Chinchilla Cage HQ

Choose a Large Chinchilla Cage

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:05:09 +0000

You need to choose a big chinchilla cage. The first chinchilla I ever met was through a friend of my dad’s. I was about 8, at the time, and had never heard of this creature. I learned quickly that I was no match for its speed and agility. It wasn’t until I was older and had a chinchilla of my own, did I realize how irresponsible the owner was. The chinchilla’s cage was 1’ x 1’ x 1’. It must have been horrible for the little guy. The owner allowed it to run around and chew on everything. I am glad that I read a lot about chinchillas before I decided to finally buy one. Hopefully, some of this will help you choose the right home for your chinchilla.

When it comes to chinchilla cages, bigger is better.

What is a good chinchilla cage? A whole room, if you can sacrifice it. This isn’t an option for most people, so spring for the large chinchilla cage. This comes as no surprise to anyone that has, or has seen, a chinchilla in action. The height is the most important dimension of the chinchilla cage. Chins like to jump, and do it very well. The taller chinchilla cages are, the happier the chinchilla. The floor of the cage should be no smaller than 2′ x 2′.

There are a number of chinchilla cages you can choose from. The most common is an all metal wire chinchilla cage. Be careful, though. The holes of the chinchilla cage must be small enough to keep the chin’s feet from getting stuck. The holes should be no larger than 1/2” x 1/2”. Many of the metal cages will include different levels and ramps. One downside of the all metal chinchilla cage is that there is no flat surface for the chin to stand. A plank of untreated, chinchilla safe wood can be used on top of the metal levels. You can keep them in place by using a screw and wing nut. I would suggest doing this on at least one of the levels.

The best option, in my opinion, is a mostly wood cage. There are a number of people that make these types of cages. Many people choose to do it themselves. This is nice because you can add solid wood shelves for your perches. Again, it is important to make sure the building material is safe for the chinchilla. Also, the chinchilla cage CANNOT be enclosed. There needs to be airflow. I will have pictures of some great chinchilla cages I have seen in future posts.

In terms of bedding, you can use newspaper or wood shavings. I have always used wood shavings in my chinchilla cage. If you decide to go with wood shavings, they will need to be made of aspen or kiln dried pine. Cedar shavings should never be used, as this has been known to cause respiratory issues in animals. The chinchilla cage will usually come with a drop in tray, or a slide out tray. Both have there advantages. I am a fan of the drop in tray. The drop in tray allows the chinchilla to be in direct contact with the bedding, which can cause you to spend more time cleaning up. The upside is that it is another solid surface for your chinchilla to stand. To me, it is worth the extra effort. At the time of this post, I know of no chinchilla that will clean up after itself. This means that it will be up to you to clean out the chinchilla cage. About once a week should do.

Please keep your chin safe and happy. Be aware that there are many cages out there that claim to be a chinchilla cage, but are actually dangerous for your chin. Safe chinchilla cages will help your chinchilla live a long and healthy life.

Click here to find a neat chinchilla video on youtube.

Chinchilla Supplies for a Happy Pet

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:03:48 +0000

When considering bringing a chinchilla into your home, you may want to think about the level of happiness you wish for you new pet to maintain by purchasing some necessary chinchilla supplies. Along with tender loving care, your chinchilla will require proper feeding, housing and entertainment. If you have never owned a chinchilla, spend a little time learning about them in order to know what to expect from the animal is important. You need to provide the best type of environment with the appropriate supplies for chinchillas that will keep you and the new addition to the family happy for many years.

One of the first chinchilla pet supplies to invest in will be a cage in order to keep the chinchilla from running free in your home. Chinchilla cages can be store bought or home made. They must be large enough for free roaming of the space and it also helps to have multi-level cages with ramps and platforms that allow for easy maneuvering and some variety for the creature. On average, a cage should measure a few feet across and a couple of feet wide with some height that allows for climbing space. Store-bought cages will have the appropriate measurements and features, which is a great benefit over making one at home that will require some ingenuity when coming up with the appropriate design.

Along with housing, chinchilla food that is made specially for your pet is available. They will need hay or grass as well to keep a healthy balanced diet. One specialty type of food is compressed alfalfa. Other food types are grasses, roots and seeds. With a sensitive digestive system, chinchillas should have the same foods in their diets every day and if a change is required, it must be done gradually in order to avoid having a sick pet. Water should be made available in a water bottle for easy access. Avoid any type of sugary foods or fruits as this may possibly cause for the chinchilla to become ill. In order to maintain good health, chinchillas should be provided with seed mixes enriched with vitamins and minerals.

