How to Set Up a Hedgehog Cage

With proper care, a hedgehog can be an exciting, interesting and rewarding pet for nearly any owner with the time to spend playing and bonding with him. Hedgehogs may not be a good choice for a child's pet, however, as their quills can be extremely sharp and they are frightened easily. The first step to properly caring for this exotic pet is to provide him with a safe, clean and comfortable home with room to sleep, eat and exercise.

Things You'll Need

  • Cage (at least 4 square feet)
  • Large exercise wheel with a smooth surface
  • Small animal house
  • Old T-shirt
  • Bedding or shavings
  • Litter box for small pets
  • Regular unscented kitty litter
  • Small food dish
  • Animal water bottle or dish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pick a cage, plastic tub or glass aquarium that has plenty of floor space and tall enough for the hedgehog not to be able to escape from. Cages and aquariums can be purchased from any pet store, and tubs can be found anywhere that sells storage items. An ideal cage is four square feet or larger. Whatever you choose, the bottom should be a smooth surface. Make sure that if you choose a cage, the bars are close together to prevent your hedgehog from escaping, and also make sure that it can be securely latched.

    • 2

      Pick your bedding. Some hedgehog owners prefer blankets, while others prefer Aspen shavings or recycled paper. Make sure not to use corncob bedding for males, as their private parts can get stuck. Also, cedar and pine shavings are not a good choice because they retain moisture and become moldy and smelly quickly, and are not comfortable for the hedgehog to burrow in. The smell could also irritate your pet. You may have to experiment with different types of bedding to find what your hedgehog prefers. You can find different bedding nearly anywhere that sells pet supplies, but you will find the most options at a pet store. If you choose blankets, you can include a small animal litter box filled with regular cat litter to avoid having to change the bedding too often.

    • 3

      Find things to put in the cage. All hedgehogs enjoy a safe, covered place to burrow and sleep. You can buy them a plastic igloo or even just a shoebox with a side cut out of it. Hedgehogs need exercise, so you will want to get a wheel that your hedgehog won't get his feet caught in. Try the Flying Saucer wheel, sold at most pet stores. Tear up an old T-shirt you have worn and put it in your hedgehog's "house." Provide him with things to climb on, and smooth rocks for chewing, scratching and rubbing. You may also provide him with a shallow pan of warm water for swimming.

    • 4

      Get a food dish and water bottle. You can pick a water bottle that hangs on the side of the cage or put the water in a bowl. Make sure the water stays clean. Change it daily.

    • 5

      Put your hedgehog's cage in a place where it will stay warm and away from pets that might bother or try to harm him. Avoid placing it on the floor where drafts can come in. A hedgehog needs to stay warm for survival. A temperature between 75 and 85 degrees is ideal.