Chinchilla toys, how to play with a pet at home

Sad chinchilla, suffering from boredom, acquires a bad habit. The animal begins to pluck its own fur and suffers not only psychologically, but also physically.

We will figure out how to play with a chinchilla at home and tell you what toys will amuse a small pet.

Rules of communication

When playing with a fluffy rodent, it is important to take into account the fearfulness and fragility of the animal. Before releasing the chinchilla from the cage, secure the play area:

1. Remove excess items. A frightened pet will try to hide, so it can get stuck and get hurt. Damage can be done not only to the chinchilla, but also to favorite things left unattended. Sharp teeth will definitely taste them.
2. Prepare soft insurance. A frightened animal can escape from the hands and be crippled when falling.

Before playing together, learn how to properly hold a chinchilla in your arms:

1. Use protection. An unaccustomed pet can bite, so use gloves or a towel. Return the animal to the cage if it breaks out.
2. Place both palms under your stomach. The animal should assume an upright position, so support the front legs and the base of the tail.

IMPORTANT! Do not try to grab the chinchilla by the fur. It can fall out from fright or tension.

When interacting with a chinchilla, avoid:

• pressure. Let the pet get out of the cage on its own and do not interfere if you want to return;
• loud noises and sudden movements. If the animal is frightened, then the well-deserved trust will disappear and everything will have to start all over again;
• foreign odors. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling a chinchilla;
• remember that chinchillas are nocturnal animals and will take great pleasure in playing in the evening.

The main types of toys

Toys for chinchillas presented in chain stores are divided into 2 large groups:

• static, allowing not only to entertain the pet, but also to decorate the interior;
• moving, designed for active games not only inside the cage, but also outside it.

Consider them in more detail.

Static

Such entertainment does not require the participation of the owner, and scrupulous selection makes them an excellent design solution.

Tunnel

Chinchillas love to hide and seek in wooden and plastic pipes. Choose a transparent product to easily find a pet that has fallen asleep after wasting energy. Pay attention to the size. If the diameter of the tunnel is less than 30 cm, then the animal may get stuck.

IMPORTANT! When choosing a tree, pay attention to the edges. The rodent quickly wears them down if they are not made of metal.

Hammock

Manufacturers offer rag, plastic and wooden versions of hammocks with 1 or 2 tiers. In the case of several levels, the pet will receive an additional place to hide and seek.

A shelf

Powerful hind limbs need activity, so placing 1 or more shelves will be an excellent trainer. When installing, adhere to a height not exceeding 80 cm. Otherwise, the animal may suffer from an unsuccessful jump.

Stairs

Miniature ladders develop paws, suitable for scratching the back and sharpening teeth. A budget option can be an ordinary wooden stick, located vertically.

moving

Toys allow you to frolic outside the house and involve active actions on the part of the chinchilla:

Suspended

Thundering and ringing gizmos cause a real delight in rodents. Before going to bed, it is better to temporarily remove them, otherwise the sonorous hum will interfere with the planned rest.

Wheel

Rotating wheels help the animal to keep in shape at home and are made in 4 versions:

1. Plastic. It is safe, but not durable and has a small size (no more than 32cm).
2. Wood. Good quality material, but only made to order.
3. Metal. The most dangerous option. While running, a chinchilla can get stuck in a fine mesh that fits the wheel and get injured. To eliminate the danger, the surface is covered with dense denim.

IMPORTANT! The ideal quality option is aluminum, which has only 1 nuance. Production is concentrated abroad, which significantly increases the final cost.

Walking ball

A plastic product allows you to walk around the room, but poor ventilation significantly reduces the walking time. Frequent cases of overheating of animals is a serious minus of an interesting little thing.

For the safety of the chinchilla, you need to keep track of time, so instead of buying such a dubious toy, remove unnecessary items from the room and let the animal run around it on its own.

DIY chinchilla toys

Some manufacturers, trying to reduce the cost, save on quality. As a result, the final product not only loses quality, but also becomes dangerous. Avoid products:

• from cheap plastic, lime, glass, rubber, cement, cardboard and paper;
• containing small parts (during the game, the rodent can choke on them);
• bright colors (all factory paint will go to the fur of the animal);
• with sharp corners and rough surface;
• with a strong odor, indicating an excessive amount of dangerous chemistry;
• from needles, oak and cherries containing resin (poisoning).

The best solution to the problem is to make toys for the chinchilla with your own hands. A hand-made thing will not only protect your pet from an unscrupulous manufacturer, but also help save money.

Tunnel

A homemade toy will enliven the interior of the cage and entertain the pet. To create a tunnel, prepare:

• dry willow twigs;
• flexor;
• stationery knife;
• pre-made template containing holes (not <40 cm in diameter);
• scissors for garden work;
• ruler.

Manufacture:

1. Place large rods (5-7 pieces) in the prepared holes. If the sizes do not match, the ends of the rods are sharpened with a knife.
2. Choose any twig and place it between the ones in the template. Weave it between the rods that serve as the base of the structure, alternating the place of weaving (over the base, under the base, etc.).
3. At the end of 1 twig, add the next one until you reach the desired size of the product.
4. After completing 1 circle, press the resulting design tightly to avoid gaps.
5. Having reached the desired height, bend the rods with a bender, placing them in adjacent holes.
6. With a clerical knife, remove extra centimeters and carefully get rid of the template.

A properly designed toy is completely natural and will not only serve as entertainment, but also a comfortable place to sleep. An example of the finished product can be seen in the photo.

Hammock

A hammock, made in the classic version, can really be built even without serious handicraft skills. Before you start, prepare:

• thread and needle;
• 2 pieces of dense fabric (45 * 45cm) from jeans or fleece;
• scissors;
• edge tape;
• fastening carabiners.

Manufacture:

1. Prepare the pattern shown in the photo and make fabric blanks with it.
   

   

2. Use edging tape to trim the edges (use basting stitch).
3. Provide each of the 4 edges with a fastening loop and secure the edging with a simple seam.
   

   

4. Attach the product to the roof of the cage with carabiners.

Suspended

Before the ringing rattle, the chinchilla is unable to resist, so he plays with it with pleasure until the victory (usually the tired owner is the first to give up). To make such a toy, stock up:

• bell;
• metal chain;
• beads made of wood with a through hole;
• thin wire;
• fastening carabiner.

Manufacture:

1. Use the wire to secure the bell by threading it through the bottom link of the chain.
2. Place beads in each of the links.
3. In the last link, insert a carabiner and hang a toy in a cage for it.

Video: how to make do-it-yourself chinchilla toys

Conclusion

Playing with chinchillas is not only fun, but also good for their health. Try not to overload the cellular space with toys. Abundance will lead to boredom, and periodically changing a boring subject to a new one will help maintain interest.

Remember that the happiness of a pet does not depend on the money invested, but on the attention shown. Sometimes an ordinary walnut or a wooden spool for thread is enough, and if the animal is trusted by the owner and can be picked up without problems, then it independently organizes tunnels in the sleeves of its clothes.