Toys for chinchillas: requirements, tips on choosing and making

At first glance, the chinchilla can be assessed as a sedentary and calm pet. But in fact, the animal loves the game, and he is friendly and active. Chinchillas like different entertainments, they want to try new toys. When buying a similar animal home, you need to take this into account.

Chinchilla's hind legs are very strong, for this reason jumping is the main way of movement. A rodent should constantly do exercises: jump and knead paws. The best trainers are shelves. It is recommended to purchase wooden shelves so that the animal can sharpen its teeth.

You also do not need to purchase shelves that are painted, varnished or impregnated with any chemical means.

Shelves for chinchillas can be placed at different levels. Place them at a height of no more than 82 centimeters, this option is safe for the animal.

The animal can appreciate the running wheel. But you need to carefully select this accessory. There are four types of wheels: plastic, metal, aluminum and wood.

Wheels made of metal are considered the most dangerous, because they can be made with crossbeams mesh. Paws or chinchilla's fingers may inadvertently get into this net. In addition, the metal stand on which the wheel is attached is also unsafe for the beast if there are several animals in the cage. If one pet does the exercises in the wheel, the other can stick their head between the wheel and the stand. And this would entail injury.

You can also use an aluminum wheel. The design is usually attached to the wall, so do not need to purchase an additional stand.

Plastic wheels are also attached to the wall of the cage and do not have a stand. The disadvantage of the plastic wheel is its diameter, which at the maximum is 34 centimeters. This diameter will be too small for the animal.

A wooden wheel is a very good and eco-friendly option. The advantages are that the design does not have sharp corners and grid cells. There are also disadvantages: the tree absorbs moisture and various odors, it will not work to wash the dirty surface, it will be impossible to get rid of bad smells.

You can also put a branch inside the cage. This option will be pleasant and useful, since a chinchilla will climb a branch and nibble at the same time, grinding its teeth. You can independently make for the pet different ladders and ladders from branches.

remember, that in a cage you need to have different but safe toys that can improve the life of a chinchilla. All accessories should be put in the cage in turn, so that they do not bother the pet.

An excellent option is walking the pet through the apartment. For this you will need walking ball if it does not, chinchilla can run away or hurt himself something.A pleasure ball is a transparent or colored toy of small dimensions, in which a chinchilla moves around the apartment. A similar element of walks should be with every hamster, rat or chinchilla owner.

Before you release a pet, you need to prepare the territory and restore order. The apartment should be a little furniture, you can not allow the animal to chew on wires and cables. The animal is released from the cage, but the cage itself does not need to be closed, so that the pet can hide in it when it wants. Then you need to sit on the floor and do not make any sudden movements so that the pet can get comfortable.

In any pet store there are many toys for chinchillas. Each pet has its own preferences, so the owner needs to know what his pet likes. The animal should choose a toy. For example, if you push the ball in his direction, then the animal can bring it itself. But there are also such pets who do not want to react to the ball at all, if this happens, go through the options until the pet chooses something.

If a new toy appears in the cage of an animal, then you need to observe its reaction and understand whether the pet liked the toy or not. You also need to know that there are objects that pose a threat to the health of the pet.

There are two categories of chinchilla toys:

• static: slides, tunnels and others;
• moving: balls, gurneys, twigs.

Static accessories can not only be fun for chinchillas, but also become a decoration in the house. The pet can be played by itself, without the participation of the owner. A moving accessories are usually designed for games, and for a good pastime of the animal outside the cage, where the presence of the owner is already required.

One of the most favorite toys of chinchillas are tunnels. In the tunnels, pets can hide, wade, and have fun running after each other.

To make this accessory, you need to use plastic or wood. Wooden tunnels must have a metal border so that the pet cannot nibble the edges.

Plastic tunnels can be made in various forms. Plastic tunnels can be disassembled and assembled, giving them various shapes. If the tunnels are made of translucent plastic, then the beast will feel comfort and safety in them, and the owner will always find his pet.

Consider what else you can think of for a chinchilla.

• Hammocks usually put inside the cell. On the hammock, you can not only relax, but also swing in different directions, using it as a swing. To create a hammock used materials such as wood, strong fabric, rope, bending, but strong plastic. Hammocks can be single-tier and two-tier (in the form of a pipe).

• Active pets may like different stairs. Thanks to him, the legs will always be strong, and the animal - more durable. If the ladder near the dwelling of the animal is set vertically, then the pet will be able to clean its hair coat about it, scratch its back and sharpen its teeth. As the stairs you can use wooden shelves.

• With the help of dynamic toys and accessories, the pet will develop well.. Animals love hanging accessories that shake, stagger, rattle and ring. Animals like to push objects or swing them in different directions. There were also such cases when the animal was grinding its teeth on toys.

Before you give chinchillas any accessories, you need to know the rules and regulations for using these toys. First you need to understand what material the accessory is made of. Chinchillas are forbidden to give toys made from:

• rubber;
• poor quality plastics;
• cement;
• lime;
• papers;
• cardboard;
• glass

These types of wood are also contraindicated for these pets.

There are some other selection rules that must be considered when purchasing.

• Chinchilla will be able to bite and swallow small objects.
• You can not buy toys that have been painted, because the skin of the beast can rub on the painting, which can lead to poisoning. It is better to purchase accessories that have neutral tones or are generally colorless.
• It is forbidden to buy toys with sharp corners and notches, because the chinchilla can get hurt.

Various toys for the beast can be made with your own hands, so you will surely be confident in the environmental friendliness and benefits of the product obtained.

To make a shelf, you must follow the following rules:

1. choose a not very big wooden board;
2. Rinse the billet thoroughly so that parasites do not appear in the product;
3. the board must be completely dry;
4. polish the board so that it does not have jags, sharp corners, roughness;
5. set the shelf at the required level;
6. place ledges all over your home at various levels so that your pet can jump in different directions.

You can also independently design a hammock. For this you will need:

• 2 cuts of strong denim or fleece 47x47 cm;
• threads;
• edge banding;
• needles;
• scissors.

Making a hammock is as follows.

1. Make a pattern. You can print a photo and use it to cut the pattern along the contour.
2. Attach the pattern to the fabric and cut 2 identical elements.
3. Mark the seams on the edges, then turn over the edges with edgeband. Loops should also be present at the edges. They will help to hang a hammock.
4. Using a regular seam, fasten the edgeband.
5. Thread the small carbines through the loops. With the help of carbines you need to hang a hammock on the roof of the cage so that the chinchilla could climb it.

Some materials at hand can also be toys for chinchillas. It often turns out that you don’t even have to go to the store, because chinchillas can happily play with improvised items. Give your pet things that you can nibble, roll, push.

• Chinchillas can constantly roll walnuts inside the cage. In addition, they will love the wooden or plastic ball.

• A reel of threads made of wood will become not only an interesting toy, but also a good sharpener for an animal's teeth.

• A small piece of tight rope tied at the ends in a knot can also become a toy for chinchillas. But this item must be given with caution. It is necessary to make sure that the pet does not swallow the threads that can harm the stomach.

How to make a toy for chinchillas with your own hands, you can see in the next video.