Hailing from the Andes Mountains in South America, chinchillas are wonderful animals to keep as pets. Theyre beloved by owners young and old for their adorable appearance and sociable nature. However, a proper chinchilla cage setup is essential in ensuring that these fluffy pets are happy and healthy.
With the best chinchilla cage setup, these cute little furballs can thrive. Theyll happily jump about, explore their surroundings, and get the exercise and comfort they need. But, if your chinchilla habitat cage isnt quite right, your pet could suffer. This guide will cover everything chinchilla owners need to know about chinchilla housing.
Chinchilla Cage Ideas: 27 Creative Ways to Give Your Pet the Perfect Home
As chinchilla owners, we all want to provide the best possible home for our furry friends. Their cage is where they will spend the majority of their time, so it’s important to put thought and care into the design With a bit of creativity, you can transform an ordinary cage into an exciting habitat that keeps your chinchilla active and entertained In this article, I’ll share 27 chinchilla cage ideas to inspire you.
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Multi-Level Cages
Chinchillas love to jump and climb, so a multi-level cage is ideal. The Ferret Nation and Critter Nation cages come in single, double, and even triple unit options. You can also join separate units together to create more space. The different levels give plenty of opportunity for climbing and exploring. Make sure to include ramps between platforms for easy access. -
Custom Wooden Cages
For a more customized look, consider building your own wooden cage. Use kiln-dried pine or other chinchilla-safe wood. Build multiple platforms at varying heights and include ledges or tunnels. Sealing the wood protects it from moisture. Be sure to use metal mesh for airflow and easy viewing. -
Glass Front Cages
Glass front cages allow for better visibility so you can watch your chinchilla play. They also make nice display cages. Be sure to include places for privacy too. An enclosed back and sides prevents drafts while the glass front adds aesthetic appeal. -
C&C Cages
C&C stands for cubes and coroplast, a versatile cage made by securing wire cubes to a coroplast base. Customize the size and shape to fit your space. Use zipties to connect the cubes. Cover ramps and shelves with fleece for comfort and traction. Cubes make it easy to configure your ideal layout. -
Spacious Corner Cages
Take advantage of unused corner space with an angled corner cage. The unique shape offers plenty of room for platforms, houses, and toys while maximizing floor space. Some corner cages even have a glass side for viewing. -
Cages with Solid Flooring
Since wire flooring can hurt chinchilla feet, opt for a cage with a solid bottom. Cages like Ferret Nation come with a plastic pan bottom that’s easy to clean. You can also add kiln dried pine or plywood shelving covered in fleece for a comfy place to rest. -
Cozy Hiding HutsChinchillas need access to hiding places to feel safe and secure Use small wooden boxes, flower pots, loosely rolled fleece tubes, or even a fabric pouch hanging from the ceiling. The more hideouts the better so they have options to choose from
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Safe Exercise Wheels
A quality exercise wheel encourages activity and prevents boredom. Look for a solid metal chin spin wheel at least 15 inches across. Anything with crossbars or mesh can catch toes or tails. Mount it securely to prevent wobbling and injury. -
Chew Toys
Chinchillas need chew toys to wear down continually growing teeth. Offer untreated wood sticks, loofahs, and apple wood sticks. Rotate new toys weekly to prevent boredom. Avoid plastic as chinchillas may ingest pieces. Supervise playtime to prevent choking hazards. -
Hammocks
Hammocks make cozy beds and are easy to install. Look for a fabric hammock or create one by stringing fleece strips between platforms. Just be sure to securely attach them to prevent falls. Chinchillas will love napping suspended off the ground. -
Cooling Stone or Tile
With their thick fur, chinchillas are prone to overheating. A natural granite or marble cooling stone or tile gives them a place to lie down and cool off. You can find chin-chillers made specifically for small animals too. -
Litter Box
Some chinchillas can be litter trained, keeping their space cleaner. Get a small animal litter box and use plain aspen or paper bedding. Place it in the corner they most often use as a bathroom. Reward them with a treat when they use it to reinforce the behavior. -
Food Bowls
Use sturdy ceramic bowls that can’t be tipped over easily. One for pellets and one for hay prevents mixing. Heavy bowls also prevent spills that can lead to contamination. Avoid plastic since chinchillas may chew and ingest it. -
Water Bottle
Water bottles are more sanitary than bowls and avoid wet chins. Look for a bowl-shaped bottle with a steel ball bearing tip designed especially for rodents. Make sure it’s leak-proof and mounts securely to the bars. -
Natural Wood Perches
Natural branches make great perches for climbing and chewing. Use pesticide-free wood from fruit trees, poplar, birch or aspen. Sand and disinfect first, then lean against platforms or hang for fun new elements to explore. -
Custom Shelving and Ledges
