Chinchilla Cages

Not every one realizes that chinchillas are small rodents native to South America, but it is common knowledge that their soft, thick fur makes them a highly desirable pet. These active animals treat their whole cage as a playground, so it is important to buy a chinchilla cage that will provide the safest and most comfortable home for your pet. The chinchilla cages discussed on this page have been reviewed with your chinchilla’s special needs in mind.

Buying a cage for your chinchilla is part of the fun of bringing your new pet home, but you need to consider a few points to ensure that your pet will be happy, and that you’ll get the best value for your money.

Many people buy small chinchilla cages for their young chinchilla and then upgrade to larger chinchilla cages as the animal grows. Because your young chinchilla will immensely enjoy the extra space of a larger cage, it is quite an economical idea to buy a larger chinchilla cage to begin with and save yourself some money, especially if you carefully chose a safe and durable chinchilla cage that will last a lifetime. All the cages on this page have been personally tested by me (well, by my chinchillas to be exact!) and I can recommend them for their quality and chinchilla suitability.

Midwest 142 Ferret Nation Double-Level Chinchilla Cage

I always recommend the Ferret Nation cage to new chinchilla owners, and this is the cage I prefer and personally use. This cage is possibly the most popular choice by experienced chinchilla owners. It is a strong, attractive cage that can be used as one large cage, or divided into two separate chinchilla cages as needed. This versatility extends to the availability of custom pans that make the cage especially suitable for the chinchillas, removable ramps, and the availability of wooden shelves if desired.

The most basic consideration in buying chinchilla cages is the size. Chinchillas are playful and energetic, so it is best to buy a chinchilla cage as large as your home and budget can accommodate. This will allow your pet to romp, climb and stretch out to relax. The smallest cage should have a floor space of no less than 24 by 24 inches. Chinchilla cages can have single or multi-levels, or even be tiered, offering the advantage of allowing your pet to climb.

Of course, if you are planning to keep two chinchillas a much larger cage is required so that each animal can have their own space to lessen their stress and to maintain good health.

Midwest 142 Ferret Nation Single-Level Chinchilla Cage

A smaller, less costly chinchilla cage is the single-level version of the above cage. The larger, previous cage is preferable as it provides more vertical space for your chinchilla to explore, but this smaller cage does have a comfortably-angled ramp and hanging points for toys and hammocks. It carries a one-year warranty, as does the above Ferret Nation double level chinchilla cage.

Any pet store will have a variety of pet cages on display, but many of these cages are unsuitable as chinchilla cages as they are made of plastic, which easily falls prey to the strong teeth of the chinchilla and its habit of gnawing away at whatever it can find. For the same reasons, plastic accessories should be avoided.

Metal cages are a better choice for chinchilla cages as they are easy to clean, can usually be taken apart easily if necessary and are reasonably priced, especially if it has been carefully chosen to suit your chinchilla for life. Of course, metal chinchilla cages are also resistant to chinchilla chewing.

Other people prefer the natural beauty of wooden cages. Which is fine, but if this is your choice be sure to pick a chinchilla cage made of thick wood known to be non-toxic to chinchillas, such as apple or willow, check out our complete list of chinchilla safe wood.

Feisty Ferret Chinchilla Cage

The best value for those on a budget, this chinchilla cage includes three ladders, two platforms and the well loved hammock at a good price. Another plus is the large opening doors that allow you to reach your pet easily. This cage comes with wheels, a slide out tray for changing the bedding and a bottom storage rack for chinchilla food and toys.

The glorious fur of the chinchillas causes further considerations when buying chinchilla cages. Firstly, that lovely thick fur hides a slim supple body that can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps, so make sure you cage is well built with no small openings. Always take care to close it properly! Secondly, the thick fur that enables the chinchilla to survive low temperatures in the wild can contribute to overheating and death. So the cage will have to able to fit into a cool shady part of your home, where it will also be quiet and stress-free through out the day to encourage a restful sleep for your pet.

Just as importantly, you will need to consider the size of the mesh in the chinchilla cage. A toe or foot caught as your pet plays can easily lead to broken bones in the foot, toes or leg. Too many owners have discovered the need for smaller mesh the hard, sad way! In fact, this is such an important point that I have reviewed only chinchilla cages that have the correctly sized mesh on this page.

Prevue Ferret Corner Chinchilla Cage

Another cage designed for ferrets but very suitable for chinchillas, this cage fits into the corner of your room to maximize space. Made totally of steel, it has no gaps for an escaping chinchilla to discover. This cage also has wheels for ease of movement, and a pullout tray to change the bedding.

When at last you receive your carefully chosen chinchilla cage and bring home your precious new chinchilla, be sure to place the cage off the floor on a table or stand to avoid making your new pet feel vulnerable when you need to lean over the cage to feed or watch your pet.

Carefully chosen chinchilla cages are fun for you as well as your little friend. Decorating the cage with different accessories and play areas will give you much pleasure as you add your own personal touch to your lovely chinchilla’s world.

So the rest is up to you, choose the perfect cage for your new chinchilla, decorate it to suit you both, and make sure to read our guides on chinchilla food, chinchilla treats and accessories for your new chinchilla as well!