FAQ: Wheels for small pets

Yes, natural tunnels made of hay, wicker or seagrass are usually safe and the animals can chew them. Just make sure they contain no metal wire or glue, and replace them when they get damp or fall apart.

Yes, undyed cardboard tubes or boxes without tape are a cheap and safe distraction for most small pets. Cardboard wears out quickly and soaks up urine, so it needs replacing often.

Narrow tubes can be dangerous for larger animals, which can get their head or body stuck in them. They can be given for chewing once cut lengthwise, while tubes that are wide enough should be used as tunnels.

Modular tunnels can be linked into long routes, but they must be wide enough, well ventilated and not too steep. A larger hamster can get stuck in narrow or steep tubes, and they are hard to clean inside.

Wash plastic tunnels in warm water with a mild unscented detergent and a narrow brush, and launder fabric ones without fabric softener. Dry the tunnels thoroughly before putting them back in the cage.

Yes, digging animals such as hamsters and gerbils love tunnels buried in a deep layer of bedding. The tunnels must be sturdy and not buckle under the weight of the bedding, so the animal is not trapped inside.

It is a foldable or modular fence that marks out a safe space for a small pet to run outside its cage. A play pen gives the animal more exercise and exploration, and makes it easier for the owner to keep watch.

Guinea pigs are poor jumpers, so a pen about 30–40 cm high is usually enough for them. It matters more that the pen is roomy and has hiding places and hay.

Rabbits are good jumpers, so they usually need a pen at least 60–90 cm high, and active or large rabbits need a taller one or one with a roof. If the rabbit jumps the fence, the pen must be made taller or covered.

Yes, but the pen walls must be smooth or fine mesh, because hamsters squeeze through small gaps and can climb. Supervise the hamster the whole time and add hiding places, because it can feel unsafe in an open space.

The gap must be small enough that the animal cannot push its head through, because where the head goes, the whole body often follows. For mice and dwarf hamsters, only solid walls or very fine mesh are suitable.

A pen with a floor protects the floor from urine and stops the animal slipping out underneath. On slippery floors a base or mat is especially important, because small pets struggle to run on a slippery surface.

A washable non-slip mat, fleece, an old blanket or thick fabric without long threads that could catch claws all work well. Avoid looped carpets and materials the animal might swallow while chewing.

It is worth adding hideouts, tunnels, hay or foraging toys, and water if the animal will be there longer. Plenty of cover helps the animal feel safe and explore more confidently.

It depends on the species and the cage size: rats and rabbits are usually recommended at least a few hours of exercise outside the cage every day, while hamsters need less. Most importantly, the animal should be supervised and have somewhere to hide.

It can, if the weather is neither too hot nor too cold, the pen stands in the shade, has a roof or netting against predators and a floor so the animal cannot dig out. The lawn must be free of chemical sprays and the animal must not be left unsupervised.

Guinea pigs, rabbits and chinchillas cope poorly with heat, so on hot days they should not be kept in the sun, even briefly. Avoid cold, damp days too, and the pen must always have shade and water.

Many modular pens link together, so several can form a larger space or an irregular area. Check that the joints are firm and there are no gaps between panels the animal could slip through.

For guinea pigs and rabbits, a roomy pen with hideouts, hay, water and a toilet area can make an excellent permanent home. Small and climbing rodents such as hamsters or mice need an enclosed cage or tank.

After each use pick up droppings and wet spots, and launder the flooring regularly without scented products. Wipe plastic or metal panels with warm water and a mild detergent and dry them well.