Bathing is never done in water and you need only provide it with a chinchilla dust bath. Due to having dense fur that collects oils and moisture, chinchillas need to roll around in ash from volcanoes. The dust from the ash absorbs the oils whereas water would remove them and could be detrimental to its health since the oils help regulate body temperature. The dust bath is placed near the chinchilla for a short period of time and should not be left for a long duration because the pet may begin using it as a litter box, which could cause health problems.

When it comes time for play, chinchillas enjoy a variety of toys, which will help them to stay active. Items for chewing will help keep their teeth in good condition. An environment free of stress with low noise a little movement will keep your pet very happy. In the event a cage has to be moved, it would be good for your pet to be held or transported in a small container to reduce any unnecessary stress. Exercise is essential and allowing the chinchilla to run free occasionally will be of great benefit. Not only does it help their muscle tone, it also allows them a change of environment for exploration.

Chinchilla bedding is another important supply that needs consideration. There are unsafe types of bedding. Some woods that are available are toxic.

Local pet stores and online pet supply websites offer a variety of pet chinchilla supplies such as chinchilla food that is specially created for them. Other required supplies, which will help keep your chinchilla happy, are safe housing, toys that will encourage activity and items to chew on for good dental health. You and your family will enjoy your new chinchilla for many years with proper care and supplies.

A Quick Guide to Chinchilla Food

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:09:58 +0000

Chinchilla food needs to be selected carefully as chinchillas have sensitive stomachs. These little creatures are generally vegetarian, and need good quality food to maintain their health. Their digestive system is sensitive and stomach upsets are common, especially if the diet is too rich or if there are sudden changes in the diet.

Best Foods for Chinchillas

A wild chinchilla eats a lot of vegetable and natural fibers, and for pet chinchillas, it is a good idea to try to create a similar eating program. Many of the pellets available in pet food stores provide a lot of the necessary nutrients, and are also easily digested. Chinchillas need hay or grass, especially loose hay, so serve some grass or hay daily with the pet food. Hay and grass help to maintain the digestion in good working order, and it is also good for the teeth. Always check that the hay is fresh and does not smell damp.

Pellets are generally the best option and the products on the market that are designed for chinchillas usually contain a good blend of fibers, proteins and fats.

The best feeding bowls for chinchillas are small ceramic bowls.Chinchilla cages with a food hopper on the outside will work, too. Remember to give small amounts at each feeding time to keep the food fresh.

Can Chinchillas Eat Treats?

All pets love treats, but too many treats are not good for the sensitive chinchilla stomachs. Many of the treats found in stores can cause stomach upsets for chinchillas, so it is better to come up with your own natural treats. Dried fruits are always popular, although they are very sweet and should be fed in small amounts. Many chinchilla owners have noticed that their pets love raisins, and a small raisin every now and then can be a much appreciated treat. Some owners also use them when training their pets.

Other suitable fruits include blueberries, cranberries and small pieces of apples or pears. Banana chips can also be given. Small pieces of vegetables, such as carrots, are good options as long as you do not choose gas-producing veggies such as cabbage. Many owners treat their pets with rolled oats and other grains, and these are a healthy choice as long as you remember to keep the amounts small.

Chinchillas also love chewing on twigs and playing with them. As long as you choose a safe and easily digested tree, such as an apple tree, you can feed some small twigs occasionally and watch your little pet enjoy the treats.

Other Feeding Tips

Always remember to keep fresh water available for drinking, and change the water often.

If you want to change the existing diet or try some new foods, even if you just want to change the brand of the pet food you are serving, it is important that you do it slowly over time. Surprising and sudden changes in the food can create stomach problems for chinchillas, so try giving a little bit of the new food together with the existing pellets at first, and add some more new foods every day until your pet is used to the change.

Sometimes chinchillas can be quite choosy with their foods and they do not always eat everything you serve them. Check if all the food has been eaten. Even if you have designed the most careful and balanced diet, if your pet hides half of it, it will not get the necessary nutrients.

Some reputable brands of chinchilla food that are popular with owners are the Mazuri’s Chinchilla Diet and the Oxbow’s Chinchilla Deluxe. With some careful food planning your chinchilla can remain in good health and avoid unnecessary stomach upsets.

