That's right Petco. Chinchillas have the full ray of emotions humans have ... even jealousy ... not just over other chinchillas, but also over humans.
Peetunia (note the spelling), one of our ebonies, claimed my husband as her own. It took us a while to figure it out, but, any time my husband would give me a kiss or a hug in front of her ... she would spray me everytime I got within range for the next 3 days. {Female chinchillas are very, very accurate for up to 7 feet.} None of our other chins went to that extreme ... thank goodness.
Not all female chinchillas spray you, but the ones that do, know how to, (
promise they do) I know.
Female chinchillas spray urine for several different reasons ... in the wild, to protect herself and her kits ... many a predator got their eyes full. A female chinchilla will spray when she is frightened, mad, upset or when a male makes advances towards her and she is not "ready" yet.
When you have a single chinchilla, especially for that long ... more than likely ... it already has put it's claim on you and is not willing to share you ... especially with another chinchilla. After holding/touching another chinchilla, if you do not want to be sprayed ... I would not only wash my hands, but I would also shower and change clothes if you do not want to be sprayed. After doing this, if she still sprays you, then it is not the other chinchilla(s), but something else that is upsetting her. (Like the smell of a new detergent, cologne, air-freshner, deodorant, or new smells on you from work. Chinchillas, like many other animals, recognize you more by smell than by site.
Jo Ann