How to Clean Up After a Pet Chipmunk

A pet chipmunk's health depends on a clean environment. Although chipmunks are naturally clean animals, they require their owner's help to stay clean in captivity. Daily cleaning of their food and water containers is necessary. Weekly cleaning of most cage floors is required. A thorough cleaning of their entire cage and nest boxes can be done less often.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Wash the drinking bottle and spout every day. Use hot water, a bottlebrush and cotton swabs. Scrub the bottle and all its components. Avoid using soap or disinfectants. After thoroughly rinsing in hot water, refill with room-temperature water.

2. Wash the food dish or tray every day, scrubbing it in hot water. If you put a metal food bowl in your dishwasher, be sure to thoroughly rinse it in hot water and dry it before you refill it.

3. Look for small black pellets on the floor of the cage. In time, you may notice that these are confined to just one area of the cage. Scoop up or brush out these droppings every day.

4. Immediately remove any moldy food that the chipmunk may have stored.

5. Wash the floor of an indoor cage once every week. Hot water is the best cleaner. If you prefer to use a disinfectant, use only one specially designed for pet cages and rinse thoroughly after cleaning. Replace wood chips or base material. The floor of a large, outdoor cage can be washed once a month.

6. Scrub the entire cage 4 times a year. Again, hot water is an effective cleaner. If you use a disinfectant, use only one designed for cleaning pet cages and rinse thoroughly.

7. Clean the nest boxes twice a year. Thoroughly empty and brush them. If you wash them in hot water, be sure to let them dry thoroughly before returning them to the cage.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not clean a female's nest box if you think she may be pregnant.