Chinchilla Supplies for a Happy Pet

Chinchilla Cage HQ – Chinchilla Dust Bath

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:07:15 +0000

Grooming and health are a very important part of any pet owners responsibilities. Many pets require an awful lot of specialized attention including exotic pets such as chinchillas. For instance, it is important to have a large chinchilla cage. Before purchasing a chinchilla as a pet, it is best to study up on their preferences and any special requirements that they may have. Chins do have a few peculiarities that more common pets do not have, and that is why you would be wise to learn about them before purchasing. You will need some unique chinchilla supplies that most animals will not need. A good example of this is the need to provide a chinchilla dust bath.
Just like any other pet, they require the proper type of shelter, food and love, but they also like their dust baths to make them healthy and comfortable! The beautiful soft thick fur that they are so well known for comes with a price; a little chinchilla dust bath keeps their fur looking beautiful and healthy. In their natural habitat of the Andes Mountains, their regular cleaning routine was a good rolling in volcanic ash. Grooming in animals, and people as well, is a part of everyday cleanliness. Chinchillas just take on a little bit more of an exotic form when it comes to bathing.

When you keep chins in chinchilla cages as a pet you need to provide the best care possible; these are intelligent thoughtful creatures and they have their needs too. The fur of chinchillas is rather unique in comparison to other types of animals; when the thick luxurious fur is soaked down with water it retains so much of the moisture that it can result in fungus. Never soak down a chinchilla with water; it is not natural and it is dangerous to their health and it removes some of their natural body oils that they are so dependent on.

Basic Guidelines For a Chinchilla Dust Bath

A few basic guidelines need to be followed for giving a dust bath. You can purchase the dust needed for their bath from a local pet store or buy it off the internet. Blue Cloud chinchilla dust is considered one of the top of the line.A chinchilla dust bath house is also needed.

Chinchillas are the most active at night and that is the best time for a dust bath. There may be some wastes inadvertently introduced into the dust bath pan; you should scoop these out to maintain a cleaner bath facility. So long as you make a strict rule of cleaning out the waste from a chinchilla dust bath you can reuse the dust several times saving you a few dollars.

Another guideline to keep in mind when bathing your little buddy is not to just place the bath in his large chinchilla cage and walk off. You need to monitor the activity of play and bathing to make sure everything is going okay. They only require about 15 minutes of bathing which is enough to remove excess oils and dirt from their fur. Generally, most of these pets will need bathing about twice a week depending upon how dirty they get and how high the humidity in your location is. Make a point of giving your chinchilla at least a weekly dust bath and keep the chinchilla cage sparkling clean and you will have a great little companion.

Wire Chinchilla Cage

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:41:04 +0000

The best chinchilla cages should have enough floor space for your pet. A 30 X 30 one or bigger is advisable. The cage should also be tall so you can put ladders and shelves inside it. Chinchillas love to climb and they usually feel safer if they are in high ground. If you fail to put shelves or ladders in your wire chinchilla cage, you will be subjecting your pet to a lot of stress and we all know that many animals, especially small ones are highly susceptible to dying because of stress and loneliness. If animals are stressed out, they do not eat and they cannot sleep. This just means that you should buy a tall wire chinchilla cage for your pet to keep him or her happy and stress-free.

One of the biggest mistakes chinchilla owners often commit is buying plastic cages for their pets. Chinchillas love to chew and they will only chew off their cage resulting to a wasted investment. Your pet cannot chew through a metal chinchilla cage. A wire cage also facilitates easier cleaning because it allows your pet’s fecal material and its food to just fall through and pet-owners have to do is pull out the tray. Buying a tray is essential and you should line it with newspaper cuttings or wood shavings to absorb urine and other liquids. If you decide to use wood shavings, be careful in choosing what type of shavings you utilize. Cedar chinchilla bedding can cause health problems to your pet; one of the most comment problems is respiratory disease. Chinchillas are very sensitive and they can get sick just because of aromatic oils.

Wire Metal Chinchilla Cage

Before you put your pet inside the cage, make sure that you provide a wooden platform over the wire so your pet can walk around comfortably.
Putting a wooden cube is also advisable because this will serve as your ferret’s room or sleeping area. A bottle of water is also another essential since your pet needs to drink too. You should also give your chinchilla a few toys to play with. Special chinchilla food is available. It could come in the form of a toilet paper tube, a small piece of wood or twigs. Giving your pet wheels is alright too but you should supervise him or her while playing with the wheels especially if your pet is still very young. Once he or she gets used to it, you can let your pet play with the wheels whenever he or she likes.

Where Do You Get Wire Chinchilla Cages?

