How to Build a Squirrel Cage

Check with your local Fish &Game for laws concerning keeping a squirrel as a pet. It is illegal in some states to have a squirrel for a pet while other states allow you to keep a pet squirrel with a permit. When building your cage, keep in mind that squirrels do not like to be on the ground and love to climb; the bigger you construct your cage the better for the squirrel in the long term. It is important to have shelves or tree branches for the squirrel to climb on.

Things You'll Need

Welded stainless mesh, type 316
Measuring tape
Metal cutters
Thick support wire
Thin binding wire
Tree branches
Old newspaper
Christmas tree stand

Instructions

- 1
  
  Measure the welded stainless mesh wire for your squirrel cage.
  
  Measure sheets of the welded stainless mesh type 316 that are 200 cm long by 100 cm wide by 50 cm deep, using your measuring tape. This type of wire mesh does not corrode as easily as other mesh wire.
- 2
  
  Use your wire cutters to cut your sheets of wire mesh.
  
  Snip each sheet evenly with your wire cutters. Cut so that no sharp spikes stick out from the ends.
- 3
  Measure the thick support wire to approximately 100 cm, just under the same height of your cage walls.
- 4
  Cut approximately 200 cm of the thin wire with your wire cutters. Connect your walls of wire mesh together by weaving the thin wire through the netting wrapping around the thick support wire, creating stable corners.
- 5
  Connect the top mesh wire to your cage by the same process of wrapping the thin wire through the netting, securing it to the walls of your squirrel cage.
- 6
  
  Line the bottom of your cage with old newspaper.
  
  Lay newspaper underneath your cage for squirrel urine and feces.
- 7
  
  Add a natural tree branch to your cage.
  
  Add a large clean tree branch for your squirrel to climb on.
- 8
  Keep your tree branch upright and stable using a Christmas tree stand.