Home Sweet Home
by Diana J Geiger (djgeiger)

Curious fingers and nimble toes are something that demonstrates to exotic pet owners the importance of sturdy, safe enclosures and cages. We have to be so careful to make sure the materials and paints aren't toxic or those small pieces can’t be swallowed and choked on. The animal will spend his life in this enclosure so provide a large safe environment for your pet. Each animal has specific and individual requirements.

Non-Domestic Cats

When considering cages for the non-domestic cat follow this rule of thumb, “the bigger the better”. The cage needs to be strong and sturdy. The cage should be at least 500 by 1000 sq. feet and even bigger for the larger variety of cats. The cage must be a minimum 8 feet tall. Cats are much more comfortable in taller cages. It should be constructed out of 9-gauge cyclone fencing. He must have a den box inside of the cage. A den box is needed for several purposes. He needs a place to sleep and hide. He will enjoy lying on top of it. But most important you will need a place to keep the cat when cleaning his cage. The den box should be made with the minimum of 3/4-inch plywood. The size should be no smaller than 4'x8'x4' tall. The box will need a slider type door or a guillotine styled door that works from the outside of the cage. On the back of the box you need a hole to place food through. Place food in the back of the box, when the cat enters, the door can be closed with the cat inside. The main entrance to the cage should have a double gate. This way when someone is entering, the first door is closed and locked before the next door is opened. It also is a double safety feature in case the cat should get out the inside door. Cats love water and must have a pool that can be cleaned and flushed. A good litter box for a cougar is a child's sized plastic pool. Make sure the cage is built so that it has good drainage. Supply scratching logs inside the cage. They love high sleeping ledges.

Primates

The cage needs to be big, the bigger the better. The height should be no less than 6 feet. Monkeys feel much more secure in a high cage. Hundreds of dollars is needed to build a secure and safe primate cage. Don't use anything less than a 12-gauge wire. Never use chicken wire. A safety entrance must be included to prevent the escape of your monkey. A safety entrance is an entrance with a double door. After walking in the first door that is secured before opening the primary entrance to the cage. If the enclosure is going to be built outdoors, make sure a large portion of it is in the shade. A heated sleeping area must to be included. If they become cold they have a place to go. If the cage is build inside, make sure it is in a well-ventilated area. Monkeys need light to survive, so provide them with a Vita-Lites (replicates natural sunlight) Primates need this light for their skeletal development.

The floor of the cage should be wire, high enough off the ground so that the monkey can't reach the food that has dropped to the ground. Another reason it needs to be high, so it can be raked and cleaned easily. The floor can also be cement or linoleum for easy disinfecting and cleaning.

The cage "dressings" branches, and plants should be changed occasionally to provide variety. Monkeys are intelligent and need a lot of variety. Please avoid use of toxic plants and branches.

Monkeys love to bath, splash and play. If you can incorporate a pond into the outside cage your monkey would love you for it.

Sugar Gliders

Cages need to be good sized. They can be bought or be home made. Homemade cages are relatively easy to build. The cage should be weld wire; sugar gliders like to climb. The size of the mesh needs to be small. A cage should be no smaller that 24" inches in diameter and 38" tall for any more than two animals. Bigger is better.

Place live fruit trees branches in their cage, and replace them frequently. This is for two purposes, one, climbing and two; they need to chew to keep their teeth healthy. Do not use any branches that have been sprayed!

Provide a sleeping box for them to sleep in the daytime, for their comfort and to keep them out of the daylight. Just a couple tissues (unscented) make a great pillow and blanket.

Birds

Some cages are a danger to your bird. The bars can improperly spaced. Birds can get their heads stuck and be strangled. You will find screws and other tiny parts the bird will work loose and the bird can choke. Bird’s chew constantly. They will chew at the bars. The paint must be non-toxic. Birds are notorious for opening birdcage latches. The latch must be of a good design and secure. Keeping a cage clean and sanitized is a very important issue. Some cages are impossible to keep clean, even harder yet to sanitize. The cage must be the proper size for the bird, for most birds the larger the better. I won’t buy a cage unless it has a playpen on top. Cages are fine when you’re not around to watch the bird. But birds need their freedom. They love the playpens on top of the cage and will spend most of their time on it. There are many excellent birdcages available. Many cages come with feeding stations and dishes and perches. Look for removable trays for easy cleaning. Rectangular and square cages are much better than a round cage. The bird needs perches of various thick nesses for healthy foot development

Iguanas

A baby iguana needs a cage that is at least 40 gallons or larger. Adult iguanas can grow up to 6 feet in length. As the iguana grows he will need a larger cage. An adult will need a cage that is at least 8-feet tall and 12-feet wide. The cage can be built out of wood. The top should be made out of wood so that the cage will not loose heat. The front side of the cage should be made out of glass, acrylic or Plexiglas. The front can be made out of any transparent material that is strong. Several levels should be built into the cage. Each level will be a different temperature. The bottom temperature should be 70 degrees, second level 85 degrees and the top 95 degrees. Three layers are necessary but more layers are better.