It is easy to find a wire chinchilla cage for sale online. There are cages that are affordable but they can be quite small. You should opt for a bigger one to make enough room for your ferret. There are cages that are a bit on the pricey side but they include essentials such as water bottles and platforms. Apart from that, some of them even have a chinchilla dust bath area for your pet.

Chinchilla Toys

admin — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:58:00 +0000

Chinchillas are becoming a popular pet. They are a very active animal and need lots of things to keep them entertained. If you are thinking about purchasing a chinchillas then you need to make sure that you purchase chinchilla toys as well. Chins are exciting exotic pet that will require a lot of attention and a large chinchilla cage. They are really interesting animal as they have the body of a rabbit, ears like a mouse and a big fluffy tail. Of course, the fur is probably one of softest that you will ever touch.

They are normally a very healthy animal and owning one will be much fun. When you let them out of their cage they will run around extremely fast and even bounce off walls. Once they become comfortable with you, they will climb all over you like you are their best friend. The first thing that you want to purchase before you bring your pet home is an appropriate chinchilla cage. You will want to make sure that it is big enough for your new pet and sturdy enough to endure the chewing habits of the chinchilla. An appropriate chinchilla cage will be approximately 3′ x 1.5′ x 2′. Some of the cages will even have one or two levels in order to get your chinchilla room to roam. You can buy a metal chinchilla cage, or a wood one.

You will want to make sure that the cage is easy to clean, as it will be important to clean it frequently. Check with your local pet store for the best type of bedding for the cage. It is often recommended to make sure that you use products that do not contain resin, as it is harmful for chinchillas. While you are purchasing your bedding, do not forget the specially formulated food pellets. There are specially made for chinchillas and you will not have to worry about them over eating as they will only eat a little bit at a time. You also need to have a cube’s that act almost like a snack in between meals.

Toys For Chinchillas

Once you have some of these housekeeping issues taking care of it is now time to begin to seriously think about what chinchilla toy you want to buy (this usually turns out to be more than one in most cases). Not only is it fun to watch your pet play with them but also they are also very important. Chinchillas have teeth very similar to other rodents. They will continually grow and they must chew and gnaw on things so that they can keep them healthy and in good shape. You can purchase special would toys that you pet store that are terrific for chinchillas. Some chinchillas will even chew on pumice stones and metal blocks as well. They love tree branches to chew such as Willow, Apple, Poplar and Aspen. You always need to make sure that the wood is not toxic, such as Cedar, Redwood, Citrus Trees and Evergreens.

These exotic pets love to climb and chinchilla’s toys that are the most fun are things that they can climb on. Chinchilla cages with ladders, blocks and platforms are a great. They will love to climb all over them and they we even chew on them to keep their teeth healthy. Having an exercise wheel is also a wonderful chinchilla toy. Make sure that the wheel does not have exposed spokes so that they could not get caught in it and get injured. They will also enjoy rolling around the large ball outside the cages well.

Other great chinchilla supplies are placing items inside the cage that they can hide in. Things like PVC pipes, little boxes and other items that they can hide in will be extremely fun for your new exotic pet. They love to play in tunnels and will probably take a nap in them as well. When you take your chinchilla out to play, you want to make sure that there is nothing in the room that they may destroy. You also need to remember that any of the chinchilla toys that you may purchase or use will probably be chewed up and you will need to replace them.

Metal Chinchilla Cage

admin — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:56:21 +0000

Chinchillas are native to South America in the Andes Mountains and are often kept as pets in a metal chinchilla cage. For the right type of person willing to take some responsibility, they can make an ideal companion. They are typically friendly and gentle creatures; members of the rodent family and range in size just a bit bigger than ground squirrels. Keep in mind, metal chinchilla cages are not the best option, but are the most popular.

The original color of their thick fur is gray, however, today you can purchase them in ebony, white, beige and several colors in between. These mild and kind-natured animals have their fears and limits just like everybody else. Seriously frightened or threatened chinchillas can spray urine or bite if pushed to their limits; although this is more of a rare occurrence.

Keeping chinchilla cages clean is of prime importance as well as seeing to their other requirements for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Chinchillas cannot tolerate high heat of any sort; they must be raised indoors preferably with air conditioning so that temperatures do not exceed 75-80°s Fahrenheit. The thick fur of a chinchilla is beautiful but they cannot tolerate getting wet; when wet they must be dried off immediately otherwise fungus will develop in their fur.

