Christmas eve's eve
In honor of Christmas I decided to change the bedding for the chinchillas. (In case you wonder, I do change it at other times than Christmas too). It's easier to do during the day, because then the critters are wary of light and usually just huddle under the table while I do the cleaning. When done in the evenings, the furballs just go nuts and bounce all over the place. It's hard to scoop up dirty bedding when there's a chinchilla constantly sitting right on top of my hand. To them an outstretched arm or a shoulder is the perfect toy for climbing.

Their home consists of two cages. As I got done cleaning the upper one and was ready to lift it on top of the other cage I felt something climbing up my leg. Well, actually, she was using the cage's bars as handlebars and pressing her back against my leg for support. Once on top she, the most shy and easily freaked out one, started to panic, because she was so out in the open and you never know when a hawk might swoop down and grab her. She was running around in circles, peering down in apparent terror, but yet too scared to jump down from so high up. So I went on all fours next to the cage, she jumped on my back and from there to the floor.

I went to stand facing the cage again and much to my surprise she came back and did it all over again. And another time. On the fourth time she brought along her mother and they both climbed up my legs at the same time. It was such a great moment.

Furry (& Merry) Christmas to everybody!
Posted 21:35