Buying a cage for your chinchilla can be sort of overwhelming at times, especially since there are so many different options available. The key to buying a good home for you chinchilla is to educate yourself first so you know what you need before you go shopping. Here are 3 guidelines that you must follow when you go out and look for a great chinchilla cage.

No, this doesn't mean that you need to fill up an entire room with your cage. Well...unless you have the money. But it does mean that a chincy little hamster cage isn't going to do the trick. You'll want the floor to be at least a 2 ft. square, and the taller you can get it the better. A great cage should be tall and have ramps and shelving that he can run up and down on to get exercise. If you have the money and the space, feel free to get as big of a cage as you can. Your chinchilla will love the extra room, and if you ever plan on having two chins you'll need about twice as much space as you would for one. Some ferret cages even make great chinchilla cages because they are tall and have ramps, so keep your eyes open

Chinchillas love to chew on stuff. They do that naturally because it's their only way of keeping their teeth filed down to eat properly. This means that if you buy a cage with plastic on the bars or even paint, your chin will chew on it and probably end up swallowing small chunks of it. Chinchillas have very sensitive digestive systems, so this can make your chin very sick.

For this reason, it's best to buy a cage that is made of wire only, no paint or plastic coating. Keep this in mind when you're buying accessories and anything else you may put in his cage.

You won't just need a big cage for you chinchilla to have a happy home. There are a number of accessories that are essential for your chinchilla to survive and live a healthy life. Some of these are:
- water bottle
- food tray
- chewing blocks
- exercise wheel

Your chinchilla will obviously need to eat and drink , so it's important to get a water bottle (avoid dishes) and a food tray to keep food and drink handy for the little guy. Also provide chinchilla blocks or nontoxic wood for him to chew on to keep his teeth straight and short.

They are active little creatures and love to get exercise so an exercise wheel is essential to have in your cage at all times. Make sure the wheel is at least 15" in diameter with a solid running surface and an open side. Wire wheels can be dangerous to the chin's feet and tail.

If you follow these three guidelines when you go to buy your chinchilla cage and you're sure to buy one that you and your chin can enjoy for years to come.