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Critter Comforts
A Shopping List For New Owners
By Whitney Potsus
So you're going to bring a new small animal - or two - home with you? Wonderful - congratulations and best wishes for many days of happiness with your new critter!
Have you figured out what you need to bring home with your new friend? No? Then check out our starter list to get the 4-1-1 on what you need, whether you're bringing home a rabbit, a guinea pig, a hamster, or something else.
Cage
• Cages should have solid, not wire, bottoms.
• Must be large enough for the number of animals that will be living in them, giving ample room to move around, eat, sleep, and play without tripping over each other. Check the leading online information sources - especially for rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, and chinchillas - to learn how much space is required for one, two, or more animals. Many of the cages easily found in pet stores for these species are not big enough.
• Must be well-ventilated; aquariums and large plastic storage tubs are never acceptable.
• Cages for the smallest animals (hamsters, gerbils, mice, etc.) should be easily expandable with accessories and attachments.
• Cage doors and openings must be large enough to allow two adult hands with an animal. Many "side doors" are too small to put in a guinea pig, rabbit, ferret, or chinchilla without risk of leg or foot injury. For larger animals, look for large side doors (with secure fasteners!) or cage tops that lift up.
Bedding
• Look for bedding that is absorbent and odor-controlling.
• Look for bedding that is healthy for the animals and for your budget; the more animals you have, the more often the cage has to be cleaned.
• Family members allergic to trees or dust? Look for recycled paper bedding, or products like CareFresh Pet Bedding or Kaytee Total Comfort.
• Cedar bedding should never be used for small animals. Cedar odor is too strong for small spaces and causes respiratory problems in small animals.
Hide-house
• Accommodates critters' instinctive need to tunnel, hide, and nest. Hide-houses come in dozens of varieties, from igloos to log houses to tents, and are made in everything from plastic to wood to grass to fabric.
Food dish / bin
• Buy dishes/bins large enough to allow all the animals to eat at once since meal and snack times are communal events.
• Buy dishes that are easy to wash (hot water only) and difficult to tip over.
Water bottle / bottle guard
• Must be large enough for the number of animals. For a single guinea pig, rabbit, chinchilla, or ferret, bottle must be 8 ounces minimum.
• Bottle (or hold) guards hold bottles more securely than the bail wires that come with them.
Food / hay
• Buy species-specific food. Occasional use of food pellets with colorful add-ins is okay (if your critter will eat it), but feeding these products is like mixing your high-fiber breakfast cereal with Captain Crunch.
• Species like rabbits and guinea pigs also require hay; timothy for rabbits, alfalfa for guinea pigs. Look for hay that is green - not yellow, brown, or dusty.
Strongly Recommended
Funnels / Chubes / Tunnels
• Add spice to playtime and accommodate the need to tunnel and hide. PVC pipe, found at hardware stores, is a cheap alternative. So are oatmeal containers (with paper label and plastic ring removed).
Snuggle Snacks / Cuddle Cups
• Can be used during lap time with humans, and in play areas for napping.
Toys / Chew Sticks
• Chew sticks satisfy chewing instinct and helps teeth stay a normal length. Toys add spark to playtime. Trial-and-error required to find the chew sticks and toys that will attract and engage your critter.
Brushes & combs
• Buy species-specific products. Necessary for long-haired critters and critters who shed a lot.
Optional
Commercial treats
• These seed-, fruit-, nut-, or veggie-based snacks are popular - and make a good occasional treat. But they're the small animal kingdom's equivalent of Doritos: high in calories, high in fat, and low in nutritional value. A better snack is fresh fruits and vegetables.
Kabob holders / Veggie holders
• Let you spear fruits, veggies, and chew sticks. They get stuff off the cage floor, and encourage animals to stretch and reach instead of passively sitting and munching.
Veggie Twisters / Salad Hoppers
• Help get hay and vegetables off the cage floor and encourage animals' foraging instincts. Generally successful with rabbits and guinea pigs, engage even animals that weren't enthralled by Kabob and Veggie holders.
Cage cleaners
• Most do their job very well and don't leave a strong odor. For the budget-conscious pet owner, there are cheaper options - such as baby shampoo and hot water, or homemade vinegar-and-water solutions.
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