CHINformative began as an idea for an internet forum that aimed to provide a safe space for anyone interested in chinchilla to find support, education, and discussion about these wonderful pets.
Unfortunately, much of the information available online is regurgitated and not based on fact, research, or personal experience. Some of it is down-right dangerous. CHINformative was created to dispel some of the myths and provide correct information.
Over the years the CHINformative Team, led by Claire D, has attended national animal shows and also provided sessions for veterinary students at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). These educational events have been a privilege to attend and the veterinary students thoroughly enjoyed handling healthy, calm chinchillas – something they probably will not get to experience in veterinary practice (as the chinchillas they see will be unwell and stressed).
However, as with many things, COVID has meant that educational events like these have been discontinued up until now.
As a forum, CHINformative has been superseded in recent years by the immediacy of social media. Social media provides instant responses and, although the information is not always correct, the CHINformative forum has fallen silent. Hence this new website, the aim of which is to provide accurate, research based (where it exists) information and advice.
Claire D
Claire has kept chinchilla for almost 30 years, first owning Monty (Lord Montague) in 1997, after seeing him in a pet shop, fast asleep in a cage.
Monty taught her a lot about chinchilla, there not being much information available about them at the time.
Monty’s Manor (as Claire’s home was affectionately known) then became home to Button, a charcoal chinchilla, who developed malocclusion – his diagnosis, subsequent treatment, and death from this awful condition started Claire on a journey to learning; one that continues to this day – there’s always something to learn about chinchilla.
Claire has worked with rescues, vets, companies, and charities – Monty’s Manor became home to rescues and misfits, some pedigree breeding chinchilla, and beloved pets. She belonged to the National Chinchilla Society for a period but resigned and left after realising their aims did not match hers.
The CHINformative website is authored by Claire and will continue to provide information about chinchilla and chinchilla welfare based on research and personal experience.
New articles and blog posts will be added to the site and if there are any topics you would like to see on the website, please do get in touch via the contact form.