The 10 Best Hedgehog Cages
- May 27, 2023
- By Dr. Barry Buttler
Hi, Hedgehog's parents, are you among us? You may already be one, or you may want to train to be one.
If that's the case, you've no doubt realized that providing the hedgehog with the right habitat is a top priority.
The domestication of hedgehogs is very recent, compared with other animals and rodents, and they still retain some of their wild nature.
In other words, you will have to do whatever it takes to make them feel comfortable in captivity. But there are so many cages to choose from! It's hard to tell which is the biggest when you're sifting through all of them.
The problem is that BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has simplified it. To make it easier for you to choose the best hedgehog cages, we've ranked them from best to worst.
The hedgehog cage reviews in this article will help you make an informed decision about the best place to raise your adorable little cactus.
Conclusion
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes that these reviews have helped alleviate any doubts you might have about the best hedgehog cages for your pet. Your hedgehog will need plenty of space to run around, but it will also need accessories and features to make it easier for them to socialize.
The Prevue Pet Products Small Animal Cage is our top pick as it meets all your hedgehog needs at a reasonable price. But if you can’t afford it, the Ferplast Cavie 80 is a great alternative that offers the best value for money.
The hedgehog may be the only animal in the world with the largest size-to-character ratio. Maintain their health by providing them with a comfortable place to call home.
Reviews
Small Animal Cage by Prevue Pet Products – Best Overall
In the end, we’ve decided that the Prevue Pet Products Small Animal Cage is the finest overall hedgehog cage. As a hedgehog owner, I can tell you that this is the ideal product size for your pet!
Our favorite aspect of this cage is the fact that it has two doors. A top-loading door and a side-loading door make it simple to feed your pet on-the-go.
You’ll want as much room as possible to hoist your pet out of the car when they’re coated with prickly spines. You don’t want an escape hedgie if you don’t lock the side door every time you use it!
This mattress has an extra-deep bedpan as well. Hedgehogs will be able to burrow safely and comfortably in this 6.5-inch-deep box.
This cage’s wheels are a great feature for moving it about the house. Just because it’s lightweight doesn’t imply it isn’t dependable. This cage is built to last. It’s also easy to clean and doesn’t squeak as much because it’s powder coated.
As a hedgehog cage, we do have one complaint. Putting it together can be a hassle. Nevertheless, we’re not concerned about it. It’s a sturdy and reliable cage once it’s put together correctly.
Pros
- Spacious
- Openings at the top of a cabinet
- Bed pans that are very wide
- Powder coating that is safe for the environment
- Consists of wheels
- The building has a very solid foundation.
Cons
- It’s not always easy to put together.
The best deal on a Ferplast Cavie 80 Cage
The Ferplast Cavie 80 Cage is an excellent hedgehog cage option if you’re on a budget. For guinea pigs and rabbits, this may not be the best option, but for hedgehogs, it is fantastic!
It has an elevated feeding platform with a dish that separates bedding and litter from meals. It’s no problem at all for your small pal to get up the slope leading to the bowl either.
A little cave may be found beneath the raised platform, where your hedgehog will feel quite at home. It has a large front door that makes it easy to load your hedgehog inside.
A top-loading mechanism would still be preferable, especially for prickly pets! Close the front door only once you’re certain it’s completely secured.
There are a few extras included with this cage, making it convenient to transport. This Ferplast comes highly recommended if you’re seeking for an excellent environment that won’t drain your bank account.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Separate the levels of difficulty.
- A cave that’s already there
- Affordable
- Accessories are included with the purchase of this product.
Cons
- The absence of a loading ramp at the top
Deluxe Small Animal Cage – MidWest Critter Nation
If you want your hedgehog to feel like a princess or a prince, why not build him or her a castle? In all seriousness, the MidWest Critter Nation Deluxe small animal cage is a palace for your pet.
A hedgehog will have plenty of room to roam about in this two-story enclosure. Only “one tale” remains!
Double the size is possible with a two-story variant. If you’re feeling very daring, you may even expand your storage capacity by purchasing an add-on device. An whole residential building for only one hedgehog.
Despite its size, it’s easy to move around. It has casters equipped with wheel-locking mechanisms that make moving it around a breeze.
Full frontal doors open just as wide as any top-loading door, and the cage has no top-loading doors at all. When loading your hedgie, be sure to secure the side doors.
A single device, on the other hand, is incredibly pricey. If you want an add-on or a double-story model, you’d best budget accordingly, because this is a premium model.
Pros
- Humongous
- Equipped with casters that lock the wheels in place
- Intuitive ramps
- Front-loading doors that open wide
Cons
- Exorbitantly priced
- It’s not easy to put together by yourself.
Wabbitat Deluxe for the Midwest
In addition to the MidWest Wabbitat Deluxe, MidWest also offers a nice hedgehog cage. Like our affordable selection, it has a lot of the same features. Cage size is enough, with a raised feeding platform and a secret hiding spot underneath.
The deep bedding tray is also a big plus for us. It should be able to capture all of your hedgehog’s bedding with its 5.5-inch length. A feeding bowl and drinking bottle are included in the package, as well as other accessories that your hedgehog will surely like.
