What Do I Need to Put in My Small Animal’s Cage?

Setting up your small pet’s home is fun and getting them everything they need helps make sure they live a great life. While some pets need some of the same kind of small pet supplies, every animal has different needs. So what kind of pet do you have and what do they need in their small pet cage? 

Items that Most Small Pets Need: 

• Food - Small pet food that is specific to their breed. 

• Bedding/Nesting/Litter - Depending on the breed, small pets almost always need something along the lines of small pet bedding to line the bottom of their cage for comfort, burrowing, hiding, bathroom needs and more.

• Cage Liner - Cage liners can make it easier to clean out the bottom of your pet’s cage when you need to. 

• Food Dish/Water Bottle - Your pet needs something to hold their food that fits in their cage without taking up too much space. So they need a small pet food dish for their cage along with a water bottle designed to hang on the side so they can stay hydrated. 

• Cleaners/Cage Brushes/Cage Sanitizers - Cage brushes and cleaners help keep their cage clean by getting rid of bacteria and smells.

• Deodorizers - Cage deodorizers are great for keeping those small pet smells at bay.

• Grooming Supplies - Pet parents are responsible for grooming their pet and should spend time brushing them, trimming their fur (if they have long hair) and keeping unwanted substances off of their fur. There are small pet grooming supplies to help pet parents do this. 

• Habitat Expansion - There are different types of habitat expansions for small pets, depending on their breed. Most small pets like to have their own safe space to roam around and explore. 

• Places to Hide - Most small pets like to have a place to hide sometimes or find a cozy space to sleep. Houses and small pet hideouts can be a great way to give them a cozy place to hide in. 

• Toys - Every pet likes to have stuff to do or stuff to play with. Small pet toys are an important part of any pet’s cage. 

Hamster and Mouse Cage Specifications: 

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• Hamster or Mouse Starter Kit - If you are looking to buy something that includes everything you need to start caring for a hamster or mouse, a starter kit is a great place to start. 

• Food - Food made specifically for mice or hamsters. 

• Bedding/Nesting - Use bedding made for hamsters or mice to line their cage. Bedding gives them plenty of places to burrow, hide, use the bathroom and more. 

• Transport Tubes/Habitat Expansion - Hamsters and mice love to explore. Transport tubes and hamster cage expansions are great options to extend your pet’s cage and give them places to roam around and explore safely. Mice like multi-level habitats with ramps. 

• Running Wheel - Both hamsters and mice need to run in order to get their exercise in. Running wheels give them a way to run as much as they want while staying safe. 

• Hamster House/Hideout - Both hamsters and mice like to hide sometimes or find a cozy space to sleep. Houses and hideouts for hamsters can be a great way to give them a cozy place to hide in. 

• Toys - Other than their running wheel, hamsters and mice can use a running ball, chew toys, climbing toys, hammocks and other fun toys that stimulate their mind and give them something to do. 

Guinea Pig Cage Specifications: 

• Guinea Pig Starter Kit - If you are looking to buy something that includes everything you need to start caring for a guinea pig, a guinea pig starter kit is a great place to start. 

• Food - Specific guinea pig food.

• Bedding/Nesting - Use bedding made for guinea pigs to line their cage. Bedding gives them plenty of places to burrow, hide, use the bathroom and more. 

• Habitat Expansion - Guinea pigs depend on their horizontal space for their movement and exercise. The bigger their habitat, the better. But there are also habitat extension gates that give your pet a wider space to roam around. 

• Hay Rack - Guinea pigs need something to chew on at all times, or they will chew on things they’re not supposed to. A constant supply of small pet hay on a hay rack is an important part of their cage. 

• Toys - Give your guinea pigs things to nibble on other than hay as a toy or treat, like a chew stick. 

Rat Cage Specifications:

• Rat Starter Kit - If you are looking to buy something that includes everything you need to start caring for a rat, a rat starter kit is a great place to start. 

• Food - Food specific to rats. 

• Bedding/Nesting - Use bedding made for rats to line their cage. Bedding gives them plenty of places to burrow, hide, use the bathroom and more. 

• Habitat Expansion - Rats like multi-level cages that give them plenty of vertical space to explore. 

• Toys - Give your rat something to chew on like a wood chew. Chewing can be great mental stimulation for rats. 

Chinchilla Cage Specifications:

• Chinchilla Starter Kit - If you are looking to buy something that includes everything you need to start caring for a chinchilla, a chinchilla starter kit is a great place to start. 

• Food - Food specific to chinchillas.

• Bedding/Nesting - Use bedding made for chinchillas to line their cage. Bedding gives them plenty of places to burrow, hide, use the bathroom and more. 

• Habitat Expansion - Chinchillas like multi-level cages that give them plenty of vertical space to explore. 

• Hay Rack - Chinchillas like something to chew on at all times. A supply of small pet hay on a hay rack is a great addition to their habitat. 

• Dust Bath - Chinchillas love to take dust baths to keep themselves looking great. 

• Chilling Stone - Chinchillas have dense fur that can cause them to overheat in certain conditions. A chilling stone is a great way to give your pet a place to cool down. 

• Toys - Wood chews can be a great toy/treat for chinchillas. 

Rabbit Cage Specifications: 

• Rabbit Starter Kit - If you are looking to buy something that includes everything you need to start caring for a rabbit, a rabbit starter kit is a great place to start.
• Food - Food specific to a rabbit.

• Bedding/Litter - Rabbits can be litter-trained, so they will need litter and bedding in their rabbit hutch. 

• Habitat Expansion - Rabbits like to have a lot of area to hop around. Habitat expansions can be great for them. 

• Play Pens - Rabbit playpens can be a great temporary space to let your rabbit hop around a larger area. 

• Hay Rack - Rabbits also love to nibble on hay, so a hay rack should be in their habitat as well. 

• Toys - Rabbits love to chew and might enjoy things like wicker chews, straw, and specific chew toys made for small pets. 

Ferret Cage Specifications: 

• Ferret Starter Kit - If you are looking to buy something that includes everything you need to start caring for a ferret, a ferret starter kit is a great place to start.

• Food - Food specific to a ferret.

• Bedding/Litter - Bedding made for ferrets. Ferrets can be litter trained as well. 

• Litter Pan - Something to contain their litter.

• Habitat Expansions - Ferrets love lots of space so a multi-level cage with ramps are a great option. 

• Hammock - Ferrets love to hang around in a hammock and it can be a great place for them to snuggle up. 

• Toys - Ferrets don’t like to chew as much as other small pets but still love to play. There are ferret balls and other toys that you should give them so they can have fun. 

Your pet deserves the best of the best. Make sure to fill their cage with everything they need to live their best life. 

Information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure your pet and is not a substitute for veterinary care provided by a licensed veterinarian. For any medical or health-related advice concerning the care and treatment of your pet, contact your veterinarian.