Chins are so unbelievably cute that for most chinchilla owners, it was a case of love at first sight. The chinchilla is native to the Andes Mountains in South America, where it lives the life of a nocturnal rodent.
As such, in their natural habitat, chins spend most of their time foraging and digging burrows to escape from predators. These rodents, therefore, have evolved to lead a high-energy lifestyle, which means that the only time a chinchilla can stay still for extended periods is when they are ill.
As a chinchilla parent, therefore, it is your responsibility to provide your chinchilla with mental and physical stimulation to keep them healthy and comfortable. This is where chinchilla toys come in.
The following are reviews of the best chinchilla toys on the market today. Read on to find the ideal one for your pet.
Being prey animals, chins have evolved to be constantly on the lookout. This is why they dig burrows to hang out and sleep in, as burrows do not make them feel exposed.
Even though your chinchilla does not face any predatory threat in your home, it is still hardwired to find safe spots to sleep in. This is why it is so important to get them a house where they can hide.
The Soft Hanging Chinchilla House by Emours is a cozy little hideout that resembles a loaf of bread. It measures 10 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 8 inches tall and is made of the luxurious and soft flannelette fabric.
Your chinchilla will have a great time hanging out and sleeping in this soft crib. However, since these animals poop frequently, the fabric is likely to get stinky quite fast, which means that you will have to wash the bedding regularly.
We have this product as our pick for the best overall chinchilla toy due to the comfort that it allows your chinchilla; any other type of toy will be meaningless if your pet is not comfortable in the first place.
Pros
Allows your chin to “hide”
Made from soft material
Removable bedding for easier maintenance
Cons
Has to be washed and dried frequently
2. Pawliss Teeth Grinding Lava Blocks — Best Value
Like with other rodents, the front pair of incisors on chinchillas never stop growing throughout their lifetime. As a result, chins need to gnaw on something constantly to trim their incisors. Without something to gnaw on, dental issues are bound to develop, which can cause your pet a great deal of pain.
The Grinding Lava Blocks from Pawliss are among of the best toys that your chin can gnaw on. In addition to helping them keep their teeth trim and healthy, they also prevent them from grinding their teeth against the cage wall or other materials in the cage.
Each lava block is a 2-inch cube, and a pack comes with six of these cubes, which should last for a considerable period.
At their price, you should not feel a dent in your wallet even if your pet goes through a pack in a week, which is highly unlikely. This makes them an incredibly cost-friendly chewing toy for chinchillas and the best chinchilla toy for the money.
However, you need to be careful when unpacking them from their wrappers, as too much force can cause the blocks to crumble.
By now, you might have already realized that your pet is quite a curious creature. Beings that are blessed with curiosity require a great deal of stimulation to quench their inquisitive nature. Consequently, if you do not provide them with adequate stimulation, you risk having a depressed chinchilla on your hands.
The Teach N Treat by Living World is a unique, interactive, and educational toy that is a great source of mental stimulation for your animal. Additionally, it allows you to spend quality bonding time with them.
This toy allows you to engage your animal’s observation, listening, and learning skills by utilizing a system that rewards them whenever they solve a puzzle. This ensures that your chin’s mind stays active and alert, while making them sharper.
Additionally, it comes with three sets of configurations with differing levels of difficulty, which allows you to keep challenging them.
Even though some might find this toy to be quite expensive, it will go a long way in helping you engage your pet’s instincts effectively.
Pros
Great source of mental stimulation
Makes your chin smarter
Allows for progressive learning
Offers a fun, bonding platform for both you and the chin
As mentioned, chinchillas are native to the Andes Mountains, which happen to be quite cold, with an average temperature of 64°F. As a result, in warmer environments, these animals can be prone to overheating.
As such, if you live in an area with a warmer climate, it would be a good idea to have a cool surface in their cage where they can relax whenever they are feeling hot, as it will make them more comfortable. Additionally, temperature changes can also provide stimulation to your chins.
The Kaytee Chinchilla Chiller stone is made of granite, which is a material that stays cool even when room temperatures elevate.
To use, simply place it anywhere inside your pet’s enclosure. Even though it might take a little while to get used to, once your chin tries it out, it will probably become their new favorite hangout spot.
Some people recommend placing the stone inside a freezer for about 10 minutes before placing it inside their cage, as doing that will make the stone to stay cooler for longer.
This stone, however, can be susceptible to breaking if dropped.
Pros
Keeps your animal healthy by regulating their body temperature
To ensure that your chin is getting enough exercise, you could use a spinner wheel. It will tire them out so they do not become susceptible to stress due to inactivity.
When looking for a spinning wheel for your chin, solid floor wheels such as this one are usually the best options. This is because solid floor wheels eliminate the potential for your chin’s feet getting caught or stuck in the holes in the wheel.
Moreover, the fact that you can attach it to a wire cage makes it great because chinchillas are exceptionally strong and can easily tip over wheels that are free-standing.
Some buyers, however, say that the wheel can be stiff.
These all-natural chew sticks by Kaytee are a good source of physical and mental stimulation for your animal. Additionally, they provide your pet with a good gnawing material to trim their teeth so they can remain in good shape.
