Escaped Chinchilla

UKTigerlily

Hi all, my neighbour has just said his Chinchilla has escaped & there's a possibility it could have got outside. Another neighbour reckons he saw him last night in some bushes outside my front door (But we can't really totally believe the guy). Obviously it's bl00dy freezing at nights & i'm not hopeful it could survive. Also there's three cats here, mine is one & shouldn't harm him, but I just found a dead pigeon & so maybe the uncastrated tom would go for a Chinchilla if their paths crossed?

Any ideas where he might be? Whether in or outside? I suggested the hamster trick (You all know, bucket/ramp/food/bingo) but he says Chins can jump quite a height. Thought i'd post here in case of any ideas at all that might help, i'm concerned if he's out in this weather the cold/foxes or cats might kill him. Though if he has got out I suspect he's long gone?

TIA

tankgirl1

Blimey - no advice on how to catch him I'm afraid, but I hope he's OK..... I can't see a tame chinchinchilla surviving outdoors at this time of year sadly , especially if cats and foxes are about

UKTigerlily

Me either, i'm hoping my own cat brings him in as i'm 150% sure she wouldn't harm him but she probably can't even lift a Chinchilla lol she only has one canine tooth! I didn't think the other two cats, both males, would kill one until I went for a look about outside & saw a dead pigeon! Pretty sure a cat had that, it's a long way from a road & had been bleeding :!! Neighbour (Not the Chins owner) said he thinks George the uncastrated tom had it. I reckon if it did get outside it'll be long gone by now & won't last long. I really hope it turns up in his flat overnight, I said listen out when it's dark & it might appear. Poor thing he was lovely.

tankgirl1

just googled 'escaped chinchilla' and found this site - hope it helps!

http://www.chinchillas2home.co.uk/escape.htm

S_t_e_v_e

Although they don't look it, Chinchilla's are pretty tough. They come from high up in the Andes mountains where their dense fur keeps them warm. I don't think the cold will cause a problem.

pboae

I agree with Steve, as long as it stays dry it should survive the cold. Also, although cats will go for chinchillas, unless they catch them unawares chins can't half move, and would have a good chance of out running a cat. Although whether that would apply outside to a pet chin, I couldn'y say.

Tankgirls link gives some great advice. The other thing I would add is to put a dust bath out overnight, or a few, in the rooms where the chin could potentially be. Leave it with a smooth surface and you'll know in the morning if it's been used, so at least you know if it's indoors. That'll only work the chin likes a bath of course. You can also set similar traps with food, but it's harder because they are such neat eaters (but messy bathers), but counting out a few pellets and arranging them neatly will help.

I would be feeding and providing food, water and hay outside too at this stage as well, just to be sure.

Once you know if they are indoors or out you can start trying to narrow the area down.

What a nightmare situation :-( I hope it turns up soon.

kr15snw

They have a stupidly thick coat, so may be ok as long as it doesnt rain (no waterproofing at all on their coat).

Yeh, the bucket trap wont work unless your bucket is about 6 foot high...

I would seriously suggest a humain rat trap. Yes you may catch somthing else, but I think it may be the only way to catch it.

The dust bath is a great idea, chinnies adore their dust baths. So at least we'd know if it was inside or not!

notlongnow_2

I just had to catch a escaped hamster. The ramp/bucket thign didnt work. I ended up buying a rat trap from B&Q. it was £14.99 and was like a trap door galvanised metal cage which worked the first night I used it.

May be worth a try. But then if its caught, you dont want other animals pawing trying to get in.

tankgirl1

Any news UKTigerLily?

UKTigerlily

Newp no sign of him, neighbour still insists he saw him out the front but all we found was a dead pigeon & the neighbour can't be 100% believed. The Owner is sure the Chinchilla got out the flat now as he's searched all over but i've passed on all this info (He said huge thanks all) & he'll follow all this advice. Hoping the Chin comes back soon but I had a look around in the bushes outside & didn't see him. I'm hoping he comes back, my Rats got out once, although in the flat! & I was so worried about getting them back in!

tankgirl1

Hi

Did he ever come home?