time I had ever been truly on my own, always living with roommates or my family in the past. I left a nasty relationship in April, and now, I had undergone a summer of emotional exhaustion and some physical illness as well.  By the start of classes, I was already exhausted and dead on my feet. 

Every Tuesday, I attended Advanced Creative Writing class from 6 to 9 p.m. I loved the class (it was taught by a quite popular Southern Lit author), but by the time I got home, Nimbus was bouncing and doing flips in his cage. It was exercise time, and he doesn't care if I'm sick, tired, have 2 hours of homework/work to finish or if I've eaten dinner. Of course not! He's an animal, and he needs to be cared for, even if it's at a discomfort to me. So, I let him run free and tried to relax at the same time. That rarely happens anyway, but he's especially naughty and energetic when he hasn't had 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8 p.m. play times. 

Playing on the cat tree

Off he went!! It was one of those nights where "No!" and even approaching him weren't enough to deter him from chewing something he shouldn't. Instead, he'd hold his ground and provide the standard sign of an angry, possessive chin: tail swishing like a pissed off cat and a very distinctive noise that sounds like chinchilla swear words. It's not a bark or a grunt like if he's fighting with another chin. Nor is it the rusty, rasping cluck of a stressed/defensive chinchilla. It's a grunting, muttering sound. It means, "I want what I want, and if you take it away, I'm going to #@!* *&%!! #$@%&."

Exhausted and at my breaking point, I began a complete tirade, yelling at this furry critter bounding around the living room. 

"Nimbus!! Why?!?! WHY?!?! Why do you destroy my house? Why? It's been 6 months that you've been here. Six months! And, I've tried and tried and tried to bond with you. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've been nice to you, and I've bought you all these toys and everything. Yes, all of these toys. I keep spending money that I don't have so that you can have toys, great toys! But, no, you want to eat the walls and the books and the DVDs and the cords. Why, Nimbus? Why? What am I doing wrong? What have I ever done to you that you don't like me? Do you hate me? I've brought you into my home, which you've completely wrecked, and given you everything you could possibly want. I don't understand why you can't just stop chewing everything!!!!!!! Nimbus, why?? I just want to sit here and stare at a wall, but you keep eating everything. Fine! Just eat it! Just... I don't even care anymore. I don't know why I even bother!"

Obviously, there was more going on in my life than what started my outburst, because I then sat on the floor and started sobbing. It was just a bad night. And because of it, my relationship with Nimbus suffered. He'd didn't trust me for a few nights after that, keeping his distance and causing more mischief.

Yes, we're all going to have bad nights. Definitely more than one. Still, if you have too many bad nights without any patience, you're relationship with your pet is eventually going to be unrepairable. And then, every night will be a bad night. To help relief the stress and make the bond closer, try sitting on the floor while the chinchilla is running around. You can still watch TV or work on your laptop while keeping an eye on him, but you'll be at his level. He'll have access to you to sniff or run over you and check out what you're doing. Chinchillas are extremely inquisitive creatures and want to know the world around them, which is why chewing is a big factor. Chinchillas learn about their world through their whiskers and their teeth. When your pet nibbles on your finger, it's not because he wants to know what sauce goes with you best for dinner. He's reassuring himself that you are his owner. It's how he connects with you and nearly every object he comes into contact with. Also, pick up the house. Keep from getting up to grab a pen or other dangerous object from him that shouldn't be on the floor to begin with. Provide blockades like pillows and blankets stuffed in corners (obstacles that won't become chew toys) to keep him out of places that he doesn't belong. In this house, there are sneakers stuffed between the gap of the floor and the bottom of the oven. There is also a large construction involving three pillows, a blanket, a bag of bedding and a box to keep Nimbus from behind the couch. If it makes the house look cluttered, then you can always put these items away from friends and family members come over. The important factors are your chinchilla's safety and your positive relationship with him. It's not worth giving away your pet or suffering through a decade of miserable years just because the original plan isn't working. Try something new.  Recently, we rearranged the living room where Nimbus lives and plays (since we don't have a spare room for him to solely have). This has improved our relationship dramatically. Now, the cat toys have a box so he'll not chewing holes in the fuzzy mice's faces. There's more room for him to run around and uncluttered space for us to keep an eye on him. 

