Is Fleece Safe For Chinchillas? (It Works Fantastic, But…)

Fleece seems like the perfect option.

Other types of bedding need to be replaced constantly and they are harder to clean.

Fleece might cost more upfront, but you save a ton in the long run.

And cleanup only takes a minute.

That’s why fleece came in at number one among the best chinchilla bedding options.

But is fleece it safe for chinchillas?

Or is it a case where it might be better for us, but not for your pet?

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about fleece as chinchilla bedding.

 

Is Fleece Safe For Chinchillas?

I have now been raising my chinchilla for the last 5 years using fleece liners and here is what I can tell you on this topic.

Fleece is safe for chinchillas if they do not chew it or consume it.

Fleece can be used as cage tray liners to provide a soft surface for your chinchilla to jump and walk on. Fleece also makes a great urine-absorbent pad that is easy to wash.

I’m sure the part of that answer above that stood out to you the most was the fact that fleece is safe for chinchillas, if they do not consume it.

That seems like it could be a serious issue, given how much chinchillas love to chew on things.

While fleece isn’t toxic, it could pose other dangers if ingested.

And the truth is that chinchillas love fleece. But luckily, it’s very rare a chinchilla will attempt to eat or chew fleece.

We’ll get to all that below. First, I’m going to break down the practical uses for fleece liners within your chinchilla cage.

I will also explain the benefits, as well as what to beware of, when using fleece as your tray liners in your chinchilla cage.

 

Using Fleece As Tray Liners Safely

When I first got my chinchilla home, I had no idea how to make the perfect cage setup for my chinchilla.

Sure, I talked to the breeder and had some ideas in mind, but I have learned a lot since day 1 when it comes to owning a chinchilla and making life easy and my chinchilla comfortable.

At first, I was sadly using a cage that had wire bottoms that are known to hurt your chinchilla’s feet as they jump and climb around.

The good news is that I quickly made a change for my chinchilla.

The first thing I did is upgraded my chinchilla cage to the Critter Nation 2 (dual-level) cage to provide her a huge area to play, jump, and climb around.

I also took the time to place the necessary toys and items in her cage to afford her plenty of mental stimulation.

If you need more guidance on finding the best chinchilla toys, you can view my post here.

It is critical to give your chin the ability to chew chinchilla safe items that will keep it from grinding its teeth or having further issues with its teeth in the future.

Next, came the fleece liners.

I must admit, this was a huge upgrade for my chinchilla cage. First and foremost, I think everyone understands that it’s important to keep our chinchilla’s cage clean and fresh.

But like mentioned before, fleece liners are 100% safe for your chinchilla, assuming they do not chew them or consume them.

That is when the importance of having other items inside of the cage for your chinchilla becomes apparent. If they have plenty of healthy and safe items they can chew, they won’t even look at the fleece in that way.

It is also important to do just some basic monitoring once you switch to fleece liners.

Take a look at the fleece regularly and inspect for any chew marks or wear that appears to be from chewing.

As I said, I have never had an issue with this in the past 4 years, but I have seen others in forums and online communities state that chewing the fleece has happened every now and then.

I’ve made a quick video showing you the fleece liners for my chinchilla’s cage.

In the video, I give you a close up of my set-up and also break down 8 fantastic reasons to implement fleece as your new chinchilla bedding.

You can see that video here.

Alright, let’s move on.

I ordered my fleece liners, removed the plastic trays from my chinchilla’s cage and placed the liners around them neatly and tightly. You can see this in the images below.

The fleece liners I use are specially cut and fitted to fit perfectly on each tray and stair ramp inside of the Critter Nation Cages.

The Critter Nation is the cage I use and highly recommend for your chinchilla, in case I had not mentioned that yet.

If you’d like to see some other good cage options, you can also check out my post on the best chinchilla cages you buy.

 

Fleece Is Safe, Clean, And Easy To Maintain

Let’s cover each of these briefly.

I already mentioned how easy fleece liners are to use for your chinchilla’s cage and I meant it 100%. They are cut perfectly and slide right over the plastic trays that are already in the Critter Nation 2 cages.

Additionally, they can be washed in cold water in a matter of an hour.

We all know, or maybe you will find out very soon, that chinchillas poop and urinate frequently.

The good news is that the chinchilla poop or pee doesn’t cause an odor if you maintain your routine with cleaning your chinchilla cage.

This doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be cleaned up frequently. Fleece makes this incredibly easy to do.

 

Keeping The Fleece Clean Inside The Cage

You can use two methods to remove timothy hay, poop pellets, and other debris in your chinchilla’s cage if you are currently using fleece liners.

 

Option 1: Shop Vac

Option 1 would entail using a shop vacuum which is what I currently use.

I simply allow my chinchilla out for playtime in a room where I know she is safe and can’t chew wires. The I shop vac her cage out for her.

If you need help understanding how to chinchilla proof a room correctly, you can view my post here.

 

Option 2: Broom And Dustpan

For option two, you can take your broom and dustpan and sweep the debris out of the chinchilla cage. Both are very easy and quick solutions and there really isn’t a wrong way of doing this.