You simply place a stick inside the enclosure or attach it to a “kabob” toy for extra stimulation. A pack of these sticks usually consists of 10 pieces; however, you can get larger packs if you want to.
As mentioned, chinchillas need to trim their teeth constantly to prevent the teeth from overgrowing. However, having only one type of material to gnaw on can quickly become boring for your fur baby. Therefore, by using a variety of options, you will keep your animal stimulated in addition to preventing them from becoming too picky.
Pros
Good for wearing down the teeth
All-natural apple tree sticks
Provide mental and physical stimulation
Cons
Some animals do not show much interest in these sticks
This toy is a Ware Manufacturing Hay Ball of chew-proof wire. It is designed to provide your chinchilla with mental and physical stimulation and is also a feeder.
To use, simply hang it from the roof of the enclosure, fill it with fresh hay, and then watch as your chins jump at it to get the food inside the ball. This toy also comes with a little bell attached to the bottom that rings whenever your pet touches it.
The hay ball also provides a good workout because the chins will have to jump to reach the hay. Some buyers say that their chins love feeding from the hay ball so much that they stopped eating the hay on their feeder. Another benefit of using the hay ball is that it results in less messy feeding.
Some chins, however, do not seem to care much for hay balls.
The Lava Ledge is another great toy by Kaytee, and it works to not only act as a nibbling surface but also as an exercising tool.
Lava ledges are made from pumice rock and are coated with “pet safe” food colors to allow your chinchilla to use them for wearing down their teeth and nails to keep them healthy. Additionally, they come with fasteners to allow you to attach them to various points on the cage so they can act as ledges for your chins to jump on, thereby allowing them to get in exercise.
A pack comes with several ledges to allow you to place them at different levels on the cage walls to encourage your chinchilla to hop around. This results in a stronger and healthier animal.
While the OxGord Playpen is not a “toy” in the traditional sense of the word, it provides you with interactive space for your chin to chill in when looking to give them a change of scenery from their usual enclosure.
Coming in at a diameter of 45 inches and a height of 24 inches, this playpen is exceptionally large, thereby ensuring that your animal has a great deal of playing room. Additionally, it comes with storage compartments where you can place their other toys. As such, it is the perfect bag for carrying your chin with in case they are to accompany you in your travels.
Moreover, regularly switching your chin between its enclosure and this playpen will help prevent boredom.
However, it comes with a strong smell that your chin might not like much. Fortunately, that smell wears off after a couple of washes.
Pros
Provides a different environment for your chin to chill in
Easy to assemble
Easy to clean
Breathable mesh screen
Two-door access
Collapsible for easy storage
Cons
Strong initial smell
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Chinchilla Toy
Getting the ideal toy for your chinchilla is easier said than done, as there are so many options. It is especially difficult to make the right choice for first-time chinchilla parents. To help you make the right decision, consider the following tips when looking for the best toys for your chinchillas.
Avoid the Cheap Stuff
When we say “cheap,” we are talking more than just the price of the toy; we are also talking about how it is manufactured.
Some chinchilla toy manufacturers utilize an automated system to produce as many toys as possible within a given period, which definitely affects the overall quality of the product.
Since chins will nibble at almost anything, you want to be sure that any toy that you provide them with cannot harm their health. As a rule of thumb, avoid cheap chinchilla toys, as it is highly likely that they have been cheaply made.
However, this is not to imply that all costly toys are of good quality. As such, it is important to look for information about any product before buying to find out whether it is safe for your pet.
Purpose: Chewing vs. Playing
The purpose you are looking to fulfill by getting a toy for your chin plays a big part in the type of toy that you should purchase.
If you already have toys that help your animal keep their teeth in good condition but are concerned about the shape that they are in, then you are better off looking for a toy that will get them working out, such as a spinner wheel.
Safety
Chins can be especially susceptible to injuries due to their delicate nature. As such, the toy that you get should have a low risk of injury. When it comes to spinner wheels, avoid those that have horizontal spokes. Instead, go for those with a flat, even surface. This prevents your animal from trapping their legs in the spokes.
Conclusion
Your cute chinchilla can be a handful as their intelligent, inquisitive nature calls for a great deal of mental and physical stimulation. Considering that the average lifespan of a chinchilla is between 15 and 20 years, not providing them with adequate stimulation will make for one dreadful existence for the animal.
Fortunately, there is a wide variety of toys for chinchillas. The issue, however, is finding the best one.
After checking out different products, we are confident that the Soft Hanging Chinchilla House by Emours is a must-have toy, as it mimics a chin’s natural environment by providing them with a place to hide and rest.
Our value pick is Pawliss Teeth Grinding Lava Blocks, as these are made of safe, high-quality materials that your chin can grind their teeth against, and this product is quite affordable.
With chin toys, however, it is important to have variety. Therefore, in addition to those two, you can also get a toy that helps your animal to exercise to ensure that it remains in great shape. You cannot go wrong with any product from the reviews in this article.
For more reviews on gear for your Chinchilla, check out these posts:
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
