FAQ: Supplies for small pets

Fragrances irritate small pets' sensitive airways, and the scent only masks the dirt. Choose unscented bedding and change it more often.

Paper or wood pellets topped with hay work well for a rabbit's litter box. Avoid clumping litter, because rabbits often eat while sitting in the box.

No. Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus are herbivores, so their diet is based on hay, while hamsters, rats and mice are omnivores and need some animal protein. Choose food made for the specific species.

The fibre in hay keeps digestion working, and the long chewing wears down teeth that grow throughout life. These animals must have unlimited fresh hay every day.

Hay and water must always be available, pellets or a mix are given once or twice a day, and herbivores get fresh greens daily. Nocturnal animals such as hamsters are best fed in the evening.

Do not give chocolate, sweets, salty snacks, onions, garlic, avocado, alcohol or anything with caffeine. Bread, cakes and biscuits are not suitable either, especially for herbivores.

Rabbits, guinea pigs and rats can have a little fruit as a treat. Degus and chinchillas are better off without it entirely because of the sugar, and dwarf hamsters should get it only very rarely.

If you can no longer feel the ribs, fat folds appear and the animal becomes sluggish, it is probably overweight. Weigh it regularly, cut back on treats and pellets, and ask a vet about a diet.

Small animals hide signs of illness for a long time, and weight loss is often the first sign that something is wrong. Weigh it once a week at the same time on kitchen scales and write down the results.

Treats should make up only a very small part of the diet. For herbivores, natural treats such as dried herbs or leaves are best, while sweet sticks with honey or seeds are better avoided.

Usually not: a balanced food made for the species provides everything they need. The exception is guinea pigs, which must get vitamin C from their food daily; give other supplements only on a vet's advice.

Keep food tightly closed in a dry, cool and dark place. Hay needs air, so it is better kept in a cardboard box or breathable bag and checked regularly for mould.

Fresh grass and dandelions are great for herbivores if picked in a clean place away from roads, dog-walking areas and sprayed lawns. Introduce them gradually and wash them before feeding.

Mix the new food with the old one and gradually increase its share over 1–2 weeks. A sudden switch can upset digestion, especially in rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas.

In a bottle the water stays clean and does not spill, while from a bowl the animal drinks in a more natural posture, and rabbits often drink more from one. Many owners offer both; choose a heavy ceramic bowl so it does not tip over.

Change the water daily, and clean the bottle regularly with a brush so deposits and algae do not build up inside. At the same time, check that the spout lets water through.

Press the ball in the spout with a finger – a few drops should come out. If no water flows, clean or replace the bottle, and if it drips constantly the bedding will get wet, so it needs replacing too.

A small bottle is enough for mice and hamsters, while guinea pigs and rabbits need a bigger one. It should hold at least a day's water with some to spare, and when there are several animals it is worth hanging two.

Check the water several times a day, use insulating bottle covers and replace frozen water with warm. A frozen bottle quickly leads to dehydration.

Usually yes, if the tap water is safe for people to drink. Filtered or boiled and cooled water is fine too, just not distilled, and above all it must be fresh.