Cages

With small-pet cages, floor area matters far more than height. Rabbits and guinea pigs spend most of their time on the ground running, hopping and exploring. The small cages often sold in pet shops should only be a starting point for these animals, and daily free time in a safe playpen is essential.

Recommended minimum sizes

• Two guinea pigs: at least 120×60 cm of floor space
• One rabbit: a cage of at least 140×70 cm plus daily free-roaming time
• Hamster: at least 80×50 cm of floor with a deep base for burrowing
• Chinchilla: a tall, multi-level cage without a wire floor

Wire floors can cause sore hocks (pododermatitis), so choose models with a solid plastic base. For small species such as hamsters and mice, bar spacing should not exceed 1 cm or they may escape. Syrian hamsters need a solid-surface wheel at least 28 cm in diameter; smaller wheels force the spine to arch.

Place the cage out of direct sunlight, away from draughts and noise. Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas are very sensitive to heat; if the room goes above 25 °C in summer, provide a cool corner and a frozen water bottle to lie against. Every cage needs a hide, a heavy ceramic food bowl and a drip-feed water bottle.