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General Chat / My chinchilla is still afraid of me!
« on: October 23, 2018, 06:02:38 PM »
Hello all. I have a gorgeous 5 year old chinchilla named Momo who I rescued 2 years ago. She has always been very shy, so when I brought her home, I tried not to be too pushy with her, and to let her come to me eventually. I wasn't ever expecting her to be a lap pet, but she still doesn't even let me pet her unless it's through the bars of her cage (which she does--or did, as you will read, seem to like). She gets scared if I so much as open the door, and will run into her little wooden house. During out of cage playtime, she bolts directly for my couch, and hides under there the entire time. I've tried all the bonding tips I've read, including talking to her softly by her cage every day, nuzzling her with my nose instead of petting her with my fingers, etc. For the most part, she doesn't seem too interested in my attention, and at worst, she actively avoids it. I expected this the first few months, but not after two years of patient, loving care 
Things got worse a month ago when I had to put her on antibiotics. This involved catching her in her cage twice a day for 10 days to give her medication. I tried to make it as non-scary for her I could--avoiding catching her from the "top" like a bird, speaking to her in a soothing tone, etc. But the poor thing would shiver the entire time I held her, and she has not been the same since. Now, two weeks after her final dose, she still won't even accept a treat from me through the bars! In fact, she runs to hide if she even hears me near her cage.
I would love to have a better relationship with her. Again, I fully accept her and have no expectations for her to ever enjoy being held. She is in her forever home and I will love her even if she is not so keen on me. It just seems like she could be less anxious. I want her to be happy. I don't know what her previous owner was like, although at the rescue, they told me she was never neglected/abused and had an owner who loved her. She was also surrendered with her sister, but she turned on her sister, and they told me she would be happiest as a solo chin (otherwise I would've looked into a companion for her.) Any ideas? I feel like I've tried it all, including simply giving it time, but I'm hoping someone has some input for me! Thanks.
Things got worse a month ago when I had to put her on antibiotics. This involved catching her in her cage twice a day for 10 days to give her medication. I tried to make it as non-scary for her I could--avoiding catching her from the "top" like a bird, speaking to her in a soothing tone, etc. But the poor thing would shiver the entire time I held her, and she has not been the same since. Now, two weeks after her final dose, she still won't even accept a treat from me through the bars! In fact, she runs to hide if she even hears me near her cage.
I would love to have a better relationship with her. Again, I fully accept her and have no expectations for her to ever enjoy being held. She is in her forever home and I will love her even if she is not so keen on me. It just seems like she could be less anxious. I want her to be happy. I don't know what her previous owner was like, although at the rescue, they told me she was never neglected/abused and had an owner who loved her. She was also surrendered with her sister, but she turned on her sister, and they told me she would be happiest as a solo chin (otherwise I would've looked into a companion for her.) Any ideas? I feel like I've tried it all, including simply giving it time, but I'm hoping someone has some input for me! Thanks.