Make a goal whether it be to become closer with your chinchilla or for him to chew less household items. Then, make a plan and stick to it. If you need any ideas, post a comment or send me a message!! Nimbus and I are happy to help!

Nimbus (right) and a chinchilla birthday card!

Baby's First Day

The moment I saw Nimbus, known as Jack at the time, I absolutely fell in love.

On the 2-hour ride to Georgia, my former boyfriend and I carried out heated argument after heated argument. We weren't doing so great those days, and after adopting Nimbus, our relationship went straight downhill for multiple reasons. We broke up 3 months later. During the drive, I kept flip-flopping back and forth about whether to adopt a chinchilla. My head was filled with worry. What if I killed it right off the bat? What if it just up and died like my guinea pig Nibbles? What if I hated owning a chinchilla? I couldn't just send him back to the rescue. That would be irresponsible and mean to this poor chinchilla being carted back and forth from the rescue to his new home to back to the rescue. 

But all those worries disappeared when I saw this little puffball jumping and banging in this old birdcage. His twitching nose. His bristly tail. Those big eyes. Little rounded ears. I was sold, and when the woman asked me if I wanted to hold him, my heart started racing. It was a miracle I didn't drop him. Fifteen minutes later, he was zipped into my cat carrier and away we went. 

Within the first 10 minutes of owning him, I made the biggest mistake since we've been together.  Back home, we didn't have any chinchilla supplies. Instead, we wanted to make sure that yes, indeed we were adopting a chinchilla and wanted to have him with us when we picked out the cage. Choosing a chinchilla cage can be difficult because you need to look at several factors: 

1. Is the cage material safe if the chinchilla decides to chew it? 

2. Is the cage material chew proof? 

3. Is the bar spacing small enough that he won't get his paws stuck when he's jumping around the cage?

4. Is the cage sturdy enough to handle a bouncy chinchilla?

5. And, of course, is it big enough?

So, to purchase our new friend's supplies and food we went to the local Petsmart. Horrible, horrible idea!!!! It was Saturday. It was crowded. It was a tiny store. It was dog training day. Mass hysteria!!! 

Finding the cage was the most difficult part. The food, the bowls, the toys, I already knew what I needed and what I wanted, but because I wanted to keep my boyfriend involved in the life of Nimbus, the process was dragged out in picking out items. Then, there was the cage. As Nimbus sat in the cat carrier in the bottom of the cart with the bright fluorescent lights, barking dogs and screaming children, my boyfriend battled with the different cages by pulling them out of their boxes to make sure they were the right size. We settled on the Chinchilla Starter, which comes with the cage, a sample of food, a wooden house and some other goodies that I believe we threw out because they weren't actually chinchilla friendly. What I liked were the different levels, all of which were made of safe wood.

After that horrible experience, we took off home, and I watched Nimbus on my lap become more listless and angry. I actually thought he was going to die before we even walked in the house. He refused to sleep and kept walking around with dull eyes and laid back ears. These are not signs of a healthy or a happy chin. By the time we walked in the door, I wondered how much more time we had left with him. I set the carrier in the bathroom, and my boyfriend got to work on building the cage. When it was finished, I said, "It looks kind of small."

And, it did. When we placed Nimbus in the cage, his ears brushed the top of the cage when he sat on the top floor. He couldn't stand on his back feet. I placed his Chinny Buddy (unfortunately, I can't find a link for this) in the cage with him, which he stared at, and closed the door. At this time, the cats were released from their holding cells in separate bedrooms. They sniffed and sniffed at this new animal, and we reinforced the idea that this new creature was part of the family with the squirt bottle every time claws popped out. Then, we waited. 