Maximize space by adding extra platforms, ramps, tunnels, and nooks. Use untreated pine, plywood, kiln dried wood, or natural branches. Cover surfaces with anti-pill fleece for comfort and traction. Allow at least 12 inches of head space between shelves. -
Cage Liners
Instead of loose substrate, use fabric cage liners over tray bottoms. Fleece works well and is soft underfoot. They prevent messy kick-out and simplify cleaning. Just replace soiled liners as needed for a quick tidy up. -
Novelty Cage Themes
Personalize their space with a fun theme. Use caution to avoid anything potentially hazardous. Some ideas include: bamboo sticks and greenery for a jungle look, soft fluffy bedding like Carefresh for a cloud vibe, or natural wood and pines for a forest feeling. -
Timber Hideaways
Real wood hideaways make cozy getaways with a natural look. Choose apple, willow or poplar wood. Wooden ledges lined with fleece also provide comfy lounging and look more dynamic than plain plastic platforms. -
Bridges and Ramps
Connect levels and add architectural interest with ramps and bridges. Use kiln dried pine and cover with carpet or fleece for traction. Ramps can be gradual inclines or steeper for more of a challenge. Bridges create extra play areas off the ground. -
Appropriate Flooring
Wire flooring is unsuitable for chinchilla feet. Opt for solid flooring like laminate, linoleum, kiln dried pine or plywood. Cover thresholds between wire platforms and solid flooring to prevent injuries. Always use fleece, carpet or towels for padding. -
Large Dust Houses
A dust house is essential for chinchilla hygiene and health. Get the largest size possible – at least 24” Long x 18” Wide x 16” High. Mount it securely. Fill generously with dust-free volcanic pumice to allow natural dust bathing behavior. -
Safe Household Materials
Use household materials like untreated pine, aspen, apple wood, ceramic or glass bowls, and screws or bolts to securely fasten components. Avoid hardware cloth with sharps edges. Always supervise playtime with new objects. -
Appropriate Bar Spacing
Bar spacing should be 1/2″ x 1″ to prevent escapes and entrapment. Kits and juveniles may need smaller 1/2” squares. Their heads can fit through wider openings. Cover wide gaps with hardware cloth to prevent injuries or escapes. -
Metal Construction
Metal cages like powder coated steel or stainless steel are ideal because they resist chewing damage and are easy to clean. Be sure to add fleece covers over wire shelves and flooring for comfort and traction. Look for rounded edges for safety. -
Security Features
Latches, locks, and slide-out trays all help contain your nimble escape artist. Some cages even have a middle security panel to keep top and bottom units separate. Maximize peace of mind with multiple backup security features. -
Varied Textures and Materials
Incorporate different textures to keep their environment interesting. Try lava ledges, seagrass mats, terra cotta plant pots, untreated wood, fleece, ceramic, glass, and natural sisal rope. Variety stimulates natural curiosity and exploration.
The Perfect Habitat
With so many options, you’re sure to find a cage setup that keeps your chinchilla healthy, safe and entertained. Focus on providing ample space, safety features to prevent injury or escape, places to hide and climb, and surfaces that are gentle on their feet. With a thoughtful design, you can give your pet the perfect habitat to call home. Let your creativity run wild and have fun making your chin’s cage a place they love spending time in.
Choosing the Right Chinchilla Cage
Before you head to pet stores and ponder over adequate chinchilla supplies or chinchilla food, you have to pick out the right cage. As with most animals, larger cages are better than smaller ones. Indeed, the cage should be an absolute minimum of 3 x 2 x 2, and ideally, you should try to get one even bigger than that.
When it comes to chinchilla cage size, height is arguably the most important measurement. Chinchillas need a lot of vertical space, since they like to jump and climb very much. A high cage can better emulate the mountainous environment in which these creatures have evolved.
In terms of materials, a chinchilla cage needs to be made from strong and sturdy materials. It should be chew-resistant, too, as chinchillas like to nibble on things, and the cage will also require proper ventilation for comfort. Most commercial cages from pet stores will be made of metal with soft edges to reduce chances of injury. But, if youre planning a DIY chinchilla cage setup, youll need to design it with care.
Its also important to buy a cage with horizontal bars (even if they are only supportive). These allow the chinchilla to climb up the bars and move about more easily. They also allow you to hang accessories on the side of the cage easier. Also, there should be an inch of space between each bar to let the chinchillas fit their paws through and climb comfortably, while still preventing them from escaping.
What Do Chinchillas Need in Their Cage?
So, what do you need for a chinchilla? Well, before you buy a chinchilla or start searching for “chinchillas near me,” its important to have a good idea of everything youll need to buy and provide for your pet. As well as a good quality cage, chinchillas will also require a range of other essentials, like food, bedding, toys, and more. Heres a quick rundown of all you need.
Every chinchilla cage needs bedding material spread out across the floor space. It soaks up urine and waste and gives your chinchilla something gentle to walk over and sleep on.
