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[skayleah]

I have acquired a chinchilla and need help with a cage problem. Sadie likes to pee and poop on the shelf she spends most of her time on. Not to worried about the poop part but the pee is gross. She ends up sitting in it and I think that is very unsanitary. We want to build her a new cage but don't want the same problem happening. Anyone have any ideas about this? I have seen pictures of some cages and under the shelves are pans. Thought they might be there as sort of a litter box but the chinchilla's can't toilet through the wood...or at least mine can't! Thought of chicken wire (but with smaller holes) then scratched that idea because I was afraid her nails or toes would get stuck and then she would break something. Help please!! I really need to get her into a more sanitary environment. Thank you in advance to anyone that has some good ideas.

[Abby W.]

I have a few chins like that myself.  It seems the best solution is to put them on wire shelves, but the wire mesh (NOT the same as chicken wire, it is sometimes called "hardware cloth") must be 1/2" x 1/2" or they will get their feet caught.  Unfortunately, being on the wire is a little rough on their feet, so you need to provide some solid surfaces (shelves, huts, mats, etc) for them to get off the wire sometimes and rest their feet.

[BrightEyed]

I have one of my males who doesn't care where he pees. He sits in one corner in the front where I come to see him like he just waits. And he pees and doesn't bother to move to a different spot to do it. I clean up soiled shavings every day in all their cages to try to keep things cleaner.. even doing that with him he STILL will just sit there and do it. He is a white mosaic too so I worry about his fur. It would look like I didn't keep their cages clean for him to have a stain but that certainly is not the case. I think some chins just do that. 

Like Abby said wire mesh would work.. but they would need something solid also.

[Debbie.nl.ca]

I keep moving stuff around until I find a way they can't or won't.
Some seem to lazy to get down in higher cages, so I keep them in cages with just 2 levels.
Some times if you move the shelf just a tad off they will at least pee over the edge.
Even changing the material used in their favorite pee spot, instead of wood use a piece of sheet metal, or plexie glass.
Just another few thoughts.

[Jo Ann]

   Chinchillas learn from a very early age.  If there is a mom or dad that is not real good about keeping itself clean, many times they do not keep the kit as clean as it should be kept, this "bad habit" can be passed on to the kits.  It is just a habit ... but a bad one, that is easily passed on to the kits.  I will not breed one that has/develops that habit.

They do not have to have the habit at first, but may even develop it after a bout of being sick or injured, or if they are allergic to the bedding being used.  If one is sick or injured, keeping the cage cleaned daily will usually help prevent this nasty little habit starting.  Once it starts, it is hard to break.

The use of hardware cloth 1/4" x 1/4"  or 1/2" x 1/2", is good, but even with that, the urine can continue to accumulate on the metal wires over and over, so it has to be cleaned weekly ... or you would be allowing germs, fungus, mold and who knows what else to multiply on the dirty wire.

Bumblefoot is usually caused by a small animal having to stand on wire constantly, if the wire is not cleaned regularly, it happens much faster.   Bumblefoot is an irritation of the feet.  They become swollen, red and can even crack open, bleed and become infected.  This is very painful for a chinchilla ... just think about having your feet blistered ... that is about what bumblefoot would feel like to a chinchilla.  A very severe case of athletes foot would also be a fair example to let you know what it feels like to a chinchilla.

Flat surfaces are a must for a chin to rest on at least part of the time.  I have some marble tile that I use as a chin-chiller that is easily cleaned with gentle soap and water.  These could be used as a place for the chin to rest ... but always keep them on the bottom floor of the cage ... you don't want them falling on the chin and hurting it.  Marble does not soak-up the urine like wood does.

Drying and sanding the wood is an option ... just make sure you sand past any stained part.  Do not use bleach or amonia, the fumes can cause your chin major problems.  Replacing the wood selves regularly is also an option.

Good luck!   

   Jo Ann