A very angry Nimbus and his Chinny Buddy

In proper etiquette when bringing home a chinchilla, you should wait 3-4 days before opening the cage and letting him explore. I thought this was a horrible idea since they need daily exercise and playtime. In his cage, there was no way Nimbus could do that. Instead, he sulked and squished himself between the bottom of the wooden second floor and the top of his rounded woven grass bungalow (see right hand bottom corner below). He just sat there. I didn't see him sleep for days. In fact, it wasn't until I did some more research and draped a dark sheet over 3 walls of his enclosure that Nimbus finally felt secure in his surroundings. I highly recommend doing so.

The day before his new cage arrived

By the end of the second or third day, I couldn't take it anymore. He looked on the verge of dying. I couldn't tell what was wrong. It wasn't heat exhaustion. It wasn't intestinal blockage. It had to be plain, ole misery. I took a large square piece of Tupperware and filled it with Blue Cloud chinchilla dust. Holding the dust bath up to the cage door, I unhooked the latch and whispered to Nimbus. After a few minutes, he started to come out of the door. As soon as he realized what was in front of him, he dove into the dust bath and began flipping about.  I've never seen a creature so happy!! In fact, he even gave The Squeak!

The Squeak is the ultimate goal. You want to achieve The Squeak from your chin. It means they are the happiest they can be, and it is usually accompanied by popcorning. You'll know it when you see it, and it comes with a huge sense of accomplishment. It's not the little grunts of foraging and exploring but a high-pitched little squeak. It sounds similar to their sneezes.

After that bath, Nimbus's level of activity and interaction improved, mostly. But, there was still something missing, and it wasn't found until we bought the new cage! 

We've Now Arrived at the Chinchilla

We have explored the other popular small mammals as considerations for pets. Now, the chinchilla is left. If I ruled out all the other animals, you may think I chose the chinchilla because it's the easiest to care for and the least time consuming. You couldn't be more wrong. In fact, I probably choose the neediest one there is.

Pros - 

A chinchilla is an adorable, entertaining animal full of spunk, personality and energy. They have so much energy, in fact, that they can over exert themselves and have a hypoglycemic spell (low blood sugar). 

Chinchillas know their name and know their owners. Nimbus hates strangers, and for once, he'll run to his mommy (that's me) if there are strangers in the house until he grows used to their smell. Now, my friend Morgan...that's a different story and a different post. In time, chinchillas will learn to bond with their owners, but depending on the age, circumstances, treatment and personality of the chin, this can take longer that some owners have patience for. I, for one,  have had a very difficult time bonding with Nimbus because of his personality and his background. It's been an uphill battle, but I have seen positive improvement since February when I adopted him. 

Chinchillas are wonderfully clean animals. Their is no smell associated with them, not even their urine. They keep themselves well cleaned with dust baths and grooming using their saliva and agile little paws. 

After the start up costs, chinchillas are cheap. My regular purchases are bedding ($20 or less), Oxbow pellets (about $18) and Timothy hay ($12-16). Bedding lasts about 4 weeks. Hay lasts a little less than a month, and the pellets last ove a month and a half. Toys bought a pet stores (Make sure they're chinchilla friendly first. Just because it has a chinchilla on the package does not mean that the product is safe for them.) are usually between $2-10. And, they don't need replacement toys that often because it takes so long to chew them. Treats are in the same price range and should only be given sparingly, so they don't run out quickly either. 

Chinchillas don't need much personal attention. Now, attention is not the same thing as time. Chinchillas do need a lot of time spent watching them when they play and cleaning their cage. What I mean is that if you need to work and you're in the room providing supervision, your chinchilla can roam during their daily 2-3 hours of playtime without much interaction from you. Right now, I'm working on this post while Nimbus is scampering about the living room. Chinchillas don't want to play fetch. They don't want to chase a piece of string. The greatest gift you can give your chinchilla is his space to explore and play how he sees fit. Nimbus and I do interact on a daily basis during times of feeding/giving treats, giving chin rubs and playing with his bunny puppet. Otherwise, chinchillas are loners when it comes to their humans. However, they do prefer mates or buddies. Nimbus has stuffed animals made out of felt or that are played with under supervision. He doesn't enjoy the company of other chinchillas and based on my experiences with him, he would probably fight any new chinchilla I brought into the house. I'll talk more about chin mates in the cons. 

