Chinchilla cage size: how big it really needs to be

How big should a chinchilla cage be?

As big and as tall as you can fit, and no smaller than 91 × 61 × 152 cm (3 × 2 × 5 ft) for two. Good sources give quite different minimums, which is why owners get confused:

Which should you follow? The RSPCA says chinchillas must not live alone, so the single-chinchilla figures matter less than they look. We take the VCA and Wood Green pair figures, which almost match, as the real minimum: they are the only ones written for two animals, and they give the height a jumping animal needs. We see PDSA's 2 × 2 × 1 m as the goal, and it is close to what a chinchilla-proofed room or a walk-in aviary-style enclosure gives you. Anything in between is better than the minimum.

Why height matters more than floor space

The RSPCA says chinchillas can jump over 1.8 m (6 ft). In the wild they live among rocks on steep mountainsides, and they move by leaping from ledge to ledge. A low, wide cage, the kind sold for rabbits and guinea pigs, wastes what they are built for.

Height only helps if it is broken up, though. The RSPCA and PDSA both say no fall should be more than 60 cm (2 ft). PetMD lists broken bones among the common problems vets see in pet chinchillas, and a long drop onto a hard floor is an easy way to get one. In practice that means solid shelves or levels every 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 ft) up the cage, staggered so a jump from any shelf lands on another shelf rather than the floor. Our chinchilla cage setup guide shows how to lay them out.

Large, extra large and the biggest chinchilla cages

For a pair, most good set-ups use one of these:

Always check the maker's listed outside measurements, and remember the space inside is a little smaller. Ferret-style multi-level cages are a common choice for chinchillas, and VCA says they work well as long as there are no gaps where feet or legs can get caught. Our guide to the best chinchilla cages has picks we would look at.

What bar spacing does a chinchilla cage need?

No more than 2.5 cm (1 in) between bars on the sides, says PetMD, and UK charity Wood Green asks for 12 to 14 mm (about 0.5 in). We would follow Wood Green: the narrower gap stops young chinchillas squeezing out and feet slipping through. The MSD Veterinary Manual gives 2.5 × 5 cm (1 × 2 in) mesh for the sides and 1.5 × 1.5 cm (0.5 × 0.5 in) for any wire floor. Young chinchillas, called kits, can squeeze through wider gaps than you would expect, so if you have a young one, choose the narrow end.

The wire itself matters too. VCA warns against galvanised wire, which contains zinc and is harmful if chewed and swallowed. The MSD Veterinary Manual warns against plastic-coated wire, because chinchillas strip the coating and eat it. So look for powder-coated or stainless steel instead.

What kind of floor does the cage need?

A solid one, or at least solid areas to sit on. Standing on wire mesh for long periods hurts chinchillas' feet, causing sore, swollen pads called bumblefoot (pododermatitis), say the RSPCA and PDSA. VCA suggests covering at least part of a wire floor with untreated wood or another solid, easy-clean surface. Most owners now use a solid tray base with a liner or bedding on top. Our chinchilla bedding guide covers what to put on it.

What is the typical size of a chinchilla?

An adult chinchilla is up to 25 cm (10 in) long without its tail, with a bushy tail of about 15 cm (6 in) on top, according to the MSD Veterinary Manual. Chewy's vet-reviewed care sheet gives a body of about 23 to 36 cm (9 to 14 in) and a tail of 8 to 15 cm (3 to 6 in). Adults weigh 450 to 680 g (1 to 1.5 lb), and females are usually larger than males. Babies weigh just 60 to 70 g (2 to 2.5 oz) at birth.

That small body is why the cage has to be tall rather than just wide: a chinchilla is a strong, light jumper, and the space it needs comes from how it moves, not how big it is.

How much room does a chinchilla need outside the cage?

As well as the cage, chinchillas need daily exercise in a safe space. The MSD Veterinary Manual suggests about two hours of supervised time out of the cage every day, and PDSA says a safe area outside the enclosure should be used daily. A bathroom or spare room with cables lifted away, gaps blocked and nothing chewable at floor level works well. If the cage is the PDSA size or bigger, the cage itself can do much of this work.

What else has to fit inside?

Size is not just about the animals. A pair of chinchillas also needs, inside the cage:

• A nest box each, about 25 × 25 × 25 cm (10 × 10 × 10 in), plus one shared and a spare (PDSA).
• A solid wheel at least 38 cm (15 in) across, if you use one (VCA). See our chinchilla wheel guide.
• Several wooden shelves at staggered heights.
• A hay rack, a heavy bowl and a water bottle.
• Room for a dust bath of at least 15 × 15 × 23 cm (6 × 6 × 9 in) at bath time.

Once all that is in, a small cage has almost no open space left, which is one more reason to go big. For the full picture of what chinchillas need, see our complete chinchilla care guide, and our best chinchilla hides page for nest boxes that fit.

Where to put the cage

In the coolest, quietest room you have. The RSPCA gives 10 to 18°C (50 to 64°F) and PDSA 10 to 15°C (50 to 59°F), away from draughts, windows, radiators and direct sun, and away from TVs and speakers. A big cage in a hot room is worse than a smaller cage in a cool one. Our chinchilla temperature guide explains how to keep a room cool enough.