If you have 1 chinchilla in the cage with fleece liners, you can wash the liners once a week to remove the urine.

If you have two chinchillas in the cage, I recommend washing the fleece liners in the chinchilla cage roughly every 4 to 5 days.

I also love the fact that urine doesn’t penetrate into the black trays or leave any odor.

Additionally, I love that when my chinchilla’s water bottle drips after use, it doesn’t penetrate the tray liner either.

 

Fleece Liners Save Money On Chinchilla Bedding In The Long Run

One of the key benefits of using fleece in your chinchilla’s cage as a liner is that you are going to save a lot of money in the long run.

Chinchilla bedding, outside of chinchilla food, is going to be the item you have to purchase the most frequently. Unless you use fleece, that is.

Paying upfront for a few sets of liners that can be washed puts an end to the need to purchase chinchilla bedding.

The only time you would still need to purchase chinchilla bedding would perhaps be for a travel cage or if you are actively potty training your chinchilla to urinate inside of a litter tray like the image below.

The fact that I know it’s better on your chinchillas’ small bones in their feet, it’s more comfortable, easier to clean, and saves me money made the decision to purchase fleece liners for my chinchilla cage a no brainer at the end of the day.

 

How To Clean Fleece Liners

One recommendation that I do have for any of you considering using fleece as your tray liner within your chinchilla cage is to always wash the fleece in cold water with non-scented detergent.

The non-scented detergent isn’t an absolute must, but your chinchilla will likely appreciate it.

Washing your fleece liners in cold water and air drying the fleece helps ensure your fleece does not shrink when being washed.

Too much shrinking and you may have difficulty placing the fleece liner back around the tray after a good cleaning and wash.

 

Double Check Your Chinchilla Does Not Chew The Fleece

Although I am willing to say with no hesitation at all that fleece liners are safe for your chinchilla, it never hurts to keep tabs on your pet.

See how it responds to the change in the cage structure and material. Chinchillas love to chew, and you may have a chinchilla that chews more odd items than other chins.

Double-check from time to time that your chinchilla isn’t chewing through or eating any of the liners. But trust me when I tell you this: it is very rare for a chinchilla to begin chewing the fleece, if it has enough chew toys.

I have had zero problems with this issue and haven’t read of others having issues either. Regardless, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

 

Keep It Clean And Simple

Keep your chinchilla’s cage clean. Sweep out the poop, remove the pee and give it a wash to remove any possible dust build up on your chinchilla’s body that has accumulated from the dust baths.

Keeping your chinchilla’s cage clean is just as important as ensuring that your chinchillas remain in a cool area to avoid overheating.

You do not want to be worrying about factors such as heat stroke that could potentially cause death or other issues if you are not careful.

It’s part of being an ethical pet owner and something you should be building into your weekly or even daily routines to keep your chinchilla happy, safe, and comfortable in his or her new home.

Also, don’t fret too much over this last statement. Chinchillas are incredible pets.

Cleaning their cage doesn’t take long at all if you keep up on it and do it at scheduled intervals. Trust me, I have a busy life but find plenty of time to ensure my chin’s cage is always as clean as possible.

 

Related Questions About Fleece Liners For Chinchillas

 

Is Fleece A Good Bedding For Chinchillas?

Yes, fleece makes for an excellent cage liner and bedding for chinchillas. It’s safe and easy to use.

Additionally, the fleece used as bedding in your chinchilla’s cage causes fewer injuries to your chinchilla’s feet and provides more comfort.

 

Do Chinchillas Need Bedding In Their Cage?

Yes, chinchillas always need some form of bedding in their cages. It needs to be safe chinchilla bedding which can either be fleece liners or aspen shavings that are not toxic to chinchillas. They need something to absorb urine in their cages.

 

Fleece Liners Are Safe: Final Thoughts

After reading this post, my hopes are that you consider either making fleece your initial cage set up or consider changing to fleece liners, along with a large enough cage for your chinchilla in the future.

I also hope it made you understand that fleece is 100% safe for your chinchilla and an excellent bedding option.

It’s better on their small feet, more comfortable for them to sleep on, and ultimately saves you more money in the long run.

Not to mention the fact that it’s incredibly easy to clean.

Your chinchilla will love you for it and it’s something every chinchilla owner should consider at one point or another. But ultimately that decision is completely up to you.

Chinchillas are not hard to take care of and after a few weeks with your new chinchilla, you will realize that and begin enjoying the bond that can grow for the next 15 to 20 years.

Once you learn how to take care of a chinchilla properly, everything gets much more fun and enjoyable.

Chili and I wish you the best of luck with your new chinchilla and hope you enjoy using fleece liners as much as I have thus far into my journey.

Lastly, I’d love to hear your stories about using fleece for your chinchilla cage.

Do you believe it to be a significant upgrade and what are your thoughts for keeping it clean and fresh for your chinchilla?

Have you ever run into any safety issues for your chinchilla using fleece liners?

Be sure to share your thoughts, stories, and concerns by dropping a comment below.

As always, Chili and I appreciate you stopping by and reading today and we will see you again next time.