The basic necessities for you and your chinchilla to both be happy is an extremely large cage, an unlimited food supply of fresh hay and pellets along with filtered or distilled water. Special chinchilla food can be bought online or at a pet store. Chinchilla bedding is needed, but not all wood is safe. Use untreated pine shavings, as these are non-toxic. Lastly, besides your companionship they must have their very own chin-proofed play ground. This is not a pet that you never interact with and just stick in a cage to admire.

Overall, they are very smart little creatures and they love to run around and play with a bit of interaction from you. Per say they are not the type of pet to be pampered, cuddled and treated as lap pets; they are intelligent and playful and will bond with their owners in a friendly relationship. This is not an animal to be controlled or dominated; they have their own perspective about things with schedules and agenda for playing and exercising.

A metal wire chinchilla cage is ideal since these little guys are members of the rodent family and they do love to chew. Wearing down their teeth is of critical importance to their health so make sure you get a good strong cage that they cannot chew through. An ideal cage for one chinchilla would be about 3 X 3 X ‘tall as possible’.

A Big Metal Chinchilla Cage is Always Better

Because they just love to run around and get plenty of exercise the bigger the cage that you have room for or can afford the better. If you are considering two chinchillas then of course you need a considerable large chinchilla cage to keep them both happy and healthy. To maintain good health and not feel stressed out (much like people) they require lots of their own space! For extra room, you may want to keep the chinchilla dust bath out of the cage.

The material requirements of your pet’s home are extremely important. These active little creatures will run up and down and around their cages very energetically and it is imperative that the mesh in chinchilla cages not be too large. It is sad to say that ignorant owners have purchased the wrong size mesh cages and had their companions seriously injured in the process. When the mesh is too large their toes and feet can become entangled resulting in broken foot bones, toes or legs. The safest sized mesh for a wire metal chinchilla cage is 1” X 1/2” for the cage walls or 3/4” X 3/4”. Ramps, shelves and floors should be no larger then 1/2” X 1/2”.

Buy the right size and style of metal chinchilla cage, provide all their requirements in addition to play areas and have a great time with your new-found friend.

What to Know About Chinchilla Bedding

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:13:17 +0000

There are a number of choices when it comes to chinchilla bedding. Small animal bedding can be a tough decision. Newspaper is an option, and wood shavings is another. When it comes to wood shavings, there are some things that you need to be aware of because not all of them are safe. Cedar and pine shavings are the main types of wood to watch out for. Although you can find them on the shelves, there is strong scientific evidence that supports that these can be dangerous for your chinchilla. These are very good for odor control, but the odor control comes from chemicals that can be harmful. Tests have shown that cedar and pine can lead to respiratory problems in small animals. The liver can also be affected by the use of certain bedding in chinchilla cages. While there are certain processes that can limit the level of harmful substances in these types of shavings, it is a good idea to stick with woods that are known to be safe. Here are some of the reasons why it is important to pay attention to the bedding you buy.

Pine and cedar shavings contain phenol. This is the same compound that is found in cleaners around the house. Phenol is a germicide, and this is why it is good for odor control. This chemical is linked to respiratory problems in laboratory mice. When the mice are placed in cages with this type of bedding, there is an increased risk of inflammation of the lungs and throat. Asthma has been seen in small animals that are exposed. The liver is another area affected by unsafe wood shavings.

Animals housed in cages with cedar and pine show in increase level of enzymes in the liver. An elevated level of enzymes is caused by an increase in toxins present. Scientists have tested this in the laboratory and found that once the animals are switched to cages with other types of wood shavings, the level of enzymes will decrease. If the liver is continually pumping out an excess of enzymes, it can lead to liver failure.

One process that can decrease the level of phenol is kiln drying. No matter what type of bedding, it is good to use wood shavings that are kiln dried. Another way to lower the harmful substances is soaking the wood in a solvent. This is not very common when it comes to bedding. The best option is to use kiln dried aspen. It has been shown to be safe for animals.

Be picky when it comes to the chinchilla bedding you choose to put in your chinchilla cage. The phenol in cedar and pine has been linked to asthma and inflammation. The liver can also be damaged. With certain methods of treatment, pine and cedar can become safer, but kiln dried aspen is much better. The unsafe bedding is on the shelves at the pet store because it is very good at controlling odor, and the scientific evidence is seen as inconclusive, but experiments very strongly suggest that some wood shavings are better than others. For me, it is not a risk I am willing to take.

