Chinchilla Coat Characteristics

According to QuestHavenPets.com, the chinchilla is a type of rodent that originated in the Andes Mountains of South America. Known for their energetic and curious nature, chinchillas have become popular domesticated pets. Widely known for its plush coat, chinchilla fur has become widely popular in the fur trade. To ensure the chinchilla's coat maintains its natural qualities, specific care needs to be followed. From its appearance to its texture, a chinchilla's coat has several distinct characteristics.

  1. Appearance

    • According to DogBreedInfo.com, the chinchilla's coat should normally look soft and dusted. However, without regular bathing, the chinchilla's coat can take on an extremely greasy appearance. Traditionally, the chinchilla's coat is a light gray color. However, domesticated chinchillas can feature either a silver, white, beige, grey or black coat.

    Texture

    • Each strand of chinchilla hair is very fine. However, according to QuestHavenPets.com, chinchillas can have up to 80 hairs per each hair follicle, which makes the chinchilla's coat quite thick. In most cases, the chinchilla's coat is thick enough to cushion or protect the body. The coat contains a significant amount of lanolin, which is a greasy substance secreted by the pores in the skin. As a result, the chinchilla's fur will not become infested with fleas. Additionally, the chinchilla's fur does not contain any dander; this quality makes the chinchilla an ideal pet for people with allergies.

    Required Coat Care

    • A chinchilla does not use water to bathe. Instead, the chinchilla rolls around in volcanic ash or dust to soak up excess oil and clean its coat. It is important to provide a chinchilla with a dust bath at least twice a week. Simply provide the chinchilla with a large pan of chinchilla dust and allow it to play and roll around in it for three or four minutes.