Cage size, bedding, temperature and setup — including why pet-shop cages are usually too small.
7 questions, answered honestly and judgment-free.
Almost always bigger than the pet shop suggests. As guides: a pair of rabbits needs a living space of at least about 3m × 2m × 1m; guinea pigs need lots of floor space on a solid floor; hamsters need a large tank with deep bedding; gerbils need a deep tank (20–30 cm of substrate) to burrow; chinchillas and degus need tall, multi-level cages. More space is always better — check the specific species guide.
Often not. Cages marketed for hamsters, mice, gerbils and even rabbits are frequently far too small for good welfare — a leading cause of stress, boredom and health problems. Treat any “minimum” as a floor to exceed, prioritise floor space and (for burrowers) bedding depth, and check the size against our species guide rather than the box.
For rodents, use dust-free paper-based bedding, cellulose chips or (for most) aspen — deep enough for burrowers to dig. Grazers like rabbits and chinchillas do well on dust-free hay over an absorbent layer. Avoid dusty sawdust, and never use cedar or pine shavings (the oils irritate airways and are toxic to ferrets).
No — avoid it. The thin strands in cotton-wool-style “fibre” bedding can be swallowed or wrap around limbs and cut off circulation, sometimes costing an animal a foot or its life. Use plain paper, tissue or hay for nesting instead, which small pets can safely shred.
No. Wire-mesh floors cause painful foot injuries (bumblefoot) in rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and others, and open-rung wire wheels can trap and break a leg. Use solid floors and solid, appropriately-sized exercise wheels.
Out of direct sun and away from draughts, damp and radiators. Temperature matters a lot for some: chinchillas need to be kept cool (ideally 10–18°C), degus below about 20°C, and guinea pigs under 26°C, because they overheat dangerously; hamsters, by contrast, must be kept warm indoors so they don’t slip into a dangerous torpor. Check the species guide for its range.
Spot-clean soiled bedding and droppings daily or every few days, and do a fuller clean weekly to fortnightly depending on the species and how much they toilet in one spot. Don’t over-clean — always leave a little unsoiled bedding behind for familiar scent, as a total scent-strip can stress animals and even trigger fighting. For rats, keeping ammonia low directly protects their lungs.
More small-pet Q&A
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Short answers from the Hayfold team — kind, general guidance, not a diagnosis. When something looks wrong, watch your pet closely and see an exotic/small-animal vet for anything serious.
