The first and most important thing to bear in mind before deciding on a chin as a pet is that it has a life span of 8 to 10 years, much longer than the average rabbits, guinea pigs or hamsters. So ask yourself: Will I be tired of it after a couple of years?

Always buy your chin from a breeder, who can give advice on chin care as well as providing the necessary equipment to house your chin and appropriate food. Pet shops sell other animals and thus will not be able to offer expert advice. If your intention is to breed quality chins with the aim of winning awards, then look for a pedigree chin with a certificate. Price is not necessarily a guarantee of quality, so be sure of your requirement and shop around for the best deal.

First, check if all the chinchillas with the breeder are bright and alert. Healthy chins have active, bright and clear eyes; yellow-orange and aligned teeth, dry nose. If one or more look sickly, the likelihood of the rest that will be infected is high. Look for another breeder if you are not convinced.

Next, decide on the colour that appeals to you. The numerous colours that are available are attractive to most new owners. The rarer the colour, the more expensive is the chin. Take the time to get to know your chin. Gently extend your hand, it can take a while to sniff or nibble you, especially if it has had bad experiences with people before you.

The next step is to get the basic necessity for your chins house. Essential items are cage, water bottle and wood shavings as bedding. The cage must be made of wire mesh with size of 24 by 24 by 18 inches. Get those with raised wire floors if possible, to allow droppings, urine and partially eaten food to fall through. In addition, your chin needs a dust bath at least once a week, so bath dust and a dust pan or container is a must.

Last word of advice before you head back home with that incredibly soft ball of fur, take along about 2 weeks supply of whatever feed the chin has been eating. A chins diet must be adjusted gradually.

Be kind, gentle and offer it lots of hugs, and the chin will reward you with an unconditional friendship for life!