12 Vital Chinchilla Cage Setup For Happy And Healthy Companion
Ensure the happiness and health of your little companion by providing them with a suitable place to live. The playful nature and exploring behavior of these adorable creatures have made them a popular choice among pet enthusiasts.
Besides their unique appearance and curious creatures, they have a sociable nature. In captivity, their cage is the only place that acts as their play area, sanctuary, and home. Therefore, it is essential to fulfill their instinct of exploration and needs.
Environmental factors, size, and length of the cage are essential things that you should look for while building their cage. In this blog, we will explore 12 crucial chinchilla cage setup ideas that will ensure the happiness and well-being of these pets.
Creating A Comfortable Chinchilla Cage Setup
Ample Space
Chinchillas are social and curious creatures. Jumping, running, and climbing are considered their instinct. It is their natural behavior to explore everything. For chinchilla cage setup, it is advised to ensure the space is vast and spacious enough for them to explore. You can also choose a multi-level cage with different platforms and ramps for your little furry companion.
Construction Material
These adorable little rodents are habitual of chewing. Careful consideration is essential while choosing the construction material. Avoiding plastic material is better otherwise they could have to face digestive issues if chewed and fed the plastic. Metal could be a better material for the construction of their cage. Besides this, it is better to make the spacing of the cage narrow to prevent escapes and injuries.
Incorporate Cooling Pad
These rodents are sensitive to extreme temperatures therefore, it is advised to incorporate the cooling pad inside their cage. These cooling plates act as chillers on which these rodents lie and cool down their body. These little pets have thick fur and don’t have sweat glands. They get overheated very easily and also have the chance of heat stroke. Placing a cooling pad will protect them during hot days.
Access To Water & Food
Water is not only needed by human beings but also by rodents. It is advised to ensure that your little companion of joy has access to fresh water and nutritious food. Mostly pet owners and breeders provide them with sipper bottles with an adequate quantity of fresh water. Besides this, it is better to make the availability of chinchilla pellets, fresh vegetables, and hay for these pets.
Comfy Hideouts
Making comfortable hiding places is a great chinchilla cage setup idea. It is a comfy area inside their cage that helps them to retreat and nest down. Besides this, whenever these little creatures feel frightful and uncomfortable, they hide themselves in these structures. After hiding in these structures, they feel safe and comfortable.
Chewy Items
It is essential to place chewy toys in a chinchilla cage setup. Chewing the toys is essential to ensure the dental health of these rodents. Because they have elongated teeth, it is advised to provide them with safe chewy toys. Avoid cedar and pine branches as they could be toxic for them.
Comfortable Bedding
It is advised to fulfill their instinct of burrowing and digging by providing pet-safe bedding material. The most used bedding material for these rodents is Aspen shavings, shredded paper, or dust-free hay. These materials are safe for them to chew, soft, and comfy. Using the shavings of cedar and pine could be harmful to them as their oil affects the respiratory system of these rodents.
Place Litter Box
During chinchilla cage setup, it is essential to place a litter box. You can litter train chinchillas because they are intelligent pets and understand very easily. Although it may take some time to train them after they become habitual to use the litter box, the cage must be protected from their droppings. Installation of a litter box will minimize the time required for cage cleaning.
Dust Bath Area
Because the fur of these rodents is thicker and dense it takes time to get dry after being soaked in water. Accumulation of water even causes skin infections and allergies. Therefore, chinchillas love dust baths. They groom themselves and maintain hygiene by taking dust baths. Placing a container filled with pet-safe dust will help them maintain the shine and cleanliness of their fur.
Ensure Ventilation
Chinchillas are sensitive to hot weather conditions. They could even die because of heat stroke caused by extremely hot temperatures. It is advised to ensure the longevity of your fluffy companion by allowing air circulation. Proper ventilation and air circulation will minimize respiratory issues. Besides this, it is advised to avoid placing their cage in direct sunlight to protect them from heat stroke.
Presence Of Ledges
The natural habitat of these adorable rodents is mountainous regions therefore, they love to jump and climb. In captivity, because of the lack of activities and exercise, they face health issues such as obesity. Therefore, it is advised to incorporate ledges in the cages of these pets. These ledges will allow them to jump and climb. It gives them a visual of more space where they can roam and exercise.
Regular Cage Cleaning
Regular cleaning of the living space of these pets is part of the chinchilla cage setup. It is advised to sterilize their cage with pet-safe cleaners. It will prevent the accumulation of bacteria inside their living space that can cause diseases and promote better health.
Why is Chinchilla cage expensive in the market?
The Chinchilla cage is the most costly and even needed item that most owners demand. Different high-quality and sturdy chinchilla cages are available on the market. You can place the cage wherever you want. It is helpful to keep an eye on them because they are good escapers. Besides this, if you want to invest a manageable amount in a new chinchilla cage, you can buy a used one. However, it is advised to clean it thoroughly before using it. It is recommended that quality over cost be preferred.
Final Verdict!
Chinchillas are the members of a rodent family with a playful and curious nature. These little creatures need ample space to roam and exercise. In captivity, they had less space to jump, climb, and roam. It is advised to fulfill the instinct of these creatures by proper chinchilla cage setup. The must-have essentials for the cage of these fluffy companions are chewy toys, a litter box, a dust bath area, comfortable bedding, access to fresh water, cooling pads, and hideouts.
You can purchase them from a nearby pet store or breeders. The price of chinchillas varies in different regions. A rough estimation indicates that a gray chin can be purchased for $150.
It is estimated that chinchilla poop at least 240 times a day. Therefore, it is advised to ensure their cage cleanliness and maintain hygiene.