Nimbus and his chinny buddy

Quiet is the word with chinchillas. They don't require wheels, so there's no squeaking all night long. They play quietly so you're not disturbed at night. Typically, they don't make any chirps or yips themselves. If Nimbus is frightened and/or angry, you can bet he's going to let you know about it. If he's dreaming, he'll bark, but otherwise your chinchilla is a quieter than a mouse. 

Cons - 

Chinchillas are destructive!!! In the months that I've had him, Nimbus has chewed the spines of multiple books, eaten my baseboards, peeled wallpaper from the wall (still haven't figured out how he even managed that), took chunks out of the Wii remote jackets, fallen in the toilet, left droppings everywhere, chewed through a phone cord, chewed through an Internet cable, left holes in my iPad cover, has chewed the TV remote's buttons down the bone, etc. Those little teeth are razor sharp chisels, and they can cut/chew/knaw through anything. If you don't mind having some odd-looking household items and vacuuming droppings every day, then you'll be just fine with a chin. 

Speaking of messes, I cannot fully explain the horrors of the dust bath. Yes, watching them roll around in the dust like a fuzzball with a tail is the cutest experience in the world! There's no denying that. But, the overwhelming, lung-suffocating quality of the bath dust is deplorable. If you suffer from asthma, do not adopt a chinchilla!! You won't be able to handle the dust bath, which a chinchilla needs multiple times a week to stay clean and happy. The dust covers every surface, and it is difficult to wipe off. Falling off the chinchilla with every bounce, it can soon cover the whole house. It's indescribable. There's dust on the couch. There's dust coating my bookshelf, my DVD shelf, my countertops. If I don't put up the dishes, I can hear a grainy scratching noise when they rub together. The little grains of ground pumice can be difficult to vacuum and will smear when you sweep it up. The dust and the destruction are huge factors that you need to be aware of. I was not prepared for the dust! I find the dust worse than the damage, even thought I rent my home. I'd much rather repair the little places Nimbus has chewed than breathe in that dust! See below... adorable but crazy!

Chinchillas need space. They require large cages, and they require lots of room to play. Most owners allow their chinchillas to play in the bathroom because there are no objects like the bookshelves and remotes that Nimbus has destroyed. However, I own a small bathroom with only one cabinet and a few shelves. My toilet paper, paper towels and extra outdoor extension cords sit on the floor. Also, Sparta's litterbox is located in the bathroom. Nimbus thinks that the litterbox is a giant dust bath with harder dust. Yes, folks, he's rolling in cat pee and feces. No, Nimbus, it's definitely not a dust bath! 

Like I stated before, chinchillas come in pairs. They can become very lonely, even to the point where it affects their health. If you cannot afford or don't have the time for two chins, you should look at other pets or find a chinchilla that doesn't enjoy the company of his own kind. Keep in mind, a loner chinchilla could equal a grumpy chinchilla. I've encountered a few adoption agencies that will not allow you to adopt one of their chinchillas unless you adopt two. At the rescue I used, Nimbus was on his own. The other chinchillas came in pairs, and it was essential to adopt not only two chinchillas but the two that were already bonded together. I cannot imagine caring for two chinchillas. Nimbus can be frustrating and a lot of hard work at times, so I know with full certainty I could not handle another chin. That would require double the food, double the treats, double the time and double the cage size. Here's what happens when you put together two chinchillas that don't get along or compete with each other for attention:

