So, you‘ve now chosen to buy a chinchilla and to experience the delightful, amusing uniqueness they will bring to your home as pets. Now, you are going to need to make a home within your home for them; a cage, for them and their things. There are many different types, shapes and sizes of small pet cages available on the Internet as well as at your local pet store.

Any cage, from around 30″ to 48″ inches in height and length, should be big enough and provide your pet with plenty of living, as well as playing, room. Of course the difference in size will need to correlate with the number of these furry little creatures that you have chosen to share your home and life with.

While multiple levels are a plus, a solid floor is a must; wire mesh is much too hazardous for their delicate, mouse-like, little feet. It is also wise to choose a cage with bars rather than mesh-like sides because, as you will quickly, and to your amusement, find out, a happy, healthy chinchilla will frequently run all around the cage very fast, banking off the sides in play. And, again, mesh can cause a delicate foot to become caught and, most especially if at this rowdy play, cause serious injury!

You can also add some ramps for your chinchilla to climb on, or even some tree limbs. Just be sure that anything brought in from the outside, like a tree limb, is “cleaned” before putting it into the cage; you do not want to take the chance of introducing bugs or parasites to the home of an animal who’s system is as delicate as a chinchillas’ can be.

Stripping any rough bark off and steaming the limb will greatly reduce this risk. Another “limb-like” option is a large piece of well worn drift wood; again, being sure to sterilize it first. (lovely, naturally-formed drift wood can be found along river banks and large lakes as well as on the shore of a beach). Also, some pet stores carry the larger, synthetic, pieces like this. These additions are not only fun and functional for your pet but also add a natural beauty to the cage, easily creating a unique “coversation piece”.

Many cages come with a removable tray that slides out of the bottom for easy cleaning. A very effective as well as inexpensive source you can use for easy cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing the cage can be created by mixing a small amount of bleach with hot water; ¾ cup of bleach per gallon of water works very well. DO NOT use the bleach full strength. It is highly corrosive and will damage any plastic it’s used on. It can also damage the surface of metal as well.

This mixture can be used for the rest of the cage too. Be sure, though, to rinse very, very thoroughly; any residue or even strong smell of the bleach can, at the very least, cause your pet to become ill. If possible, taking the entire cage, and the other items used within it, outside to clean, especially when you are using bleach, is a good idea. It will more than allow for proper ventilation for you and you can use a garden hose for a very last and long final rinse for your chinchillas benefit. Use only hot soapy water for all the feeding and drinking containers.