Can Chinchillas Have Plastic Cages? (Heed This Warning!)

Have you checked out a number of different chinchilla cages?

You’ve probably noticed that many are either made entirely of plastic, or they contain plastic parts.

So that means that plastic cages are fine for chinchillas, right?

Not so fast.

There is a potential issue with a plastic cage. One that can have serious consequences.

Kee reading to learn everything you need to know about chinchillas and plastic cages. We’ll also cover which types of cages are best for these cute little rodents.

 

Can Chinchillas Have Plastic Cages?

No, chinchillas should not have plastic cages. They will chew the plastic and possibly ingest it. That can cause serious issues.

Chinchilla cages made with wire bars are a better alternative. Please do your pet a favor and do not use a cage constructed from plastic.

I know what you are probably thinking.

A lot of the chinchilla cages you see online, in stores, and on popular platforms such as Amazon seem to contain a significant amount of plastic.

I know. Those are not cages you should be using. But don’t worry. The rest of this post will help get you sorted.

I’m going to answer common questions about chinchilla cages and point you towards several different resources I have on them to get you started in the right direction.

Let’s begin with a bit more detail on the potential dangers of cages containing plastic components.

 

Why Chinchillas Should Never Have Plastic Cages

Let me repeat what I said at the beginning of this post: avoid plastic cages for chinchillas.

Even though many cages contain plastic, there are also many without. It’s easy to avoid plastic and a cage without any won’t cost you much more.

The big problem with plastic is that chinchillas are chewers. They love to chew on just about anything they can access and all chinchillas chew their cage bars.

But plastic is not something they should be chewing on. Chewing plastic can cause issues to their health, if they accidentally ingest it.

This means that you not only need to avoid plastic cages, but also any plastic accessories inside of the cage. This means all of the chinchilla toys you buy should be plastic-free.

If you need recommendations on which toys to purchase, you can read my full-guide to buying the best chinchilla toys.

If you have plastic pull out trays in your cage, make sure they are heavy-duty plastic. This will help the trays last longer while protecting your chinchilla in the process.

I also highly recommend using fleece liners over the trays. I currently use the Piggy Bed Spreads Liners in my chinchilla cage.

They are straightforward to clean and make your chinchilla much more comfortable. The ones I use are specifically designed for use in the Midwest Critter Nation 2 Dual Level Cage, which is what I use.

This cage is a prime example of the kind of cage you should be looking for. It ranks number one on my list of the best chinchilla cages.

 

What Chinchilla Cages To Consider Instead

Assuming you checked out the cages in the post referenced directly above, you will notice a few things that all the chinchilla cages I recommend have in common.

First and foremost, they avoid plastic.

The second most important consideration is to ensure that the cage is also large enough for your chinchilla.

Chinchillas need plenty of space to climb. They also love to bounce and jump from ledge to ledge inside of the cage.

Finding a cage that has plenty of vertical space for your chinchilla is going to make your pet’s life so much better. In fact, I think it is the only type of cage to get, if you want to be an ethical owner.

I’d also stick to a cage that gives you the option of using the fleece liners I mentioned a few minutes ago.

They are the best chinchilla bedding option you can use. If you are not already using them, I can almost guarantee that you will want to switch to them eventually. That’s exactly what I did (I started out using Aspen shavings).

They are just easier to manage, look better, and ultimately save you a lot of money in the long run.

Once you have these two considerations nailed down, make sure that you select a cage that has easy attachment options.

The Critter Nation cage I mentioned above is fantastic for this. It has very closely spaced bars so you can easily attach ledges, shelves, and other hanging toys for your chinchillas. This cage does cost a good bit, but it is worth it.

 

Other Tips To Implement

One thing I always emphasize to current or potential chinchilla owners is that chinchillas spend probably 96% of the time that they are alive inside of their cages.

That adds up to a lot of hours spent inside a cage over the course of their lifespan, which is an average of 15-20 years.

Make sure you accommodate them.

Why make their lives dull and not provide them with activities that can make them more comfortable and safer?

Consider other items that chinchillas love and need, such as nesting boxes.

Consider using a hammock inside of the cage for an excellent spot for your chinchilla to relax or sleep.

You can read my comparison of the best chinchilla hammocks for help in finding the right one.

The more you put into the relationship, and the more your chinchilla has to do inside of the cage, the healthier and happier it will ultimately be.

 

Chinchillas And Plastic Cages: Final Thoughts

I strongly recommend you avoid any type of plastic for your chinchilla cage.

Plastic might save you a small amount of cash, but it’s just not worth it. It is too big a risk to your chinchilla’s health.

But as mentioned before, buying the correct kind of chinchilla cage doesn’t cost much more at all, if you look in the correct spots, like Amazon.

Chinchillas make for awesome pets.

They are social and loving animals, and if you are currently debating adopting one soon, I highly recommend it. Just make sure you give it the best and safest home possible.

It’s been a blast for me, and I’m sure it will be for you, too.

Now let’s turn it over to you.

What cages and accessories do you recommend?

Do you recommend anything additional that we didn’t discuss in this post?

Have you ever had any issues using plastic in your chinchilla’s cage?

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

As always, thanks for reading, Chili and I appreciate you stopping by. We will see you next time!