It looks pretty cool to have your chin trained like that.
Plus it cuts down on your work load a bit.
But is it a necessity? Do you need a chinchilla litter box?
Does your pet really need to learn how to do its business in one?
Plenty of chinchilla owners don’t bother. So what’s the right answer for you and your chin?
Keep reading to learn all about chinchillas using litter boxes. We’ll cover all of your options and help you figure out what’s right for you.
Contents
Do Chinchillas Need A Litter Box?
No, chinchillas do not need a litter box. They urinate and defecate onto wood shavings or on fleece liners designed specifically for chinchilla cages.
That said, you can actually potty train them with dedication and time. We’ll talk about potty training a bit further down.
We’ll also cover the pros and cons of using a chinchilla litter box, how fleece liners can benefit your pet, and how to set up your cage in the best possible fashion.
Why Chinchillas Don’t Need A Litter Box
Chinchillas absolutely don’t need a litter box. However, it is possible to potty train a chinchilla successfully with some effort and dedication.
The reason chinchillas don’t need a litter box is purely because it’s rare that chinchilla owners take the time to potty train their chinchillas.
And I should add this disclaimer: I’ve yet to see anyone potty train a chinchilla to poop inside of a litter box. Sorry, my friends, but finding ways to keep the chinchilla poop in the cage will always be a task.
But I have seen owners, myself included, successfully train a chinchilla to urinate in a litter pan. I personally use this litter pan:
This article covers chinchilla potty training and how to effectively go through the process, if that’s something you want to try.
I did it, but it wasn’t easy. And it is certainly not necessary.
Most chinchilla owners simply allow their chinchilla to urinate and poop on chinchilla bedding, which is cleaned or discarded during regular cage cleanings.
Towards the end of this post, I’ll fill you in on another tip that can save you a ton of time and effort, as well.
Is Potty Training A Chinchilla Worth The Time?
The answer to this question depends entirely on you and how much time and effort you want to devote.
Is potty training a chinchilla a requirement?
Absolutely not. I would say that 99 percent of chinchillas freely urinate and poop onto chinchilla bedding as stated previously.
However, it’s not overly challenging to train a chinchilla to urinate into a litter pan. And this has some real benefits. For instance, you won’t need to change the bedding or wash the fleece liners as often.
The main thing is not to view it as an obligation to go through this process with your chinchilla. Only do it if you love the challenge and you have the spare time to dedicate to the project.
I was personally intrigued if this would be successful or not, so I decided to give it a try. Luckily, after a month or so, she started using her litter pan to do her business.
While this doesn’t change too much for you and your chinchilla, it does make life slightly easier going forward and it can save you a few minutes a week with your regular cage maintenance.
Remember, if it’s something that makes owning a chinchilla slightly more manageable on a weekly basis, that adds up to a much easier life parenting you chinchilla over the course of their 15 to 20 year life span.
Fleece Liners Always Save The Day
Here is the winning approach from every angle. Use fleece liners for your chinchilla cage.
It’s the best chinchilla bedding I can recommend to anyone. Fleece liners save you time and headache, and they remain clean.
Not to mention they look much better than old school bedding.
I currently use these Piggy Bed Spread Liners that are custom fit for my Critter Nation 2 Cage.
- Designed specifically for Critter Nation Cage
- Includes: Two large pan liners (one with a notch/cut-out for the ramp opening, Two small shelf liners and three ramp covers
- Available in various designs
If you are looking for a cage that allows for these custom fit liners, I’d recommend checking out my post about the best chinchilla cages.
It breaks down your options for cages that are ideal for chinchillas. The number one recommendation in that article is the Critter Nation 2 chinchilla cage, which is the one I use personally. You can read my full review here.
Anyways, let’s move on. If you don’t feel like potty training your chinchilla, no problem. Simply remove these fleece liners a few times a week, wash them in cold water, and you are good to go.
If you really want to kick it up one step higher, I recommend taking the time to potty train your chinchilla to urinate in the potty-training pan and use the fleece liners.
All I really need to do for regular cage cleanings now is sweep the poop out of the cage, run the liners through the washer just to freshen them up, and I’m good to go.
Chinchilla Litter Box: Final Thoughts
I didn’t intend to keep this post so short and sweet, but the question being asked only demanded a quick and concise answer.
To recap, chinchillas do not need a litter box.
Potty training your chinchilla to use a litter box to urinate is something you might want to do, if you that’s your desire. I decided to do it, but it’s certainly not a requirement.
You can simply implement the fleece liner approach I discussed above or use basic chinchilla-safe bedding, and you will be in good shape.
That’s all there is to it.
Now it’s your turn!
Does your chinchilla use a litter box?
Did you take the time to potty train your chinchilla?
How did it turn out, and do you have any further recommendations for the rest of us?
Chili and I love to hear from you, so be sure to share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas by dropping a comment below.
As always, we appreciate you stopping by and we will catch you next time.
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