Chinchillas feel the full array of human emotions ... including 'the big green-eyed monster' know as jealousy. Been there ... lived through that!
We have one chin Peetunia (note the spelling) ... she claimed my husband for her own. If he puts his arms around me or kisses me in front of her she goes into fits and will spray me every time I pass her cage for the rest of the day ... to let me know he (my hubby) is
HER man, not mine.
We have another chin, Missy, she dearly loves my husband and demands his attention. If he walks into the room and does not speak to her ... ignores her and goes straight to the chair (all the way across the room) to his computer without acknowledging her first ... she not-so-politely lets him know she is miffed at being ignored and 'rains on his head' ... female chinchillas rarely spray unless they or their kits are in danger, but they will sometimes do it to let you know they are upset or that they want you attention ... they are VERY accurate up to 7 feet away. Needless to say, Bill rarely forgets to speak to her as soon as he enters the room (because she never misses!).
Missy will sometimes play dead to get your attention ... she lays up on her hut, upside down, head hanging over the edge, feet and legs straight up in the air ... not moving at all. We run to her and as soon as we do, she, hops down and runs to the door of the cage, as if totally innocent of anything wrong, for a loving chin scratch or belly rub. You gotta love their little antics.
So goes a day in the life of a chinchilla breeder/lover!
Jo Ann