Chinchillas are active, inquisitive pets that need mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Providing enrichment through toys and activities is an important part of chinchilla care. The right enrichment encourages natural behaviors and prevents boredom.
- Offer a variety of chew toys. Chinchillas love to chew and wear down their continuously growing teeth. Untreated wood sticks and blocks, timothy hay chew sticks, and other natural chews are ideal. Rotate toys to keep things interesting. Avoid plastic or items that could be choking hazards.
- Use foraging toys and puzzles. Scatter food in paper tubes, cardboard boxes, and tunnels. Puzzle toys that require chinchillas to move parts around to access treats also provide enrichment. Start with easy puzzles and increase difficulty over time.
- Build ledges, platforms, and multi-level habitats. Chinchillas enjoy leaping and climbing. Give them shelves, ramps, wood houses, and other structures to jump on and explore. Ledges allow chinchillas to survey their habitat from above.
- Offer nesting materials. Chinchillas love to gather soft, shredded materials like aspen wood shavings to build nests. Provide these in safe, digestible forms they can carry around.
- Give access to exercise wheels. Sturdy solid-surface wheels allow chinchillas to run and burn off energy. Introduce wheels slowly to chins not used to them. Supervise use to ensure safety.
- Allow supervised playtime outside the cage. Chins benefit from time in larger spaces to run around and play. Kitty pools, enclosed playpens, and chin-proofed rooms are great options. Provide toys and activities and supervise closely.
Regularly rotating and providing novel enrichment items keeps chinchillas active and engaged. Ensure all toys and activities are safe and appropriate for chins to promote good physical and mental health. With proper enrichment, chinchillas can thrive.
