No Bored Pets

In the wild, animals spend most of their waking hours looking for food and shelter. This is their "work." For a pet, though, dinner comes in a dish from their human. Shelter is also supplied. This means your pet's work is eliminated. For the mental and physical well-being of your furry friend, its important to replace this work with other activities.

Studies have shown when small animals are given an interesting living environment -- with lots of things to do and explore -- they're better adjusted, friendlier, eat less, and live longer. There are even studies which suggest that some small mammals, when provided a stimulating environment, can develop problem solving skills, and remember what they learn.

Home Sweet Home

There are a variety of ways to create a more interesting environment for your pet. The first consideration, however, must be cage size. There is no such thing as a cage which is too big! The larger your pet's enclosure, the more space for exercise and the more room for toys. The cost of your pet's home, the ease of cleaning and the amount of space you have for it are realistic considerations, but never skimp on size.

Large aquariums work well for many small rodents, especially those who like to burrow, as well as short tailed opossums and hedgehogs. Most large aquariums not only have lots of floor space, they also have lots of height. If using an aquarium, consider providing ramps, platforms and climbing surfaces to fully use all the available space.

Another good choice for many smaller pets is a multi-level cage, providing maximum living space without requiring much more room in your home. However, some pets -- especially those that like to burrow -- can be quite messy in a cage.

If using a multi-level cage for your furry friend, consider replacing the "easy" ramps with more challenging branches or climbing platforms. This works especially well with skilled climbers such as short tailed opossums, dormice, and chinchillas.

Larger animals or extremely active pets -- such as sugar gliders and flying squirrels -- are more challenging to house. With these critters, think very big! If you're a skilled handyperson, you might even consider building your own enclosure. If not, large, sturdy bird cages or aviaries may be a good choice.

Pet P. E.

Providing sources of regular, daily exercise is important for the general well-being of your pet. Exercise not only provides entertainment, it also helps prevent weight gain and eating from boredom. In addition, exercise assists the body in effectively utilizing nutrients.

Wheels are an excellent source of entertainment and exercise. Commonly provided for many small critters, they are sometimes overlooked when it comes to pet hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and short tailed opossums. You may not think these critters will use a wheel, but they love them! Just be sure it is safe and appropriate.

Hedgehogs, for example, can easy get their feet caught in the spokes of a "traditional" wheel. One with a solid running surface, such as the Haba Hedgehog Wheel, is the best choice for them. For sugar gliders, we recommend the ProTec Flex Wheel. For short tailed opossums and most rodents, the Wodent Wheel is an excellent choice.

A daily out-of-cage romp is also important. Even a large enclosure will eventually become familiar. But, playtime in a new environment is sure to bring out the adventurer in your pet. In addition, daily out-of-cage play provides time for you to interact with your furry friend.

Popular with some pet owners is the use of a child's wading pool, with toys inside, to provide smaller critters playtime in in a safe space. This is an excellent idea for hedgehogs, hamsters, and other pets who couldn't or wouldn't climb the pool walls. If you're handy, you could even build a screen lid to stop insistent climbers such as short tailed opossums and duprasi.

For sugar gliders, prairie dogs, chinchillas, or other pets which can be provided "free range" play, we suggest confining the animal to one safe room when out of their cage. Be sure there are no electrical cords to chew, nothing dangerous to nibble, no holes to disappear through and no other pets! During free range time, respect your pet's desire to play. Cuddling, holding and petting can come later. This is their time to jump, run and explore.

For more about Haba Hedgehog Wheels, ProTec Flex Wheels and Wodent Wheels, visit our OnLine Store.

Toy Story

Your pet needs a variety of toys, tunnels, and challenges to keep life interesting when in his cage. Toilet paper rolls and small cardboard boxes will provide playtime pleasures for many small critters and are inexpensive suggestions. Here at PAWPRINT, we're also particularly fond of hanging toys, since they require more effort from your pet than something laying on the cage floor.

If your pet likes to burrow, provide for this with a deep layer of bedding, as well as appropriate nesting material. If your pet is a climber, supply branches, hanging ropes, ladders, platforms and hammocks. All will contribute to a more interesting, exciting home for your pet.

That said, be sure your pet's home doesn't become over-crowded with tunnels, climbing platforms, tubes, ramps and hanging-wooden-things! If you have a lot of different toys, rotate them so something new is always available. The toys will be more interesting to your pet this way.

Roomies

Some small mammals, such as short tailed opossums, are solitary by nature. They don't want or need the companionship of their own kind. For many small mammals, however, a roommate can be an important contribution to a higher quality of life. Chinchillas and rats are examples of critters which can be housed alone, but would appreciate a roomie.

Some small mammals should never be kept alone. Sugar gliders and degus are two examples. Extremely social by nature, they need and deserve a cage-mate. Without one, they can suffer both physically and emotionally. This is true no matter how much time you spend with them. Forcing a social animal to live alone -- for any reason -- is extremely unfair to your pet.

Be sure to find out what is appropriate for your furry friend. If he should have a cage-mate, do what is right and get him a companion! However, be sure to find out about introductions. In some cases, there are specific steps which need to be taken for this to go smoothly.

Will Work For Food

Feeding time is a highlight of any pet's day. Food is also a great motivator. Even a lazy critter will respond to a tasty morsel. Providing variety and challenges at feeding time is a good way to keep your pet's life more interesting and to replace some of his work.

For some animals, a basic pelleted diet or other standard food exists. This simplifies feeding and helps assure an appropriate diet, but could easily become boring. With a little thought, you can be sure of giving a well-balanced diet while providing variety and requiring your pet to work for his supper. A few suggestions:

1. Hide the food. This is one of our favorites. Put the food dish somewhere different. Put the food in a box or tunnel. Put a piece of cardboard over the dish. You can get quite creative with this one!

2. Get rid of the dish and scatter food on the cage floor. You may not want to do this all the time, but try it on cage-cleaning days. This works well with rats, mice, degus, and other small animals fed rodent blocks or a pelleted diet.

3. When feeding fruit to sugar gliders, short tailed opossums, or dormice, put it in the climbing branches or hang it from the top of the cage.

4. Hedgehogs, sugar gliders, opossums, and many small rodents love live insects. You may not want to provide these as a regular food source, but feeder insects add variety and have to be caught.

5. Never freely give a treat. Require your pet to earn it, even if it is something as basic as coming to the other side of his cage.

6. If you give peanuts, other nuts, or sunflower seeds, use ones which are not shelled.

7. Combine these ideas. For example, put a cricket in a box wedged into a fork on the climbing branch of your short tailed opossum's cage. That should keep him busy for a while!

For all pet owners, the goal should always be to do more than provide the basics. It should be to help your pet thrive. An important part of that is providing your furry friend with an interesting and active life. Some of the suggestions in this article are simple, but the combination of them can make a significant difference in the quality of your pet's daily life.

Copyright © 1996-2005 Pawprint