Chinchilla Peeing Problems

skndugan · Dec 5, 2011

I have two chins, the first I got has always peed in the bottom level of the cage, in one of two corners. When I introduced a second chin, he began doing the same. But in the last year he will pee off the middle or top shelf, against the bars so pee flies out on to my carpet, wall etc. I've tried to place things there he won't pee on, like food dishes, marble slab etc. but he still pees out the cage bars. The other one continues to only pee in the bottom tray corners, and I wish the new one would also because it smells and is making a huge mess. I think he has even peed on the other chinchilla by peeing on the upper levels. Any suggestions?

I'm going to be buying them a new FN cage in a month or so, and I would love a fresh start and have both of their pee contained and less mess to deal with.

Anfsurfer · Dec 5, 2011

One thing I've learned with my three chinny boys is chins pee and poop where they want. One of my boys always pee'd on the shelves and I had the same problem...it would run off the shelves and down onto other shelves and the carpet. I got rid of almost all of the long shelves and now have almost all small shelves (6" x 6" or smaller). It's pretty much cured the problem, but occasionaly I'll get a pee on the shelf.

feistychins · Dec 6, 2011

Everyone would love their chins to pee on the lower level of the cage or in a litter tray, but chins pee in their chosen spot. I have chins that pee in one corner and others that pee everywhere which is miserable to clean.

Urine guards in the corner or on the shelf where they like to pee will help to keep it in the cage and not on your floor/walls.

Laurie · Dec 6, 2011

It's very hard to potty train rodents. Even though mine all have litter dishes in their cage they sometimes go where ever. There really isn't anything you can do to prevent that. When you say the corners do you have a separate glass dish in there with shavings for them to use or do you have shavings down in the entire cage floor?

skndugan · Dec 6, 2011

The cage has a mesh shelves, in addition to lava ledges. The entire bottom is a mesh cover, and there are recycled paper shaving underneath where the older chin always uses the washroom. The other chin uses the two upper mesh shelves, which extend across the width of the cage and not necessarily in the corner, he will just pee out the side across my walls. Only he does it.

When I buy my new FN cage, I'd love to prevent it as much as possible - so you suggest smaller shelves and urine guards? Where can I get these? Any good websites? I haven't tried a litter pan yet, but that might also be an option. It's becoming too much to clean up after.