Chinchilla Cages

I'm going to save you a whole heap of research effort, money and especially tears (from your pet dying due to inadequate caging conditions) - this information took me years to figure out and by reading a few words here you will become more educated than 97% of all chinchilla owners and 90% of all pet owners. Even in the rare case when information is actually correct, most people will not be able to explain why it is necessary.

The first best piece of advice I learnt early on was to not listen to pet store staff/trainers' advice regarding chinchilla cages. The reason for this is simple - they commonly they are highly uneducated about disease control, and are trying hard to sell you their product! It is a sales pitch. Don't fall in for it!!!

Not only can chinchillas fall ill with poor caging, but most people do not recognise that poor choice of chinchilla cages can cause behavioural abnormatlities.

The cage should be as large as you can reasonably afford, with a minimum floor space of about 24 x 24 inches.

Chinchilla cages should be tall, because it will allow careful placement of shelves and ladders that will allow the chinchilla to climb. Chinchillas also like to be high up, where they feel safe.

Chinchilla owners often buy plastic cages, however the animals will chew through these easily, resulting in wasted dollars and time. Wire is by far the best chinchilla cage material.Additionally, wire caging allows food and faecal material to fall through, facilitating easier cleaning. Now, if you are anything like me (I hate cleaning with a passion!), you will surely appreciate a pull out tray! Trays are usually lined with wood shavings or newspapers (however, Cedar or undried pines can cause respiratory dsease or liver problems in chinchillas because of their aromatic oils). Remember, however, that even though wire is the best material available for chinchilla cages, chinchilla feet can be damaged by stepping over wires too much. You should provide a wooden platform or piece of wood to cover part of the wire to occasionally give the chinchilla a rest. Would you like walking on wire all day?

A wooden cube - for the ferret to sleep and hide in
A bottle of water - this is placed outside the cage to make it easy to change bottles and allow the chinchilla to drink
Toys - give your chinchilla occasional chew toys (e.g. blocks of wood, branch of a safe type of tree, a hanging bird cage toy made of wood, empty toilet paper tube). It should be noted here that wheels can be dangerous, so make sure you supervise the chinchilla when it plays with it at a young age until it gets used to it. Wheels should be solid surface metal with no open sides which can cut feet and tails.

*Sigh* A lot of people ask me this, and quite frankly I don't know the best chinchilla cage on the market. But I have good news! I have listed the link of the supplier that I have used again and again to buy chinchilla cages for my ever expanding family and fellow chinchilla lovers below. Their Ferplast 'Cincilla' Super Chinchilla Cage may be pricey at first, but your chinchilla can live beyond 18 years, it is a small cost, especially for me - I've used the same cages for several generations of chinchillas!. It includes platforms and a water bottle - it even has a chinchilla sand bath!!!


Amazing value chinchilla cages, toys, hammocks, cages and accessories!