Best chinchilla cages: what to buy and what to skip

What makes a good chinchilla cage?

Height, chew-proof materials and safe floors. Chinchillas are jumpers: the RSPCA says they can leap over 1.8 m (6 ft), and wild ones live among steep rocks. So a good cage gives them up, not just across. Here is what to check before you buy:

• Size: at least 91 × 61 × 152 cm (3 × 2 × 5 ft) for a pair (VCA). Woodgreen's pair minimum is almost the same, 93 × 63 × 159 cm (37 × 25 × 63 in).
• Bars: no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) apart (PetMD); 12 to 14 mm (about 0.5 in) is safer for young chinchillas (Woodgreen).
• Metal: powder-coated or stainless steel. Not galvanised wire, which contains zinc (VCA), and not plastic-coated wire, which gets chewed off and eaten (MSD Veterinary Manual).
• Solid floors: wire floors cause sore feet. Woodgreen asks for a solid metal base; VCA says cover at least part of any wire floor with untreated wood.
• Levels: shelves spaced so no drop is more than 60 cm (2 ft), as the RSPCA and PDSA advise.
• No plastic in reach: plastic shelves, ramps and trays get chewed, and pieces can block the gut.
• Big doors: you need to reach every corner to clean, and get a nest box in and out.

For the detail behind every number, read our guide to chinchilla cage size.

How big should a chinchilla cage be?

As big and as tall as you can fit. VCA's minimum is 91 × 61 × 91 cm (3 × 2 × 3 ft) for one chinchilla and 91 × 61 × 152 cm (3 × 2 × 5 ft) for two. PDSA's goal is far larger, 2 m high, 2 m wide and 1 m deep, and it would rather chinchillas had a large indoor enclosure or a room of their own. The RSPCA says chinchillas must not be kept alone, so plan for a pair from the start.

For big, huge or extra-large set-ups, owners usually go one of three ways: a double-unit cage (two tall units stacked as one), two tall cages joined side by side with a doorway between them, or a walk-in aviary-style enclosure or chinchilla-proofed room. The last gets closest to the PDSA standard.

The best chinchilla cages to look at

Chinchilla cages to skip

Plenty of cages sold for chinchillas are too small for a pair. Two examples from shop listings:

A small cage can still be useful as a hospital cage or for travel to the vet. It just shouldn't be home.

All-metal, wooden or DIY chinchilla cages?

All metal wins for most people. It can't be chewed through, it doesn't soak up urine, and it is easy to scrub. VCA prefers wire mesh over wood for exactly those reasons.

Wooden chinchilla cages and cabinet-style homes look lovely in a living room, but bare wood gets chewed and soaks up urine, so it is hard to keep clean. If you like the look, choose one lined inside with metal mesh or sheet, with only untreated solid wood where the chinchillas can reach. Avoid chipboard, MDF, plywood glues, paints and varnishes.

DIY chinchilla cages and enclosures are common, often built from a wardrobe, shelving unit or timber frame. If you build one, keep to the same rules: powder-coated or stainless mesh (never galvanised), bars 12 to 25 mm (0.5 to 1 in) apart, solid floors, no exposed screws or sharp edges, and shelves so no drop is over 60 cm (2 ft).

What should I put in my chinchilla's cage?

The cage is only half the job. A pair needs, inside:

• Solid wooden shelves at staggered heights, so every jump lands on a shelf.
• A nest box each, about 25 × 25 × 25 cm (10 × 10 × 10 in), plus a shared one and a spare (PDSA).
• A hay rack kept full, a heavy bowl for pellets and a water bottle.
• Safe wooden chews such as apple, pear or willow (Woodgreen).
• A solid wheel at least 38 cm (15 in) across, if there is room (VCA).
• A solid floor with suitable bedding or a fleece liner.
• A dust bath, put in for about 10 minutes a day and then removed.

Our guide to chinchilla cage setup shows how to lay all this out, our best chinchilla hides page covers nest boxes and houses, and best chinchilla toys covers chews, wheels and playpens. For floors, see chinchilla bedding.

What is the best food for chinchillas?

Unlimited good grass hay, such as timothy, a small daily portion of plain pellets and fresh water. PetMD gives 1 to 2 tablespoons of pellets a day and says treats should be no more than 1 to 10% of the diet. PDSA warns against muesli-style mixes, because chinchillas pick out the sugary parts, which can lead to painful dental disease. Our chinchilla diet guide has the full daily plan.

Where to put the cage

In the coolest, quietest room you have, away from sunny windows, radiators and draughts. The RSPCA gives 10 to 18°C (50 to 64°F). A great cage in a hot room is still dangerous, so read our chinchilla temperature guide before you pick the spot. For everything else, our complete chinchilla care guide covers the lot.