Small pet cage set-up basics: space, bedding and layout

Whether you are setting up a home for a rabbit, a guinea pig, a hamster or another small companion, the same few principles apply: give them room, keep the layout simple, and put the cage somewhere calm. This guide covers the practical set-up. Different species have different needs, so always check the manufacturer’s guidance and species-specific advice from a reputable welfare organisation or your vet before you buy.

1. Size comes first

Bigger is almost always better. Look for the interior floor area on the product page and compare it with the minimum recommended for your species by a recognised welfare charity. A cage is a base, not a substitute for exercise: most small pets also need a safe run or play area outside it. Remember that you will want space for a hideaway, a food area and room to move, so choose a cage that leaves some floor free after you have added the essentials.

2. A solid floor and good bedding

• Choose a cage with a deep, solid base to hold bedding in, and check that wire floors, if there are any, are covered.
• Use bedding made for small pets in a layer deep enough to dig or burrow in, if your species likes to do so.
• Keep a separate soft area for sleeping, with hay or a similar nesting material suited to the species.

3. A hideaway

Small pets are prey animals and feel safer when they can retreat. Provide at least one hideaway with an entrance big enough to get in and out of easily. For pets that live in pairs or groups, offer more than one entrance and more than one hideaway so nobody is cornered.

4. Food and water stations

• A heavy ceramic bowl is harder to tip over than a plastic one.
• A water bottle should be fixed at the right height for your pet; check it works each day.
• Keep food and water away from the toilet corner.

5. Toys and enrichment

Tunnels, cardboard tubes, safe chew items and simple platforms give your pet something to do. Introduce items one at a time and take away anything that gets damaged or that your pet seems worried by.

6. Where to put the cage

• A quiet room, away from the television and the kitchen.
• Out of direct sunlight, away from radiators and away from draughts.
• At a height where you can see in and reach the cage easily, but not so high that a fall would be possible.

7. A simple cleaning routine

Remove soiled bedding every day, replace water daily and wash food bowls. Once a week, empty the cage, wash the base with a pet-safe cleaner or hot water, dry it thoroughly and refill with fresh bedding. A routine that fits your week is more useful than an ambitious one that does not.

Quick set-up checklist

• Cage big enough for the species, with a solid base
• Bedding and nesting material
• Hideaway
• Food bowl and water bottle
• Toys and tunnels
• A calm, draught-free spot

Planning a purchase? Browse our Small Pets department. UK delivery is free and unused items can be returned free within 30 days; see our returns policy.