These Chilean rodents are mischievous and intelligent. For the first few months, Nimbus would hide behind the couch and chew on the ethernet cord. And for the first few months, I tried every way I could think of to keep him from behind the couch - putting pillows against the back and the wall, stuffing pillows between the couch back and the wall on the side, using cardboard boxes, putting the 40 lb. cat litter container between the couch and the wall. After three nights, Nimbus would find a way around each of my blockades. In his curiosity, he learned how to get under the oven from multiple entrances, by pushing aside tennis shoes crammed under the gap between the pan drawer and the floor. He taught himself to squeeze his furry body under the washing machine. His determination to succeed can rival a hospital intern hoping to make the cut of research assistant for the leading surgeon. This little animal has no fear and knows no boundaries. And, on occasion, this can lead to trouble and frustration for the poor owner! 

Finally, these bundles of joy are delicate. It is easy for a chinchilla to get hurt or sick, and they require medical attention from a specialized vet. You need to make sure there's one in the area and that you're willing to pay the higher vet bills for seeing a specialist. You need to educate yourself on chinchilla health and medicine. Are your other pets cable of hurting the chinchilla? Are your children old enough to understand how delicate their bones are? Can you make sure that they can't poison themselves, etc? 

It's a lot to consider, and some days I wonder if Nimbus is worth it. But, then he swipes his nose with a little paw or pulls his whiskers to clean them or sits on my lap for a few minutes and watches TV with me. And, I know that he's worth every penny and I couldn't imagine life without him anymore.

"Whisker Cleaning Time"

Chinchillas vs. Hedgehogs and Ferrets

Now, I've always wanted a ferret, but there are two major problems with ferrets: 1) the smell and 2) the destruction. My boyfriend at the time put his foot down when it came to a ferret. He did not want to deal with the smell, which is a musky odor like a weasel. In order to keep that smell under control, cleaning the cage is multiple-times-a-week chore... not something we had time for - him with a full-time job and me with a full load of college courses and a part-time job.

I was concerned about point two, which is the destruction a ferret can wreak, especially in our rental home. Ferret curiosity is like no other. Cats are less curious than these little creatures. And because of their curiosity, limber body types and little claws, ferrets are sure to cause some damage. If I had to guess, looking around my house right now, I'd say that I'd have fewer snow globes, constantly dismantled shelves of books, stolen items from the key/wallet/iPod/miscellaneous, and a broken-into candy jar. They steal, they sneak, and they know they're good at it. As entertaining as a ferret would be - and I do plan to own one in the future - right now was not a good time to adopt "Pippin" and "Merry."

Furthermore, the time needed for a ferret to be happy and healthy requires multiple hours outside of his cage. They can be expensive because they need multiple toys to keep them entertained, though if they're anything like Nimbus, it doesn't matter how many toys you buy. They'll still end up playing with objects they shouldn't. Finally, I've held a ferret before, and they are wonderful critters. However, if you're not a fan of snakes, I wouldn't suggest a ferret. They're agile bodies slip and slide, which reminded me of the green snake I owned growing up.

All of the aspects I just mentioned sound like ferrets are horrible pets. Not the case. It just wasn't the right choice for me. Ferrets have vibrant personalities, are individualistic, will provide much entertainment, recognize their owners and have a lot of fun all-around. Just make sure you have the time to care for them.

If you'd like to see what I'm talking about with a ferret's sneakiness, check out this video below. I particularly love the polecat featured in the clip running off with a fish and the ferret who found his owner's bra!

 
Hedgehogs:
Pros -
Keep the cage clean, and hedgehogs will smell less than ferrets, although they do have an aroma. They, too, have distinct personalities, which means that your pet is your pet. Their love for swimming is entertaining and provides a different aspect to other types of small mammals. They live for seven years, which was the length of lifespan I was longing for.

Hedgehogs do not need buddies or mates, which is a plus when you're bringing in an animal you've never cared for previously. Nothing is worse than losing two animals instead of one if something goes wrong... or having to find homes for two animals because your inability to care for them is harming the animals.

During the evening/night, you'll find a very active pet on your hands. They won't sit on your lap, but they will provide entertainment and interaction, according to Pet Info Packets.

