Midwest Deluxe Critter Nation Cage Review

This review is part of our 2020 review series to help you select the best chinchilla cage for your little pet.

Chinchillas are very active pets and require a large and safe space to live happily. The Midwest Deluxe Critter Nation is one of the larger enclosures available today, measuring at 5’4 tall. With its smooth wheels for quick moving, wide double doors for easy cleaning and rearranging, and minimal spacing between bars, it is a great option for chinchillas who love to run, jump and play.

Make your cage your own with the many available customization options including add-ons for when your chinchilla family grows or needs even more space, accessories and toy kits to keep your pets entertained and engaged.

 

Made for Chinchilla ( 9 / 10 )

Also known as the “Midwest chinchilla cage”, the Deluxe Critter Nation is a double unit, two-level cage with a length of 36”, a width of 25” and a height of 63”, making this enclosure a more than desirable size for your chinchillas to live peacefully and happily.

The generous space given in this cage made it possible to decorate your cage with plenty of chinchilla toys and accessories.

This cage is significantly larger than most cages on the market, including the “luxury” Chinchilla Mansion.

The cage stands on four wheels making transportation easy and the wheels lock into place for your chinchilla’s safety.

The cage also contains a bottom shelf perfect for storage. This enclosure is completely customizable with extra shelving and accessories that can be easily attached, in addition to removable pans for easy clean-up.

Design

• Each of the two levels comes with an adjustable shelf, plastic ramps and ramp covers, and a removeable pan for lining each floor. The pans collect waste and protect your chinchilla’s feet from the dangers of walking on wire bars such as getting their feet stuck or developing sores.The unit has ½” spaced horizontal chew-resistant steel bars, creating a safe environment for younger, or smaller, chinchillas and providing a stable surface for your chinchilla to jump and climb freely.

• The double door spans the entire length of the cage making it easier to remove and insert the floor pans, install toys and accessories for your chinchilla or make design changes.

• The double doors have dual locking latches which can be easily opened with one hand.

Safety

• The enclosure contains two levels minimizing the risk of your chinchilla falling from tall heights and injuring themselves.

• The ramps come with ramp covers which provide your chinchilla’s feet with more traction and more comfort as they run up and down.

• The ½” horizontal bars prevent sneaky chinchillas from escaping the cage.

Accommodation

• This cage is perfect to house two, at most three, chinchillas, allowing them enough space to actively run and jump but also retreat to their own space when needed.

• The large, double doors make it easy for your chinchilla to enter and exit the cage comfortably during play time.

 

Ease of cleaning ( 9.5 / 10 )

The Midwest Deluxe was designed with easy cleaning in mind. Each level contains a removable shelf and a leak-proof plastic floor pan to collect bedding and waste.

Cleaning the cage

• With the 36” double doors on each level, removing and replacing the plastic floor pans is easy.

• The pans can be wiped down with a pet safe cleaner, such as Nature’s Miracle or Arm & Hammer, and a paper towel or cloth, or can be washed with water and a mild detergent.

• The bars should be wiped down with a paper towel or cloth and pet safe cleaner. The attached wheels make it easier to move the unit to a more convenient spot for cleaning.

Bedding

• Although they are leak-proof, the removable pans do little to contain the mess that bedding and waste can create. At only 1” high, they are not suitable for bedding, but can be lined with a fleece blanket which can be purchased separately for this cage.

• To fit the appropriate amount of bedding, and attempt to contain the bedding within the unit you will need to find deeper pans or scatter guards which are sold separately by Midwest Homes for Pets and other brands.

• For better quality mess protection, you can create your own scatter guards using scrap wood cut to the height you find best to contain the bedding, litter or waste falling into the pans.

For even easier clean-up, the dual level cage can be separated into two units by lifting the ramp into the up position, blocking off the section you are cleaning while your chinchillas are waiting safely in the other section.

 

 Versatility ( 9 / 10 )

One of the reasons the Midwest Deluxe Critter Nation is one of the most popular cages for chinchillas is because of its complete versatility.

The cage is completely customizable to your and your chinchilla’s liking, from the adjustable shelves on each level to the abundance of add-ons, accessories and toys that you can mix and match to create the perfect environment for your pet.

Adaptability

• The enclosure can be customized to best fit your chinchilla’s needs and interests. The removable floor pans can be adjusted to three different heights making it easy to customize with litter boxes, hammocks, perches for climbing or additional shelves. The resting shelves on each level can also be adjusted.

• You can separate the top and bottom sections by locking the plastic ramp into the “up” position, if you need to separate your pets or for making clean-up even easier without removing your chinchilla from its cage.

• Midwest Homes for Pets also makes the Midwest Deluxe Critter Nation Add-On Unit which is fully compatible with the Deluxe Critter Nation. The add-on cage includes one adjustable shelf and one plastic ramp with the plastic cover. The add-on cage does not include a stand and should only be attached directly to the original double enclosure.

Accessories

• As a completely customizable cage, the Deluxe Critter Nation is big enough to house the numerous toys, tubes, tunnels and hammocks your chinchilla loves and plays with every day.

• Midwest Homes for Pets makes accessory kits that are compatible with this cage. The kits include items such as cozy cubes, busy body blankies, hide and seek tunnels and hammock hideaways, and come in fun colors and are machine washable.

• In addition to the accessory kits, this cage is compatible with many products available online and in pet stores and has ample space to test out different enrichment options for your chinchilla.

 

Value for money ( 9.5 / 10 )

Although the Midwest Deluxe Critter Nation comes with a sizeable price tag, when compared to other chinchilla cages like the Chinchilla Mansion, the Prevue Hendryx cages and the Dreamhome Heavy Duty Chinchilla Cage, its sheer size and sturdiness makes the bang worth your buck.

Not to mention, this cage comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. The heavy frame and sturdy steel bars make this enclosure one to last long enough to get your money’s worth.

This cage provides your chinchilla with the space it needs to play, run, jump and climb.

You have more than enough space for two, even three, chinchillas to live happily, and for the not-so-happy moments, you can easily separate the levels, giving them their own personal space.

Cleaning and organizing are made easy with the large doors on both levels and the floor pans can be quickly wiped, or washed, down with pet safe cleaners.

Despite stating that this model requires no tools to assemble, its recommended to have a screwdriver and small hammer available. While the assembly only requires one person, two people will be able to finish faster and with greater ease.