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.

Related posts:

1. Custom Homemade Chinchilla Cage
2. What to Know About Chinchilla Bedding
3. 2 Chinchillas, 1 Chinchilla Cage

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.

Related posts:

1. Choose a Large Chinchilla Cage
2. 2 Chinchillas, 1 Chinchilla Cage
3. Things to Put in Your Chinchilla Cage