1. Chinchilla Cage
As the saying goes...Home is Where the Heart Is and the same goes for chinchillas. A chinchilla will
spend most of its life within the cage confinement, therefore you must buy the correct type of cage
and include all the necessary essentials.
The standard size chinchilla cage sold in pet shops is 18"-24" deep x 24"-36" wide x 24"-36" high and
is only suitable for a lone chinchilla (at a minimum), so the first first thing you will need to consider
when buying a chinchilla cage is whether you will be breeding chinchillas, keeping just one
chinchilla or a pair of chinchillas.
If you are considering breeding chinchillas, then the female will need to be placed in a single story
cage when the birth date is due so when the babies are born, no harm can come to them. Chinchilla
kits are born with immediate mobility and begin to climb the walls of the cage and falling when
getting to the top.
Chinchilla pairs need a cage that is big enough for two, plenty of places to hide in (bolt-holes) and
toys to help distract attention from one another and a lone chinchilla will need a cage full of
interesting items to play with to alleviate boredom.
Cages that have more empathise on length rather than height are better as they cover more floor
area for a chinchilla to run and bounce around in. Unlike other rodents and small caged animal
types, chinchillas like to use the walls of their cage for jumping on, bouncing off and running against
when in the form of play. You must therefore ensure the side walls of the chinchilla cage does not
contain holes bigger than ½ " x ½ " as chinchillas have been found hanging in the morning from a
trapped leg or foot!
The position of the cage has an impact on a chinchilla's feeling of security and comfort so it is
paramount that a chinchilla's cage is positioned in the correct location within your household
A chinchilla cage should be housed in a room that is quiet, light, airy, cool with an ideal room
temperature between 60°-75°F (15.5°-25°C). Chinchillas can very easily suffer from 'heat
stroke' or death in environments in excess of 75°F together with high humidity levels, so make sure
2. the room you house the chinchilla's cage in is kept cool during warmer climates.
The chinchilla cage must be large enough for a chinchilla to be able to run and jump about
(remember, chinchillas can just up to 6ft in the air). If the chinchilla's cage is too small they will
suffer from various disorders such as depression, extreme anxiety and neurotic habits, which will
result in the chinchilla pacing in circles or somersaulting, loose the ability to jump or run properly.
The best location for a chinchilla cage is in the corner of a quiet room, away from radiators,
draughts, sunlight and any objects that could be in reach of the chinchilla (for example curtains and
wires). As animals of prey, chinchillas like to be housed high up therefore use a sturdy table and
position the chinchilla cage at eye level. It is also a good idea to place a sheet over the chinchilla
cage giving them an extra sense of security during their sleeping hours in the daytime. You can
leave a small peep-hole gap at one end so when the chinchilla is awake and ready for interaction you
will find them approach the opening to see where you are and then you can remove the covering.
Below is further information on the different types of chinchilla cage you can choose.
This is the most common type of chinchilla cage and is made from galvanized wire with mesh holes
½ " x ½ ". A wired bottom cage is one of the most hygienic cages for a chinchilla as faeces and
waste debris can pass through the bottom into a separate collection tray underneath. The tray can
be lined with newspaper for easy cleaning and maintained without having to remove the chinchilla
from its cage.
The size of the wire mesh is an important factor if you want to be sure to keep the chinchilla safe.
Some chinchillas have been known to trap their feet or leg between the mesh therefore you must
ensure the holes are no bigger than ½ " x ½ ". The ideal would be ¼ " x ¼" especially if your
chinchilla will be having babies. A great idea is to scatter untreated wood around the bottom of the
cage for a chinchilla to jump onto and prevent such injuries as broken bones or trapped limbs.
This type of chinchilla cage is the most safest for a chinchilla and any potential babies but is harder
to keep hygienically clean. The bottom of the cage is usually detachable and can be lined with hay or
newspaper but unfortunately, with this type of chinchilla cage, there is no where for the waste to go,
therefore a chinchilla will come into direct contact with waster debris, urine and faeces. The bottom
of the cage will need to be cleaned daily to prevent fungus setting into the flooring and infections.
If you choose to use a chinchilla cage that has already housed a previous chinchilla, it is essential
that you not only clean it thoroughly but also disinfect the cage to avoid any build up of bacteria that
will be harmful to your chinchilla. You must especially pay attention disinfecting the corners of the
chinchilla cage, which are dark and a perfect breeding ground for fungus and bacteria before rinsing
thoroughly with fresh water.
You must disinfect a used chinchilla cage 48 hours before you place a new chinchilla inside to ensure
the cage has been allowed to air dry thoroughly and is not damp. The process of disinfecting a used
wired bottom cage is much easier than sterilizing a solid bottom cage. Solid bottom cages tend to
hold the scent of previous chinchillas no matter how much you clean, so if you choose a used
chinchilla cage, pick the wired bottom cage type, which will be easier to clean and disinfect.
3. Many owners like to design their own type of
chinchilla cage, which is perfectly fine and understandable. Thorough research must be undertaken
before you attempt to build your own cage and you should only try this is you are completely
experienced. One caution you must remember is to ensure the chinchilla cage is completely safe
before allowing a chinchilla to roam free and jump about inside. If successful you can create a
wonderful home environment for a chinchilla of any size and layout but if not it can kill them! Some
home made chinchilla cages have been known to collapse on chinchillas or are toxic because of the
products the owner chose to use. You must never build a chinchilla cage out of chicken wire, wood
other than natural untreated pine, wire that is coated in plastic and never under any circumstances
use a glass aquarium. Make sure when you build a chinchilla cage the door can be securely fastened
as chinchillas can work out how to open cage doors and also that the hole is big enough to be able to
remove houses and all other other items within the cage.
Chinchilla cages should never be housed outside unless you have some type of heating system to
regulate the temperature. A chinchilla can die outside if not kept properly so you will have to be
more vigilant. A chinchilla will be more prone to predators, stress and fluctuations in the British
climate, let alone the chances of the chinchilla escaping - never to be caught again (only by a
predator). It is seriously inadvisable to house a chinchilla and the cage outside so you must choose a
quiet room within your home environment.
A chinchilla cage does not smell if regularly cleaned. Keep to a cleaning routine and perform
husbandry on a day, weekly, monthly and twice-yearly basis.
Cage Necessities/Essentials, Cage Maintenance.
http://www.chinchillachronicles.com/chinchilla_cage.html
