The right cage is the most important purchase you make for your chinchilla.
Whether you are a new owner buying your first cage or a current owner looking to upgrade, you want to make sure you get a quality cage.
It needs to be safe, sturdy, and large enough to give your pet plenty of space.
It should also sell for a reasonable price.
I use the Critter Nation 2 dual level cage for my chinchilla.
- Solid and durable construction
- Great size with four levels
- Great platform fit for accessories like fleece liners
- Sits on wheels making cleaning easy
- Under cage storage
- Total of four doors, making access very easy
- Large cage making it unsuitable for tiny spaces
- One of the higher costing cages but for good reason; it is easily the best value for money
I tried a number of different cages and this one is by far the best. It’s not even close.
Keep reading for a full review of the Critter Nation cage. You’ll learn why it is the best chinchilla cage currently available. But it’s not perfect and we’ll cover the drawbacks, too.
Contents
- 1 MidWest Deluxe Critter Nation Cage Review
- 2 Critter Nation 2 Review: Conclusion
MidWest Deluxe Critter Nation Cage Review
The Critter Nation chinchilla cage is the best option out there. Especially the dual-level version, which provides even more space for your chinchilla to jump and climb around.
It has excellent storage options beneath the cage, easily removable trays for quick cleaning, and comes with wheels to allow for easy moving around the home.
A nice bonus is that there are custom fleece liners (link to Amazon) available for the trays inside of the 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
This makes for a much better option than using chinchilla bedding.
A chinchilla needs plenty of space and usually spends more than 23 hours a day inside of their cage.
The Critter Nation cage allows for a comfortable, customizable, and fantastic home for your fur baby.
Overview Of The Critter Nation 2 Chinchilla Cage
If you spend much time on my blog, you’re probably aware that I’m a massive supporter of the Critter Nation cages. You have likely seen pictures of it all over my blog and YouTube channel as well.
Simply put, it’s a fantastic cage, and the one I’ve been using for roughly 12 months now.
I initially started with a wire bottom chinchilla cage. I realized very quickly that I needed to upgrade to something more appealing, larger, and more easily customizable.
After trying a few of the top options on the market, I settled on the Critter Nation Dual Level cage reviewed here. It checked all the boxes for me and offered the features I needed.
Pros And Cons Of The Critter Nation Chinchilla Cage
If you have been looking for a new chinchilla cage, it is important to know the benefits and drawbacks of every model you are considering.
Here’s what I believe to be the most significant advantages and disadvantages of the Critter Nation cage.
Advantages
- Best sized cage available
- Best bang for your buck compared to alternatives
- Customizable fleece liners available
- Easy to clean
- Easy to assemble
- Your chinchilla will love it
- Great under-cage storage options
On the flip side, I want to make sure that you also understand the drawbacks of using this cage. Here’s what I believe to be its most significant downfalls.
Disadvantages
- Slightly more expensive than most other options
- No additional color options
Specs And Sizing
The sizing of the Critter Nation cage is what sets it apart. It is large and large is better.
Plain and simple.
In fact, I have an entire post that discusses the recommended chinchilla cage sizing.
The dual-level Critter Nation has the following dimensions: 36 inches in length, 25 inches in width, and 63 inches in height.
This makes for a great chinchilla cage that has plenty of space for jumping, climbing, and custom chinchilla cage accessories.
And if you are on a tighter budget, you can get single level Critter Nation for now. Once you have the funds, you can but the second level add-on that simply sits right on the top of the single level cage.
You can find the single level and the add-on on the same Amazon product page as the two level cage.
Both Critter Nation cages also have wider shelves than you typically see in other chinchilla cages. The pans inside of the cage are 100% leak proof.
Why Multi-Level Chinchilla Cages Are A Necessity
You can certainly get by with a smaller cage. But if you have the funds to purchase a taller cage, I highly recommend it.
Think about your chinchilla in this scenario.
Your chinchilla will spend the next 15 to 20 years in this cage. It only gets out for 30 to 60 minutes a day for some playtime.
The nicer the cage and the environment you provide for your chinchilla, the happier and healthier it will be. Not to mention, a taller cage allows for a lot of options.
In my chinchilla cage, I have the hut hideout on the first level along with the hay feeders, food bowl, and water bottles. On the next level, I have another plastic castle enclosure she enjoys hiding in.
One level from this is where I have other chew sticks built onto the cage, and a potty-training litter pan. On the highest level of the chinchilla cage is where I have the chinchilla hammock installed.
This all makes for a great interactive home. Your chinchilla will appreciate this. I know mine does.
Ease Of Assembly
It doesn’t get any easier to assemble a cage than the Critter Nation chinchilla cage. I can assure you of that.
From the minute it arrived on my porch (I ordered on Amazon) it took me maybe 30 minutes total to throw together.
You need to connect the two bases and attach the side walls. Those just pop into place.
It’s easy and looks great once assembled. Not to mention the fact that no tools are required.
The Secret Benefit Of Custom Fleece Liners
I wouldn’t be doing this cage justice if I didn’t touch on the fleece liners these cages support one more time.
I’ve been using them for about 1 year, and they make life super easy and make your chinchilla super comfortable.
You are replacing the bedding in the cage when switching to fleece liners. This means no more bedding to clean up. And no more money spent on new bedding.
The liners are made specifically for this Critter Nation chinchilla cage and slide right over the trays that come with the cage.
You simply remove them 1 to 2 times per week, throw them in the washing machine, and you are good to go.
Not to mention they offer several designs and colors to choose from and they are 100% safe for your chinchilla.
Refer to my link at the top of this post to see the fleece liners for yourself.
Cheaper Alternative Chinchilla Cages To Consider
Don’t get me wrong. There are other great chinchilla cages available.
But the Critter Nation cage is the best option by far.
That said, it does cost a bit more than some of the alternatives.
Check out my article on the best chinchilla cages to see the best alternatives to the Critter Nation.
The second best, and slightly more budget-friendly, cage is the Prevue Hendryx.
You’ll find a full description and review of this cage in that post about the best chinchilla cages. The third option in that post, the Homey cage, is another great budget-friendly option.
Critter Nation 2 Review: Conclusion
Finding an awesome chinchilla cage is not hard. Simply trust someone that has tried several cages and is willing to take the time to provide their thoughts on the subject.
Find a cage that provides your chinchilla plenty of space to move around freely. Look for reliable reviews to ensure the cage is as good as advertised.
If you trust my 5 years of experience with my chinchilla, and my testing of multiple different cages, go with the Critter Nation 2 Dual Level cage.
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