There are certain drawbacks to using this cage, though. Because it isn’t as inexpensive, it didn’t make our top three list of the best.
Pros
- Ample room for a solitary hedgehog
- Platform for feeding from a height
- A cave that’s already there
- A substantial tray for bedding
Cons
- Larger top-loading doors are possible
- Not as inexpensive as our second-choice budget option.
- Setup is more time consuming
A Cage for a Small Animal from Amazon Basics
Consider this AmazonBasics hedgehog cage as an option if you’re searching for a simple cage. It’s big enough for a hedgehog to fit comfortably and has a top-loading door for convenient access. It’s also one of our list’s more reasonably priced choices.
When compared to other cages with raised feeding platforms, this one’s been determined to be a tad weak. Our cage would have ranked higher on this list if it had better support. The side door must also be secured carefully.
Pros
- Sufficient for a single hedgehog to roam freely
- Accessories are included with the purchase of this product.
- Affordable
- One-year guarantee on all parts and labor
Cons
- Insufficient sturdiness in feeding platform.
- A deeper bedding pan is required.
How to Choose the Best Hedgehog Cages
There is some disagreement over the optimal housing for pet hedgehogs, but for any hedgehog cage, size, safety, ventilation, and cleanliness are the most critical factors.
There are advantages and disadvantages to many cage styles; choose a cage that matches the specific needs of your hedgehogs and fits your budget and tastes.
Size
In the wild, hedgehogs often cover a great deal of land in search of food. Even hedgehogs kept as pets require ample space for movement.
Two square feet (e.g., 1 foot by 2 feet) is commonly cited as the minimal floor area for a hedgehog, however this should be regarded the very bare minimum; use this size only if you have a wheel and provide your hedgehog with adequate opportunity to exercise outside the cage. Aim for a minimum of 6 square feet, if possible (e.g. 3 feet by 2 feet).
Safety
A hedgehog cage must have a solid floor; avoid cages with wire or wire mesh flooring, since the legs and feet of hedgehogs can become caught and injured on wire floors.
There should be no sharp edges or places where an animal’s head might become caught in the cage. Additionally, the cage must be secure to prevent escape.
Ventilation
Good ventilation is required to maintain low humidity levels and minimize the buildup of ammonia (from urine) and odor in the cage. Wire cages provide superior ventilation.
Facilitated Cleaning
Your hedgehog’s cage will need to be cleaned frequently, and a huge, cumbersome, or uncomfortable cage will make this a tedious task. Do not undervalue the significance of this, since cleanliness is essential!
Mesh Cages
Numerous owners choose wire cages because they are widely accessible and provide adequate ventilation. Additionally, they are often lightweight and simple to clean. However, hedgehogs may be quite picky when selecting a cage. As indicated above, avoid cages with wire floors.
If such cages are unavailable, cover the wire with wood, plastic, or a Vellux blanket that has been precisely trimmed to suit. In addition, cages large enough for hedgehogs may have wire spacing that is insufficient for their safe habitation. Look for ferret or rabbit cages with spacing no greater than 1 inch.
There are two firms who provide wire cages exclusively for hedgehogs: Martin’s Cages and Hedgehogs by Vicki (note: pick from the bigger sizes, as the Hedgehog Home is very tiny). Some individuals propose multilevel ferret cages, although the height of these cages might result in falls from the platforms or when climbing the cages’ edges.
Aquariums
The aquarium must be big (30 gallons is a recommended minimum) and have a wire mesh cover. On the negative side, aquariums lack airflow and are cumbersome to clean.
Plastic packaging
Many owners have been rather inventive when constructing cages from plastic storage containers. Clear plastic storage containers may be modified slightly to create a huge cage for minimal expense (choose clear because opaque containers would be quite dark for a hedgehog).
Once again, ventilation is the greatest drawback. With a soldering iron or drill, it is possible to cut holes in the sides and lid, but it is difficult to produce enough holes to enable enough ventilation. If the container is sufficiently deep and there is nothing around the walls that the hedgehog may use for climbing (such as water bottles), you may not need a lid.
Alternately, you may construct a lid from hardware wire mesh or screen material, either on its own or in conjunction with a big aperture cut into the lid of the storage container. The website of the Michigan Hedgehog Owners Group contains directions for a clever two-container dwelling design.
Hedgehog Valley recommends cutting panels into the sides of the container and covering the gaps with wire mesh or plastic canvas to increase ventilation in this style of dwelling. With a little ingenuity, these dwellings may be extremely functional.
Optional Alternatives
Other options include wading pools (solid plastic with high sides) and homemade wooden cages. As long as a cage is sufficiently spacious, escape-proof, safe, well-ventilated, and simple to clean, your imagination is the only restriction!
Dr. Barry Buttler
Dr. Barry Buttler, DVM, MS, DACVIM, is an experienced veterinarian who specializes in the care of small animals, specifically dogs. Dr. Barry K. Buttler is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and holds multiple certifications in small animal emergency medicine and geriatric pet health.
Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Barry Buttler
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