The World of Chin Toys - The Best and Safest

Hey, everyone! I'm sorry I'm so late with this post. I clearly was not expecting Nimbus to be injured... how can anyone expect that? It's still such a shock to me. I can't figure out what happened, and I grow more frustrated every minute.

Nimbus is doing much better and takes his medicine easier. I think he now expects it, which breaks my heart. I hate holding him down for Chris to shove those hard syringes past his teeth. Luckily, he drinks it down instead of trying to spit it back at Chris. He spends the day sleeping in various spots in his cage and listening to his playlist. Some songs include "Coyotes" by Don Edwards, "Message for the Queen" from 300, "I Remember" by Stephen Sondheim, "Maybe Today" by Carbon Leaf and "Ribs" by Lorde.

I promised you all a post about safe toys for a chinchilla after leaving you hanging with poisonous toys. So here we are at last. I'll try to separate toys from cage accessories, but some go hand-in-hand.

The Oxbow Timothy products are wonderful toys to entertain and chew for chinchillas. Nimbus's first house was a Timothy bungalow. Now, it serves as a toy since he chewed himself a "sun roof." He enjoys sliding into the bungalow then popping his head out of the opening to survey his surroundings. He's like a chinchilla submarine. Try the lounger, the carrot, the play mat, the tunnel and other cool toys that your chin can nibble away at... instead of, you know, your copy of The Hobbit or your suede shoes. Many are considered toss toys and can be used in and outside the cage.

Nimbus's bungalow

Ware Willow Barbell Chew Toys are inexpensive and fun. Two balls of willow are woven together and attached by a willow stick. They come in different sizes to use for chinchillas, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits.

Any type of nesting toy like a chubby nest or lounger should be safe and also offer another chewing product to maintain healthy teeth. Just double check what type of hay is used. Timothy hay is the only hay that should be used in a chinchilla's staple diet. Other hays, like alfalfa, are to be used as treats, not everyday food. If you choose a toy made out a hay other than Timothy, you need to use to sparingly.

One of my favorite toys is the woven play mat by Super Pet. At only $5, the play mat provides your pet with three things. The first is that it's made of Timothy hay for more chewing. Secondly, little wooden stars and hearts are sewn into the mat for a different type of chewing. Finally, it's a great place to sleep. Nimbus loves rolling on his side and taking a nap on his mat. If your chin soils it, the mat is easy to cut. Nimbus's is missing a corner because he used it to pee on it too much. Now, it's safe for him to use again. He's on his second mat because he loves them so much.

Photo from petsmart.com/product

Hanging toys are great for entertainment, keeping those ever growing teeth in check and decorating your cage. Nimbus's favorite hangs down by a wooden hook and boasts one pumice stone and four wooden circles. I dangle it beside the top floor of his cage, so he can bat it around and exercise in order to chew it. The pumice stone is his favorite, which is great because he refuses to eat a regular pumice stone. That boxy rock just sits in his cage. Very annoying! Chinchilla City has some very interesting hanging toys, including the "chinshroom," which is half of a coconut shell and a vine stem, The Carnival, Pumice Wreath and Loop the Loop. TJ's Chinchilla Supplies also has fun, decorative variations. Chins want to do more than chew on a willow stick or nibble on a pumice stone. With hanging toys, they are presented with a challenge, which usually includes different types of chewing material.

The Alien from TJ's Chinchilla Supplies

If you'd like to help out chinchilla adoption agencies and rescues, you can always check your favorite site to see if they have a store. As you all know, I love Forever Feisty Chinchilla Rescue. I just love them! I trust their information, and they have a wonderful little store. For $16, you can get a Purple Pail of Goodies. In this pail you'll find, treats, chewing sticks of different woods, a wreath, a key chain for you, Timothy hay and a pumice stone. They carry lava ledges, Timothy twists, some toss toys, hanging toys like the Cactus Twist, baskets and a large willow cube.

Chinny Buddies!!!! It's fun to say, and they're just adorable! I said in a previous post that Nimbus doesn't enjoy his... well, more for me! I love it! It's just too cute. Pick one of five colors to either match your furry friend or give the cage a splash of of something new. They're the same size as a chinchilla (there are also mini Chinny Buddies), and each one is handmade out of fleece. If you can't purchase a bonding pair, this little playmate can provide company during the day when you're not around. However, Nimbus choose a different kind of companion, but that's a story for another day.

Nimbus and his Chinny Buddy

Then there are playhouses!! Let's bust out the fun outside the cage with mazes, ramps, boxes, cubes, tubes and oh so many places to hide. Twilight Chinchillas has some very innovative playhouses to get that lazy chin moving, chewing and exploring. Hide Cheerios in the tubes or purchase additional ramps from other stores to create your own unique chinchilla castle!!

I hope these products give you ideas and options of fun toys your chinchilla will enjoy. Just because they can't be colorful with a bunch of dyes and plastic doesn't mean you have to settle for colorless, plain wooden woven balls or chew sticks. There is an entire world of chin safe toys and activities to keep both of you entertained and help with bonding. Happy trails and enjoy!!