How to Build an Indoor Monkey Cage

Monkeys are incredibly intelligent creatures, and owning one is an immense responsibility. You want to ensure that your monkey's cage is adequate and appropriate for your pet. Premade enclosures are often not large enough for monkeys, so it's advisable that you build your own. Monkeys need stimulation, natural sunlight and space to play to remain happy and healthy.

Things You'll Need

  • Cement
  • Wood
  • Hammer
  • Screwdriver
  • Nails
  • Screws
  • Minimum of four aluminum support poles
  • Nontoxic metal chain-link fencing
  • Wood paneling
  • 4 hinges
  • 2 padlocks and spare sets of their keys
  • Light bulbs that replicate natural light
  • Nontoxic plants and branches
  • Pool
  • Bed
  • Food and water dishes
  • Swings
  • Perches
  • Nontoxic toys
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Instructions

  1. How to Build an Indoor Monkey Cage

    • 1

      Choose a well-ventilated area for your monkey's cage. Keep the temperature between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure there's adequate natural light, or install lights that replicate natural sunlight.

    • 2

      Choose what kind of base you want for your cage. Plain cement floors are adequate, or they may be covered with linoleum, but both must be disinfected weekly with a mild disinfectant. A raised wire floor above a cement base also works well. The wire floor should be raised so that you can rake beneath to clean it. For each additional monkey in the cage, the floor space must be increased by at least 25 percent. Be sure to affix your cage to the floor, ceiling or wall so that it doesn't fall over or move.

    • 3

      Build a wooden frame the size of your desired cage to pour your cement base into. Mix the cement according to the package instructions and pour it into your wooden frame. Before it sets, anchor at least four aluminum poles for framing to your concrete base. Attach strong, nontoxic chain-link fencing around the exterior support poles to create the cage walls. Choose the appropriate-size chain link for your monkey, ensuring that he won't become stuck. For New World monkeys, such as Marmosets, Capuchins and Spider Monkeys, the cage must be at least 6 feet long by 6 feet wide by 8 feet high. For Old World monkeys, such as macaques and guenons, cages must be a minimum of 6 feet long by 5 feet wide by 6 feet high. Build the cage as high as you can, as monkeys feel more secure in a larger cage.

    • 4

      Install a two-door system to ensure your monkey won't escape. Cut a large square hole in the fencing where you want your door to be. Cover the sharp edges with wide, flat wood panels on each side, framing the hole and sandwiching the metal ends so they aren't exposed. Cut a square wooden door to fit the hole and screw two hinges into it. Attach the hinges and the door to the wooden frame. Build a small wooden box slightly larger than the first door and attach it to the door frame so that it juts out of the side of your cage by a half a foot. Next attach a door to this wooden box using two more hinges. Secure each of these doors with a padlock that uses a key. Be sure to keep spares of each of these keys.

    • 5

      Place nontoxic plants and branches in your cage to put your monkey at ease. Install swings and perches for your monkey to play on, as well as a bed for sleeping. Add a small pool of water for your monkey to bathe and play in, if possible; refill this with water often. Rearrange any branches or perches often and add toys to stimulate your monkey.