Cons -
I wanted a new friend that I could hold without being injured. Obviously, a hedgehog does not accommodate that desire. Yes, they're prickly little critters, and that is something to be aware of, especially if you have children. Those spikes also posed a danger to my cats. They'd learn the lesson, but at what cost? Their safety was more important.

Due to their type of excrement, an everyday chore is cleaning their large exercise wheel. Along with the cage, this can add up to a lot of time not spent with the animal but with chores. Yes, all pets come with chores. My cat Sparta needs a clean litter box, fresh water and food. What he also needs it playtime and a snugly lap. He doesn't need baths, walks in the rain, trips to a specially trained vet or a cleaned cage. You need to research what is the ratio between chores to playtime, if that fits into your schedule and if that's time you're willing to give up in order to own a hedgehog, ferret, rabbit, etc.

Finally, while my home is able to accommodate a hedgehog's desired temperatures during the spring, summer and early fall, I am not able to keep the house between 74-76 degrees F. I just graduated from college and have yet to find a job, which means no income for me. Aside from rent, my heating bill is the top expense in my household. However, unlike rent and the Internet payments, I can control what my heating bill amounts to. This means that on average my house is between 52-59 degrees each day during December, January, February, March and into April as I live in the Appalachian Mountains. This is the PERFECT temperature for a chinchilla as they are native to the Andes Mountains in South America. According to Pet Info Packets, a hedgehog would freeze to death. Meanwhile, my roommate and I bunker down with lots of coats. If it's a sunny day, our home is in the perfect location to bask in the sunlight. On cloudy days, we huddle together under blankets.

From lovedogbook.com

Chinchillas vs. Rabbits & Guinea Pigs

First off, let me say Merry Christmas Eve! I'm particularly excited this year because it's my first Christmas with Nimbus! We've had a very interesting few weeks, me changing him around the Christmas tree and him nibbling on presents and ornaments. Since I'll be traveling tomorrow, we're present-opening today, and I cannot wait to see Nimbus's reaction to the new treats I picked out for him. Ho, ho, ho!

A chinchilla ornament from cafepress.com

Last time, we were discussing why a chinchilla. As I was exploring my options for a new pet, I decided another hamster wasn't the way to go. Now, let's look at rabbits and guinea pigs.

