Should I let my chinchilla out of the cage?
Chinchillas are very active animals that love to run and explore their surroundings. That is why their happy owners often wonder: is it possible to let a chinchilla out of the cage so that it runs around the apartment properly? Theoretically, this is a good practice that will keep your pet from getting bored and keep him in excellent physical shape. But everything has its pitfalls…
Walks and active games are very useful for chinchillas. They keep the body in good shape and prevent weight gain. It would seem that you open the cage, release the chinchilla – and now she is already studying the surrounding space with curiosity, and healthy physical activity is guaranteed to her. But not everything is so simple.
In the cage, your pet is completely safe, but outside it, the world is unpredictable and even dangerous. If you have other pets or children in your home, they may accidentally harm the animal. In addition, the apartment has a huge number of wires that the chinchilla will definitely want to taste, and places in which he can climb and hide there (and in the worst case, get stuck).
Also, the animal can swallow the garbage or some small object encountered on its way, which, most likely, will result in digestive problems. In a word, there are a lot of minuses, and the risk is completely unjustified. As experts and experienced breeders agree, the best solution for a chinchilla is a spacious good cage. And no free rides.
But if you still want to let your pet run around the apartment from time to time, you should prepare for this in advance.
First of all, tame the chinchilla (read how to do this on the page “”). Walks are supposed only for those rodents who are already familiar with members of your family and are not afraid of them. An untamed, shy chinchilla, once outside the cage, will first of all find where to hide – and it will be very difficult to get it out of the shelter. Such a “walk” will be a huge stress for the animal, especially if you have to force it back into the cage. But a tamed chinchilla can genuinely love walking if the owner arranges everything correctly. What is required for this?
Before you open the cage door, you need to properly clean the apartment: wash the floors thoroughly, and also lift the wires and adapters from the floor so that they are not in free access for the chinchilla. Block the “loopholes” into secluded places from which it will be difficult to expel the pet: for example, in the space under the sofa, behind the closet / refrigerator, etc. If you have cats or dogs in the apartment, close them in another room while walking. Children must be taught how to handle a fragile animal.
Throughout the walk, the chinchilla should be in your field of vision. Keep an eye on her!
It is very important to start and end the walk correctly. It is undesirable to pull the chinchilla out of the cage by force and return it back according to the same scenario. Just place the cage on the floor and open the door. It will be better if the rodent leaves it on its own, without outside help. So he won’t be afraid. To make the walk more fun, place some of your pet’s favorite toys on the floor.
If the chinchilla does not want to leave the cage, do not force it to do so. Try again in a few days. One day curiosity will surely overcome fears.
During the walk, the cage with the open door should remain on the floor so that the chinchilla always has the opportunity to return to its house. But if she is not in a hurry with this, and it’s time to finish the walk, you can lure her with a treat or a bathing suit with fresh sand. With tamed chinchillas, this method works 100%.
“Catching” a chinchilla is only when absolutely necessary, if other methods have not worked. Keep in mind, for a rodent, this will be a lot of stress.
Fun and safe walks for your pets!
