Chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits… these and other cage-dwelling pets require as much love and attention as larger domesticated animals. At Care-A-Lot Pet Supply, we offer an extensive range of food, toys, and other necessities to help your little friends thrive. How you prepare your small pet’s habitat can determine their quality of life, so it’s important to create a comfortable environment for them.

If you plan to welcome a small pet into your home this fall, here are some tips to consider:

Help Your Pets Feel At Home

You might think pets like these live well in small cages, but a habitat alone is not enough space for many species. All small pets should experience dedicated time outside the habitat every day. Choose a safe, roomy area to set up an exercise pen (x-pen).  This time outside will also provide a great opportunity for you to interact and bond with your pet.

When selecting play items, remember that a variety of shapes, structures and materials provides mental stimulation and increases the likelihood that your pet will engage in play. As a prey species, the hiding instinct is especially important for both your pet’s mental and physical health. The good news is that supporting this behavior is easy. You should offer at least one dedicated hideout for your pets and depending on the space multiple options are even better. 

When it comes to creature comforts for small pets, Oxbow has you covered. The Enriched Life Cozy Cave is a colorful and snug hideout for playing and chewing. The Hideaway Dream Cottage is also spacious and great for your pets to keep chews.

Prioritize Your Pet’s Safety

Every part of your pet’s day should be safe and natural. Choose enrichment items carefully.  Look for items made from natural materials such as woven hay, untreated wood, natural fiber (e.g. sisal), apple sticks, and vegetable based dyes.

Also, regular chewing is essential to your pet’s dental health! To build your pets daily enrichment, offer multiple chews and rearrange and replace them regularly.  This helps keep your small furry friend interested and engaged. 

Keep your small pets happily chewing with an array of Oxbow delights. Choose from the Enriched Life Willow Bundle, the Enriched Life Apple Stick Bouquet, or - if you can’t decide, the Timothy Party Pack.

Variety Keeps Your Pets Happy

Small herbivores such as chinchillas, guinea pigs and rabbits should have unlimited access to hay every day.  In fact, it should make up at least 70% of their diet!  Pets with access to a variety of tastes and textures available to them will be less likely to develop picky eating habits.

Oxbow offers many flavors of Timothy hay your small pet will love! Choose from the long-strand Western Timothy Hay, the fragrant Western Timothy Hay and Orchard Grass, or the rich and herbal Botanical Hay. 

Provide Spatial Challenges

Small animals need stimulation, too. This can be as simple as moving their food bowl to a different location within the habitat or encouraging your pet to explore upwards by hanging items from the walls of the habitat or exercise pen. Try different experiments and see how well your pet responds to the puzzles and games you provide.  

The Enriched Life Pull ‘n Seek toy is great for hiding treats, while the Enriched Life Play Garden features toys perfect for hiding and exploring exercises. The Enriched Life Wobble Teaser not only helps feed your pet, but is a fun little toy for improving physical and mental skills.

Have questions about the proper care of your small pets? Care-A-Lot Pet Supply is here to help. Visit any of our locations in Moyock and Hampton Roads, or connect with our online customer support.