A nice clean pond in their cage will be much appreciated by the iguana. The iguana enjoys swimming and floating. The water helps with shedding and the iguana’s overall health. The temperature of the water should be around 85 degrees.

Hedge Hog

Several types of cages will work. Most important is that the cage is secure. If it is an aquarium make sure it has a secure lid with lots of ventilation. Wire cages work; make sure the squares are small enough so the hedgehog can't get out. An excellent container is a good size Tupperware bin. Drill lots of holes for ventilation, but not to big for your pet to escape. The bin works great and it can be disinfected. The bin should be deep enough so that a hedgehog's wheel will fit and be free spinning.

Never use pine or cedar. Aromatic softwood is dangerous to their respiratory system you can use aspen shavings, or non-dusty clay litter. Choose the bedding carefully because the hedgehog will ingest some of the bedding. Aspen shavings are good because they are digestible. Why pet stores still use pine and cedar shavings is utterly beyond me when it has killed so many animals. Hedgehogs must be kept warm. Under the bin or cage place a heating pad at the lowest setting, but only covering one third of the bottom. This way the hedgehog can get away from the heat.

Rabbits

A cage should be good sized. The bigger the better! There should be room for the rabbit’s food dishes, litter box, toys and plenty of room for exercise. Rabbits should have freedom to run in at least a small area of your house. Leave his cage open for he can come and go as he pleases.

A cage should be the rabbit’s special place. A rabbit will mark their cage with a few pellets to mark their territory. This is not a breakdown in litter box training. Respect his territory. Clean his cage while he is out of the cage. Allow him to enter and exit on his own free will. Gently guide him into the cage. Don’t grab him to take him out of his cage.

Cages with wire floors are not good for rabbits. Rabbits don’t have pads on their feet and the wire floor will injure their feet. If you do have a cage with a wire floor provide a board for him to sit on. Rabbits love the new rabbit condos. These cages have two levels. The floors are connected with a ramp.

Rabbits can have free run of the house once they are trained. The house must be rabbit proof. If the house isn’t completely safe the rabbit should have constant supervision the entire time he is out of his cage. The rabbit should be introduced to free run of the house gradually. Once he is litter boxed trained more area can be added

Tarantulas

A fish aquarium makes an excellent enclosure. The top should be screen, cheesecloth or mesh so that the aquarium has ventilation. Tarantulas are excellent climbers. Make sure their cage is secure and escape proof. You don't want other's harassing your spider or any harm to come to your spider.

Tarantulas need humidity. Damp vermiculite works the best or you can use potting soil or a mixture of rocks, sand, soil and sphagnum moss. Make sure the items you use are clean and sterile so bacteria or mold doesn't cause a problem. The material should be supplied to the point of 1/3 of the way up in the enclosure. This material is a must; the spider needs humidity and moisture and also needs to build his burrow. Don't use any cedar shavings in the enclosure; it is harmful, in fact poisonous to the Tarantula.

Dressing the cage up isn't necessary, except for your aesthetic purposes. But be very careful what you use. Sharp rocks if fallen on can cause a serious injury. Cactus is a dangerous; a spider can fall and become impaled. I have seen several books on the Tarantula showing cactus as an enclosure dressing, not a good idea at all.

Keep the tarantula’s enclosures clean. The caging material need not be cleaned out more than a few times a year if you keep up on the housekeeping religiously. Insects that you feed your spider can be a bit messy when the spider is done consuming it so clean it up. The spider's excrement can be cleaned up with a tissue or paper towel. Keeping the cage clean is important in that mites will feed on the remains. Also mold and mildew can form.

Keep the cage out of direct sunlight. Glass containers especially can get very hot which can kill the spider. If the container is to warm it can also dry out the humidly that is necessary to the spider. Added lighting is not needed and can be harmful.

So many animals and so many enclosures but there are many commonalities also. The common factors are the bigger the cage the better, safety, the proper gauge wire for the type and size of animal, non toxic paint, easy to keep clean and sanitized, secure closures and no small parts to ingest. Pets are very special and cost should not be a factor in purchasing or building a cage. Curious fingers and nimble toes a common factor in all pets!