There are several different bedding options out there. In general, chinchillas benefit from very soft, absorbent, and non-toxic materials, such as fleece, kiln-dried pine, or aspen shavings. Try to avoid materials that could be toxic or harmful to your pet, like cedar, or bedding materials with synthetic fragrances mixed in.
Fresh water is absolutely vital at all times for chinchillas, and most cages should have at least one water bottle attached to the sides — you might like to add a secondary bottle or dispenser if you have multiple animals in the same cage.
Every pet owner should regularly verify that the bottle works properly. Its best to opt for glass models over plastic, too. Your chinchillas may try to nibble the bottle and could easily bite through a plastic one.
In terms of placement, make sure that the bottle is easy to access and placed at a comfortable height for drinking.
Of course, along with water, chinchillas also need food. Their diet should mainly consist of hay, but they may also eat pellets, along with the odd chinchilla treat, like goji berries. And youll need a good bowl to store it all in.
Its best to opt for a heavy and stable bowl. This will reduce the risk of it tipping over if the chinchillas jump inside or lean on the side. Ceramic and metal bowls work best, and the bowl is best placed on the cage floor for easy accessibility and to decrease the chance of spilling. Remember to clean the bowl regularly for your pets comfort and safety.
When it comes to what do chinchillas need in their cage, a hay feeder is also an essential addition. As stated above, hay is a core component of every chinchilla diet.
Its vital for their well-being, and a hay feeder can be attached to the side of the cage, providing easy, 24-hour access to hay. Opt for a design that aims to reduce waste and keep it topped up throughout the day.
In the wild, chinchillas hide in little cracks and caverns to escape from the cold and predators. Even as pets, they retain that behavior. This is especially true if other animals are present in the house — chinchillas and cats, for example, can easily develop a prey-predator relationship.
All good cages should therefore include a couple of hiding spots, like a wooden nesting box.
Chinchillas dont need to be bathed in water, but they do like to take sand or dust baths from time to time. This is crucial for their fur healthy, and owners need to provide a little tray or bowl, ideally filled with volcanic ash, for them to bathe in daily.
Chinchillas are very active animals that like climbing and jumping around. The best cages therefore need to include some exercise gear, like safe wheels, multiple ledges, and platforms to climb and jump to, along with tunnels.
However, choose your exercise items with care and avoid anything that could cause a chinchilla to overheat, like big plastic exercise balls.
Chinchillas tend to rest a lot during the day and will appreciate some cozy spots to sleep in. A safe, comfortable hammock made of soft fabric is a great idea, but make sure not to suspend it too high up to reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
Chinchillas also have a playful side and will enjoy playing or gnawing on toys. Common chinchilla toys include gnawing blocks and pumice stones, as well as little wooden balls, vine rings, and grass mats.
Avoid little plastic items or anything made of toxic materials that could pose a health or choking risk. And try to introduce new toys often to provide mental stimulation.
When coming up with chinchilla cage ideas, you might also like to think about aesthetic additions. Climbable branches can make the space seem more “wild” and fun. Various decorative accessories exist specifically for chinchilla cages to make it look more like the mountainous terrain the animal is used to.
This can add to the overall chinchilla cost, but such items can enrich your chinchillas life and living space. Just try to avoid anything sharp or toxic.
Chinchilla Cage Accessories & Set Up Ideas
FAQ
How should a chinchilla cage be set up?
- To be large and secure – such as a secure room or large metal mesh cage, with mesh floors as well as alternative flooring such as solid wood. …
- Exercise space – chinchillas are very active and agile and need lots of exercise space. …
- Branches and solid platforms at different levels to rest and jump on.
Should I get 1 or 2 chinchillas?
Chinchillas generally do better in pairs or groups. If you don’t get them at the same time, and if they don’t grow up together, bonding may be difficult and require time and patience. However, if you can have more than one, and you out the effort in it, is definitely worth it for the bond they have with each other.
Are chinchillas happy in a cage?
If you spend time with your chinchilla, have them in a good size cage with toys, proper nutrition and play time with you, they will be happy.
What are DIY Chinchilla cage projects?
These projects are done out of plywood that has been cut according to the measurements needed for the building. DIY chinchilla cage projects are a great way to save money on your pet’s home.
What is a chinchilla cage?
Chinchillas are animals who exercise and move with a lot of vertical movement. So it was a pleasant surprise when the chinchilla cage wasn’t a giant glass tank but instead a two tiered tower for them to hop up and down on.
How long does it take to build a chinchilla cage?
This DIY project will take about four to five hours to complete, and all the tools you need are an electric drill, a jigsaw, and a hammer. The materials required to build the chinchillas cage are pine lumber and treated lumber boards, wire mesh, plywood boards, steel braces, and other essential supplies.