Chinchilla Cages

Chinchilla cages are large, often cube-shaped cages made specifically for the habits of a chinchilla. Chinchilla require quite a bit of space to roam, as they are energetic and curious animals. Often described as nocturnal, though crepuscular is more accurate (active during dawn and dusk), chinchillas make great pets because they are low maintenance and relatively quiet even while being as active as they are. They don't make any irritating noises, as you might get with a guinea pig, though you may find their habit of gnawing on things to be a bit of a bother due to both the noise, and the shear quantity of things they will chew through on a regular basis is staggering.

When selecting a cages for chinchillas it's important to keep their happiness and safety in mind. This means the cage should be spacious, free of fine mesh that they could get their toes and tails caught in, and have no open water sources – bottles only.

Chinchilla Overview

Chinchilla are the only member of the Chinchillidae family and belong in the order of Rodents. They are sometimes confused with Pika, which belong on the order of Lagomorphs with rabbits and hares. They look kind of link an oversized gerbil, and are about the size of a rabbit. They have the densest fur of any land animal; it is so dense that it prevents parasites like fleas from living in it because these pests would merely suffocate.

You can find cheap chinchilla cages at your local pet store, but sometimes cheap isn't the best way to go. You want a cage that is sturdy and long-lasting. Cheap cages are sometimes made of cheap materials, have places that are easy to escape from, and will often have the dreaded toe-breaking mesh as a cheap replacement for sturdy metal bars. This doesn't mean you can't find inexpensive cages out there, but make sure that the deal is worth it, and the cage itself is actually of reasonable quality.

Usually Chinchilla owners will use what is typically used a ferret cage for their pet. These cages provide ample room to run and play, both vertically and horizontally. Keep in mind that having more than one chinchilla will require a larger cage, as each animal enjoys their own bit of personal space even though they are quite social.  Due to their active lifestyles, large chinchilla cages are always preferred over small.

Okay, the eating after midnight thing isn't true (it's a bad Gremlins reference), but you really shouldn't let your chinchilla get wet. This means you should never have an open water source in its cage - no water bowls; they should be drinking from water bottles only. The reason for this is that their fur is so dense, that if water does work its way down into it, it won't evaporate on its own. This will cause fungus and rotting, which is obviously quite undesirable. If your chinchilla does get wet it's going to require manual effort on your part to get it dry again. This means toweling it dry, and using a hair dryer on the “no heat” setting.

Chinchillas do require a bath from time to time, but this is no ordinary bath. You'll need to have a chinchilla dust bath that can be placed in the cage regularly. Dust bathing is a natural habit for chinchillas, and they love to play and roll around in the sand. Chinchilla dust is specifically made to be fine enough and absorbent enough to penetrate the fur right down to the skin, absorb the excess oils, and then be shaken off as the chinchilla runs and plays. Do not leave the bath in the cage permanently, but give them access once or twice a week – too often will actually dry out the skin and fur which isn't good.

Shopping for chinchilla cages shouldn't be terribly difficult or stressful. If you're purchasing one for your first chinchilla, simply make sure you're buying a large enough cage to keep it happy, and sturdy enough to prevent it from escaping.  You can always upgrade later if necessary.  If you feel like none of the chinchilla cages for sale at the pet stores meet your standards, you can also look into custom-built cages. Check with your local breeders, as they will often either supply such cages, or know someone who does.