Rabbits:
I always felt I had a special connection with rabbits. As a very young child, I loved to read. Even as a toddler, I sat and looked at books. One of those little books had large pictures of different rabbit breeds. I forced my mom through whines and mumbles in my inability to form words yet to read and reread the bunny book. And one day, I looked at a page, pointed my chubby finger at a rabbit and loudly said, "DUTCH!" And sure enough, I was pointing to the black and white Dutch rabbit.
Pros -
Rabbits come in all shapes, sizes, colors and temperaments. You can adopt a breed, color or size that fits your lifestyle and your personality. According to rabbitbreeds.org, "the most low maintenance rabbit breeds which weighing no more than 6 1/2 pounds fully grown, are: Mini Rex, Holland Lop, Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, Mini Lop, Mini Satin, Netherlands Dwarf, and Polish." When I was young, my mother kept bunnies. She loved their soft ears and fluffy tails. And, she's right. Bunnies are extremely adorable! I enjoy their hefty size, as I prefer larger animals. At the end of the day, a hamster is too easily squish-able.
Rabbits can also be very entertaining. There are a variety of toys available for them that they can toss, nibble and burrow in for their enjoyment. They can become quite bored in their cages so it's important to stimulate them with activity, like with hamsters, and make sure they have plenty of time out of the cage. To some, this may be a con. If you're someone with little time on your hands due to a hectic schedule, a rabbit isn't for you. Because small mammals live in cages, people with little time, particularly in the evenings, shouldn't own these animals. Cats and dogs need time with their masters, of course, but cats can easily fend for themselves and dogs can be let out to play if there's a fenced backyard on extremely busy days. Rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters and so forth must wait and watch in their cages where they've been boxed in all day to see if their owner will have time for them or not. I make sure to have the time. If I walk in the door after 9:30 p.m. after my long day of college classes, you can bet I'm going to stay up for an hour or even two to make sure Nimbus gets attention and play time and let Sparta know he's loved.
According to exoticpets.about, rabbits can live for over five years. This is definitely a plus for me since I wanted a small pet with a longer life expectancy. If I had adopted a rabbit, Mr. Bunny and I would have had several years of happiness together.
Rabbits, like hamsters, can also be clicker trained. This is important for mental stimulation and for the owner's enjoyment with their pet. It creates a bond, in a way.
Cons -
Rabbits are messy. Now, let me set the record straight... chinchillas are messy!!! If I'm not vigilant, my house can become an utter wreck due to Nimbus's droppings, hay and toys. However, there is one amazing aspect of why a chinchilla trumps a rabbit: no smell. The smell of rabbit urine is an overpowering aroma of stench! As explained by critters360, it's also difficult to clean. While your bunny can be trained to use a litter box, those measures only go so far. My cat Sparta uses his litter box diligently, but that doesn't mean that if I don't clean it on a regular basis that it won't stink up the whole house. And, if Sparta's having a stomach problem, as soon as he walks out of the box, you'd think the lions from the zoo just waltzed out of there. Plus, rabbits will chew, tear up carpet and could potentially do some significant damage to your home. That's a huge factor if you're home is a rental...!
There are some diseases that rabbits can transfer to other pets, and my number 1 thought process always rests on the safety of my other pets. At the time, it was Binx and Sparta. Now, it's just Sparta, so I always think of what is best for him. Currently, a little female stray cat is staying in my home during the cold nights and intermittently throughout the day. However, she wasn't allowed near Sparta or to drink/eat before or after him until she was tested for feline leukemia and given a rabies vaccination. If you go in blindsided when picking out a new pet, the pets you already own may experience just as much pain as you do when adjusting to your new playmate. You have to look at all three sides of the issue. How will I adjust to my new pet? How will my current pets react to a new animal in the house? How will the new pet reaction to me and my pets? If one of those questions raises a red flag during your research, you need to reconsider how important it is for a new pet... or look at other options to keep everybody separated and happy. In addition, when looking at rabbits, you may have to adopt two because they love company and can become very lonely without a partner in crime.
My biggest problem with rabbits - and this is going to seem silly - is that they never recognize their owner as their owner. They don't learn their name. They think that any human being is just a human being. Now, looking through the first page of a Google search, there seems to be a discussion of whether or not that's true. For me, I didn't want to take the chance, and with all the other factors, a rabbit and I just aren't cut out for each other - at least, not in this time of my life.

A Black Dutch
From dutch-rabbit.co.uk

Guinea pigs:
I owned a guinea pig when I was young. His name was Nibbles, and he had soft shades of brown fur and an adorable squeak. However, it was a tragic experience when 8 days after bringing him home, he died in my arms for some unexplainable reason. I was devastated.
At the time of picking out the new addition to the family, my former boyfriend's opinion was still at play. We had bought Nutmeg together, and we would buy this new pet together. So, when he said he didn't want a guinea pig, I went along with it. While these adorable critters are fun to watch, they're also extremely skittish. They can be quite noisy, and it's important to own more than one because they, too, get lonely. One new pet was all we could handle at the time.
 The two videos below show two different opinions on guinea pig care along with their pros and cons. The second video sounds like a teenage girl is narrating, however, she sounds like she's more informed about guinea pig care. The first video shows a woman handling a guinea pig on her lap, which is a rarity. She clearly has the time in order to work with her animals as her occupation is interacting with the animals on her farm. She gives a more fantastical reality of guinea pig ownership.

A different view about guinea pigs and how they interact with their people from the younger girl. She specifically points out their dietary and habitat needs. The video also shows a more fitting home for the little pets instead of the startled herd careening around a very sparse cage in the first flick.