Chinchilla Cages
1. Cage size & environment
Chinchillas need a cage that's at least 64 x 61 x 91cm (25" x 24" x 36"). This is the minimum requirements based on housing one chinchilla and it's always better to go bigger if possible. Whilst some chinchilla pairs will co-exist in a cage that size, this really is the absolute minimum for two and due to the confined space you may find serious fights more likely to occur. You must also ensure your cage does not have any drops more than 40cm/16inches as chinchillas can easily fall and seriously injure themselves otherwise. Chinchillas must be kept indoors and cannot live outside under any circumstances. This is because they should not get wet, must be kept at a temperature no higher than 21C/70F at all times (lower is fine as long as it doesn't go below freezing) with humidity less than 60%, and away from direct sunlight and drafts. Never keep your chinchilla in a glass aquarium/vivarium style cage, chinchillas need good ventilation and will easy overheat in such an enclosed environment. |
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Cage requirements for pregnant chinchillas and babies are different, please click here for information on this.
Small cages are very cruel!
*Word of warning: unfortunately there are some irresponsible pet shops and breeders that will tell you "no cage is too small" and that chinchillas are happy kept in tiny cages or those intended for travelling only. This of course is totally false, chinchillas need the size detailed above at the absolute minimum.
Some will even try to just this by saying their chinchilla doesn't move around much, or tends to stay in one space. This is not normal behaviour, unless very elderly, chinchillas should be full of life and make you feel envious of their endless supply of energy! If you are observing your chinchilla during the day, you may find they often rest in the same place. This does not mean they always stay there, if you watch them at 3am it will likely be a different story! This is a bit like how you wouldn't assume a person never moves from their bed, just because that's where they are at night time!
A chinchilla kept in a tiny cage will inevitably move around less because they don't have the space to do anything different. Chinchillas must be able to display natural behaviours by having room to run around and jump to different levels. Anything less is extremely cruel to the chinchilla.
Some will even try to just this by saying their chinchilla doesn't move around much, or tends to stay in one space. This is not normal behaviour, unless very elderly, chinchillas should be full of life and make you feel envious of their endless supply of energy! If you are observing your chinchilla during the day, you may find they often rest in the same place. This does not mean they always stay there, if you watch them at 3am it will likely be a different story! This is a bit like how you wouldn't assume a person never moves from their bed, just because that's where they are at night time!
A chinchilla kept in a tiny cage will inevitably move around less because they don't have the space to do anything different. Chinchillas must be able to display natural behaviours by having room to run around and jump to different levels. Anything less is extremely cruel to the chinchilla.
2. No plastic
The cage must be totally free from any plastic - if a chinchilla chews this, it can cause fatal internal blockages. Please do not be fooled by claims such as "hard, durable plastic", your chinchilla can and will chew through this. Even if a chinchilla has plastic in their cage which has never been chewed before, they may decide to start at any point and their strong teeth can chew through a lot very quickly, before you have chance to remove it. Instead, wooden shelves can be used from the safe wood list, metal, or non pill fleece to completely cover plastic shelving. |
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3. Must be stong, sturdy & secure
Chinchillas are very destructive so their cage must be strong and sturdy to withhold their constant chewing and bouncing around. Poorly made cages will break quickly and cost more in the long run by having to be replaced. It is absolutely vital that the cage is secure & the chinchilla cannot squeeze through the bar spacing, (see below) or manage to open the cage doors. Sadly far too many chinchillas have died because they escaped their cages and ate something they shouldn’t, got injured or managed to find their way outside. Chinchillas are great escape artists and if there’s a way to get out of their cage, they will find it! For this reason, padlocks on cage doors are a good idea, as well as keeping doors closed to the room the chinchilla’s cage is in and removing any hazards as possible, so should the chinchilla ever manage to escape they are unlikely to come to any harm.
Chinchillas are very destructive so their cage must be strong and sturdy to withhold their constant chewing and bouncing around. Poorly made cages will break quickly and cost more in the long run by having to be replaced. It is absolutely vital that the cage is secure & the chinchilla cannot squeeze through the bar spacing, (see below) or manage to open the cage doors. Sadly far too many chinchillas have died because they escaped their cages and ate something they shouldn’t, got injured or managed to find their way outside. Chinchillas are great escape artists and if there’s a way to get out of their cage, they will find it! For this reason, padlocks on cage doors are a good idea, as well as keeping doors closed to the room the chinchilla’s cage is in and removing any hazards as possible, so should the chinchilla ever manage to escape they are unlikely to come to any harm.
4. Bar spacing no wider than 1 inch
Any more than this and a chinchilla can easily escape. Make sure you check this carefully before buying a cage.
Any more than this and a chinchilla can easily escape. Make sure you check this carefully before buying a cage.
5. Solid floor or wire mesh bottom?
As well as solid floor bottoms, some chinchilla cages have a wire mesh floor to allow the chinchilla's droppings & waste to fall through to the pan below. If you choose a wire mesh bottom cage, the size of the gaps in the mesh should be no wider than 1/4 inch as chinchillas can easily catch their feet otherwise. With a wire mesh cage it's important to make sure your chinchilla has other surfaces to stand on as well, such as wooden or non pill fleece ledges, so they can have a break from standing on the mesh when they want to.
As well as solid floor bottoms, some chinchilla cages have a wire mesh floor to allow the chinchilla's droppings & waste to fall through to the pan below. If you choose a wire mesh bottom cage, the size of the gaps in the mesh should be no wider than 1/4 inch as chinchillas can easily catch their feet otherwise. With a wire mesh cage it's important to make sure your chinchilla has other surfaces to stand on as well, such as wooden or non pill fleece ledges, so they can have a break from standing on the mesh when they want to.
6. On wheels?
Some chinchilla cages come on wheels, which are very handy if you need to move the cage around to clean or to a different area for playtime.
Some chinchilla cages come on wheels, which are very handy if you need to move the cage around to clean or to a different area for playtime.
Examples of common, suitable chinchilla cages
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Ferret Nation
This cage is pretty durable and has the advantage that you can easily add on extra units to build a bigger cage. Another bonus is that you can buy both cut out and solid pans, allowing you to change the set up of your cage. Cut out pans allow your chinchillas to go down to the next level and solid pans keep them to that level only. Should bonded chinchillas fall out this is really useful as you can still keep them in the same cage without them actually living together. Please cover the plastic pan floor and ramps (if used) with non pill fleece. The bar spacing on this cage is 1 inch. |
Critter Nation
Similar to the Ferret Nation Cage above but slightly less sturdy, meaning the bars may break. Has the advantage of smaller bar spacing at 1/2 inch (1.4cm) wide. You can also buy add on units to make your cage bigger and either use cut out pans to have one big cage or solid pans to separate chinchillas within the cage. Please cover the plastic pan floor and ramps (if used) with non pill fleece. |
Savic Suite Royal XL (UK)
Similar to the Ferret and Critter Nation cages, the Savic Suite Royal XL is also commonly available in the UK. Again this cage allows you to either divide it off into 2 sections for separate chinchillas, or to keep it as 1 big cage for a bonded pair or group. The bar spacing on this cage is 1.4cm (1/2 inch), so good for smaller chinchillas or those very keen escape artists. Like the Ferret and Critter Nation cages, please cover the plastic pan floor and ramps (if used) with non pill fleece. |
Accessories for your chinchilla's cage
Now you've decided on a suitable cage for your chinchilla, take a look at what toys and accessories to provide in there.
Vector Graphics with thanks to Freepik