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CHINCHILLAS
Chinchillas are intelligent, charming creatures that quickly become bonded to
their owners.
They are easy to care for and have little odor.
Basically nocturnal, chinchillas can be active during the day.
They are fast, agile climbers, and they love to investigate everything,
chewing up bits of paper, cardboard, or untreated wood along the way.
Although chinchillas tend to urinate in their cage or litter box, they
are difficult to litter-train with respect to their small, hard, dry fecal
pellets, which are produced in abundance.
However, the fecal pellets are easy to remove and have little odor.
One peculiarity of chinchillas is their need to bathe in fine dust.
Bath dust is commercially available, and at least once or twice a week,
the chinchillas should be allowed to roll (bathe) in the dust.
When chinchillas are stressed, they will chew their fur off, a process
referred to as “fur-barbering.”
Diarrhea (soft droppings) may also occur in an unhappy chinchilla. |
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HAMSTERS
Hamsters are small, cute pets that adapt well to captivity.
They do not require a lot of living space and are relatively inexpensive
to maintain.
With frequent, gentle handling a hamster can easily become tame.
However, they are nocturnal animals and will not tolerate being held
still for long.
Hamsters may bite or show aggression in respond to rough handling,
sudden disturbances, being around other hamster (especially female hamsters
that are pregnant or lactating), or when they are ill or in pain.
To hold your hamster, care must be taken to maintain gentle control and
prevent being bitten.
They can be scruffed by the abundant loose skin at the nape of the neck,
held in the hands (if friendly), or placed in a small container.
A small washcloth may help restrain the rodent without the handler being
bitten.
A unique characteristic of hamsters is the presence of cheek pouches,
which are used to store and transport food to the hamster’s burrow.
Similar to other species of rodents, hamsters have four incisor teeth,
which grow throughout life.
For tooth health, it is important to provide a good diet and to offer
safe items in the enclosure for the hamster to chew. |
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RABBITS
Rabbits are gentle, quiet animals that make excellent pets.
They have dynamic personalities and appreciate human interaction.
The more time you spend with your rabbit, the more it will become tame,
friendly and bond with you.
Domestic rabbits are best suited to live in safe homes with adult
supervision.
Rabbits like to explore and chew, so it is important to guard your homes
(furniture, electrical cords, wood) against their inquisitive nibbling when
they are allowed to roam around your house.
It is important to provide a stimulating environment for rabbits, such
as the availability of toys.
Toys may be as simple as cardboard mailers, paper towel centers, safe
wooden toys made for birds or PVC tubing.
A rabbit should be handled carefully, especially when removing it from
its cage.
Always support its hindquarters when picking it up, as its powerful rear
legs can cause serious spinal injuries if it kicks while being held. |
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HEDGEHOGS
Hedgehogs are noiseless, odorless, inoffensive and nondestructive in their
manner.
They are nocturnal and therefore are active in the evenings.
If they are allowed to run in the house, they tend to hide in corners or
under furniture.
Many hedgehogs dig in carpets or in houseplant dirt, if accessible, and
will forage for spiders and insects in the home.
Most hedgehogs prefer dim, quiet environments and may react with fright
at loud noises or bright lights.
Hedgehogs are solitary by nature.
When encountering something new in the environment a hedgehog may
“taste” it, then begin hyper salivating and create foam, which it then spits
onto itself.
The process is called “anting” or “anointing.”
Most owners will promptly rinse or bathe the hedgehog to get rid of the
material. |
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RATS
Rats make excellent pets, being clean, quiet, and easy to care for.
Strong bonds can quickly be formed with these intelligent, inquisitive,
and affectionate animals.
Because rats are so social (free-ranging rats live communally), it is
best for at least two same sex or altered rats to live together.
Single rats must receive more attention than most pet owners are willing
to give.
Rats are usually very gentle and reluctant to bite unless they are
frightened.
Most rats will allow you to pick them up by placing your hand firmly
over the back and rib cage, or by scooping them up with both hands.
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SUGAR GLIDERS
Sugar gliders make interesting pets. They are very social animals and are best
kept with at least one other sugar glider.
If kept alone, they require considerable playing attention and social
interaction with their owners.
Being nocturnal, their eyes are very large, and they prefer dim
lighting.
They have specialized incisors designed to gouge trees to extract sap,
so they need branches to chew.
They have several distinctive vocalizations, from alarming yaps and
hisses to low barking groans, screams and high squeaks.
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FERRETS
Ferrets
are extremely playful, active, curious and good-natured animals that enjoy the
company of humans and other animals. For these reasons they make wonderful
pets, but also require a fair amount of attention. Ferrets love to run around
free in the home, and can be taught to use a litter box like a cat, though you
may need to place a litter box in the corner of every room or area where the
ferret spends a great deal of time. Ferrets are generally quiet. The only
vocalizations they make are chuckles and giggles during play, squeals or
screams when threatened, and sometimes cries when in pain.
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