By Marilyn G. Ross
Chinchilla houses are a great way to make your pets feel safe and special. In the wild, they either burrow in succulents scattered about or make homes out of crevices in the rocky terrain. In having them as pets, putting your chinchilla in a cage will protect and contain them, giving them their own area in your home. Yet placing chinchilla house inside the cage is even better as it gives them a dwelling place within the confines of their safe space. One can think of it in such a way that the cage is a tiny replica of their natural environment, and the house is like their nest while in wild.
Chinchillas use houses to hide and sleep in. Chinchillas are "crepuscular", meaning that they are active mostly at either during dawn or dusk. In the wild, the reason why their body clocks have adapted this way is to avoid being seen by their predators. Also, since their bodies are unable to sweat, they have to protect themselves from the sun to avoid overheating. Though it is not advisable anyway to place your pet's cage under direct sunlight, having a tiny house in the cage is still ideal as it gives them a darker hiding place during the day. Also, since they are herbivores they have been hunted by predators. Chinchillas have evolved into animals with sensitive ears, bolting at sudden noise. Even if it's advisable to place your pet's cage in a quieter space, having a chinchilla house gives them extra protection from sudden or loud sounds that will only agitate them.
Knowing the natural characteristics of your chinchilla helps in keeping its house safe while in your cage. Perhaps the cage will be good enough to protect your pet and its tiny home, but being a little more cautious and attentive wouldn't hurt at all.
Materials for chinchilla houses are either of wood, metal, or plastic. The most ideal would be metal houses as wood and plastic ones can be dangerous and toxic when nibbled on by your pet. Also, wood when wet stays damp for a longer time and can be a breeding ground for bacteria that may cause health complications. If unavoidable, the wooden house will have to be cleaned regularly. With metal houses, be keen on checking whether there are sharp edges or jagged corners. Chinchillas are very active and scamper quickly, and can get hurt if the house is not level and finished smoothly.
Make sure that houses made of metal are not near any sources of heat or within the scope of sunlight. Metal is a conductor of heat, and metal houses can warm up really fast. Keep in mind that chinchillas don't take to heat well, and will need good ventilation. Be certain that the metal house has enough openings to allow air to circulate well.
There are houses that can either be fastened a little above the cage's base or placed on it. For your pet, it doesn't really matter where you place the house inside the cage. Since chinchillas love to climb, they won't really have a problem if the house is perched on a higher part of the enclosure. Be sure that while your pet is resting, hiding or sleeping in the house, it is safely out of reach from pests and other pets if you have any. Canines and felines can be unsafe for chinchillas. Though these furry creatures are known to occasionally feed on tiny insects, ants and spiders shouldn't be taken lightly as they can be dangerous as well.
A clean and big enough cage is good for your cute pet, but keeping a chinchilla house makes it better. Greater even if you kept the house protected for a safer, happier, and healthier chinchilla.
| Marilyn Ross is a proud chinchilla owner and caregiver. She enjoys caring for chinchillas and helping others raise healthy and happy chins. For more information on chinchilla adoption, visit http://www.chinchillacareadvisor.com |
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