Custom Homemade Chinchilla Cage

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:11:06 +0000

The pictures below are from Erica Vojnich. She did an awesome job making her own chinchilla cage. Her chin, Sophie, is a lucky lady. Her homemade cage cost around $100. This is one of the great examples of a chinchilla cage that people create themselves.

Here are a few notes she had about chinchilla cages, and some precautions for those who want to try to make their own.

1) If the cage is constructed with melamine, make sure your chinchilla won’t be exposed to any of the edges. Melamine is toxic if it is ingested and your chin will most likely chew the exposed edges. The edges can be covered using metal edging. Our cage doesn’t have that issue because we used wood for the shelves and ramps.

2) If wood is used, it has to be Untreated Pine. Since the chin will probably chew the shelves, it has to be something they can digest and it can’t be painted. These chemicals will harm your chinchilla.

3) Please do not put wire or plastic shelves in your custom homemade cages. Plastic is very harmful for them to be digesting. Wire shouldn’t be used because your chinchilla needs something solid to stand, walk, jump and sit on. It is very possible for your chinchilla to injure their feet on wire surfaces. Chinchilla can slip their foot/toe through holes. This could result in spraining, breaking, or cutting a part of the toe off.

4) Try to arrange the shelves so there is no possibility of your chin falling all the way from the top of the cage to the very bottom. We used a series of “L” shapes in our cage divided by a middle shelf. You’ll be surprised how quickly they will learn to jump all the way from the top to the bottom. Still, you want to take precautions. If they loose their footing, the fall won’t be from such a great height.

I completely agree with avoiding wire in your cage, but a metal chinchilla cage is easy to find and cheap. With some adjustments, they can be made safer.

Customizing a store bought cage is another option. You’ll need some chinchilla supplies. Add some shelves to get the “L” shapes Erica talked about in order to keep your chin safe from injury. Covering the sides and floors with untreated, chinchilla safe wood may be an easier way to get a unique cage. This goes for chinchilla bedding, as well. Putting up walls on the sides is a good idea because chins have the amazing ability of shooting their poo out of the cage in every direction. I swear that my chins had a poo slingshot hidden in their chinchilla cage somewhere because there is no other way droppings could fly that far across the room. Sometimes I imagined that they would have competitions to see who could get their poop the farthest. I always hoped to walk in and see Pedro DePacas shot putting a dropping.

There are a bunch of great homemade cages out there, and I will be featuring some more soon. Thanks for letting me show off your chinchilla cage, Erica.

Turning a Room into a Chinchilla Cage

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:20:40 +0000

Even with a large chinchilla cage, it is important to let your chin out of its cage. They are not fish that you keep in an aquarium just to look at. Letting them out of their chinchilla cage will give you a chance to bond with them. It’s good to give them at least an hour to run around and get some exercise. Do not be surprised if your chinchilla does not sit on your lap and let you pet him/her. It takes a while to build trust. Chinchillas like routine, so it helps to let them out about the same time each day.

You can keep your chins safe when you let them out of their chinchilla cage by taking precautions, and look for anything that may cause your chin harm. As with their cages, the same rules apply to chin-proofing a room. Remove all unsafe woods, chemicals, and other things that a chinchilla could ingest. Lead based paint can be poisonous to the chinchilla. Household plants can cause your chinchilla to get sick. You should cover all electrical outlets. Electrical wires are also dangerous. I’ve heard of people using PVC pipe when they can’t remove the wires. If you are letting the chin run around in the bathroom, make sure that the toilet bowl is down. It’s also a good idea to block anywhere that your chinchilla can hide behind. They are quick to run behind a fridge or behind the dresser that is a pain in the butt to move.

Chins love to gnaw and chew. Do not put them in a room where there is anything that you don’t want ruined (this includes baseboards. You would think my baseboards were raisins the way my chins would go at them.) Unfortunately, the do not wait until their back in their chinchilla cage to pee. I found that the best area to let my chins out was the basement. I threw down some industrial carpeting and blocked off a section that they couldn’t escape from. It’s best to have some sort of carpet down. This will give them some traction as they bounce and run. Hallways are another good option.

Chinchillas are extremely good at getting under doors. I thought Spicoli, my first chin, was a magic animal because of his ability to squeeze under a door that even light had trouble getting under. Once they escape, they can be very tough to catch. It took me forever to find Spicoli the first time. I would often use the chinchilla dust bath to get them back in their cage. Treat or chinchilla food will work as well. The chinchilla is very curious and will get into everything it can. They are also very good jumpers, so it is important to keep that in mind. The most important thing is to keep an eye on your pet when they are out of their chinchilla cage.