The 6 Finest Hedgehog Cages of 2024

FAQ

• Perlick shares that whereas hedgehogs like to climb and are glorious climbers, most  multi stage cages should not secure for them. Since their eyesight is sort of poor, they will simply misjudge distances and fall off higher ranges in multi-level cages. Nonetheless, she provides, if ranges aren’t too steep or the cage comes geared up with limitations alongside the sides of the higher ranges, it is likely to be okay. 

• Whereas there’s some disagreement in regards to the preferrred dimension of a hedgehog cage, the minimal acceptable dimension is 4 sq. ft, in keeping with Perlick. Nonetheless, she provides, hedgehogs don’t like loads of open, empty area. Be sure to present loads of toys or different fascinating issues of their cage to assist them keep occupied. 

• First issues first: Hedgehogs want recent water and meals every day. This implies you’ll have to get the right meals and water dishes or dispensers. Particularly concerning water, Perlick advises that, “Water must be in a dish or particular water bottle made for chickens known as a hen or poultry nipple drinker.” She additionally warns that dispensers made for rabbits or guinea pigs aren’t secure for hedgehogs, and they’re going to most likely have bother utilizing them. 

  • Warmth supply: Hedgehogs additionally want a warmth supply. If not stored heat, hedgehogs can hibernate and die (cages ought to ideally be stored at temperatures between 75 levels and 85 levels Fahrenheit — undoubtedly no decrease than 72 levels Fahrenheit). Perlick recommends a secure heating system, comparable to a Ceramic Warmth Emitter (or CHE) for hedgehog cages. It ought to ideally be a 150-watt system with a thermostat as a way to set it to activate and off by itself.

    Warmth pads are sometimes inappropriate for hedgehogs as a result of they will burn the hedgehogs’ pores and skin and generally they don’t get sizzling sufficient, ensuing within the hedgehogs hibernating.

  • Bedding: Your hedgehog will want some sort of bedding. There are quite a few varieties to select from, comparable to recycled paper, towels, wooden shavings, corn cob bedding, newspaper, and fleece, a favourite amongst hedgehog fans as a result of its softness for the hedgehog’s ft, and ease of cleansing. (Some even lower the fleece into strips for his or her hedgehogs to tug round, disguise underneath, and play with.)

    For those who select a reusable sort of bedding, choose no matter you discover is most absorbent and sturdy, as it’ll should be washed steadily. Plus, make sure you get sufficient of it. You’ll want loads, particularly in case your hedgehog isn’t litter skilled — wherein case it must be modified out each day.

  • Flooring of the cage: Just like bedding, the cage flooring wants some sort of padding to forestall damage to the hedgehogs’ tender ft. Fleece is a perfect cloth to unfold throughout the hedgehog’s flooring, so long as you retain it clear and alter it out repeatedly. You could select fleece to cowl the ground and use a unique sort of bedding in dig containers or different elements of the cage for variation.
  • Litter pan with litter and scoop: This one is fairly self-explanatory. In case your hedgehog is litter skilled, you’ll need a litter pan with litter and a scoop for cleansing it out. It’s finest to arrange their litter pan on the other facet of the cage from their meals and water. If they’re litter skilled, you may often change out the litter pan as soon as every week or so, (scooping every day), relying on how a lot litter is in it and the way a lot it’s been used. 

    In the event that they’re not litter skilled, cleansing the bedding and/or flooring coverings out every day — or no less than spot cleansing (or scooping) — is known as for. To fill the litter pan, wooden or paper pellets are higher than cat litter, however should you favor to make use of cat litter, be certain that it’s unscented and non-clumping.

  • Train wheel: Perlick says that hedgehogs are very energetic nocturnally and run 5 to seven miles each evening. That’s proper, 5 to seven ACTUAL miles. She explains that, “For those who don’t give them a wheel, they wind up operating in circles which is an indication of neurosis. They might additionally change into overweight or get sores on their ft. A big strong wheel, twelve inches throughout or bigger, is good, and it should be stored clear as they (defecate) whereas they run.” To keep away from a buildup of hedgie excrement which might trigger well being points, the wheel should completely be cleaned every day. 
  • Hideout: Hedgies want a spot with areas to cover which can be darkish, so the cage’s partitions are ideally not clear until you present no less than one or two hideouts contained in the cage (some folks purchase see-through princess-style small pet homes that aren’t acceptable for hedgehogs; Perlick advises to keep away from these). Hedgehogs like to cover out once they’re drained and so they additionally get pleasure from digging in “dig containers” which you could find at many pet provide shops and on-line (you may simply make these your self in a pinch with somewhat creativity!)
  • Toys: For those who have been to discover a wild hedgehog, you’ll doubtless observe their tendency to dig and burrow into thick piles of leaves and brush. To recreate this of their cage, you may make or purchase dig containers, pom pom pits (a shallow container crammed with hedgie-sized fleece pom poms), or related toys. Perlick shares that some hedgehogs additionally like cat toys or little duckies (like youngsters’s bathtub toys) that squeak.

    Lots of them additionally having fun with taking part in with easy family objects like empty rest room paper rolls (lower a slit into them lengthwise on every finish to verify their little hedgie heads don’t get caught in the event that they attempt to burrow in), four-inch PVC pipes, strips of lower up fleece connected to a field to make a miniature “automotive wash” for them to run by, and small blankets to tug round and conceal underneath. Perlick says in addition they just like the odor of peppermint, so if you could find a mint-scented toy or a mint stick (discovered on Chewy and different websites), they’ll doubtless find it irresistible! (however please don’t give them mints or peppermint oil)

• In accordance with Perlick, hedgehogs typically favor to be solitary animals. They don’t want different hedgehog associates. Women and men shouldn’t be housed collectively until breeding, as males will eat any infants born, promptly impregnate the females once more, and eat the infants once more when born. Two males collectively will even struggle as they’re very territorial. They will struggle generally even to the dying.

  Some folks have success with housing two feminine hedgehogs collectively, particularly in the event that they’ve been raised collectively since start, however you have to double up on every thing (two train wheels, two meals dishes, double the area, and so on.) should you’re going to do this. 

  However in truth, Perlick emphasizes that there’s often no good cause to accommodate two females collectively, even when it really works.