Small pet cages and hideaways
A cage or hutch is where a small pet spends most of its life, so size and safety matter more than how it looks in a photo. The short answer: buy the largest space you can genuinely fit, check the bar spacing suits the animal going inside, and always add somewhere fully enclosed to hide. Everything below explains why.
Bigger than you think
Small pet welfare groups are consistent on this: the hutches and cages sold as standard are usually a minimum, not an ideal. The Rabbit Welfare Association recommends a hutch of at least 6ft by 2ft by 2ft with a permanently attached run, because a rabbit needs room for three hops in a row and to sit up fully on its back legs without its ears touching the roof.
Guinea pigs and hamsters need less floor area but the same principle applies. A cage that looks generously sized in a listing photo can be cramped once a water bottle, food bowl, wheel and bedding are actually inside it, so measure the usable floor space rather than trusting the box dimensions on the label.
Somewhere to hide, always
A cage without a fully enclosed hideaway is missing the one thing every small prey animal needs to feel safe. Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and gerbils are all prey species, and a hideaway they can get completely inside — not just under — lets them retreat from noise, other pets or simply too much daylight.
More than one hideaway is worth having if you keep two animals together, since a single hiding spot can turn into something to compete over rather than something to feel safe in. A plain wooden or fabric hide does the job perfectly well; it does not need to match the rest of the cage.
Setting the cage up
Where the cage lives matters almost as much as what is inside it. Keep it out of direct sun, away from draughts and radiators, and off the floor if there are cats or dogs in the house who will treat the bars as something to investigate rather than furniture to ignore.
A full clean-out once a week is standard for most bedding, with wet patches and droppings spot-cleaned daily in between. Wire floors are easier to keep on top of; solid plastic bases hold odour for longer and need a proper scrub rather than a wipe-down.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Moderna Odyssey Carrier
A hard plastic carrier with top and front openings, and a fold-away handle
From£47.99
Front-Carry Pet Backpack Carrier
Hands-free front-carry backpack that holds a small dog or cat against your chest, with breathable leg openings and a padded, adjustable harness. Cute bear-pocket detail and drawstring top keep your pet snug and secure on the go.
From£15.99
3-in-1 Folding Pet Stroller with Removable Carrier
A folding pet stroller whose carrier lifts out to use on its own, giving small, senior or recovering pets a wheeled ride to the vet and back home again.
£115.99
Common questions
- How big should a rabbit hutch be?
- The Rabbit Welfare Association's minimum is 6ft by 2ft by 2ft with a permanently attached run, big enough for three hops in a row and for the rabbit to stand fully upright without its ears touching the roof. Bigger is always better if you have the space for it.
- Do guinea pigs need a hideaway inside their cage?
- Yes. Guinea pigs are a prey species and will use a fully enclosed hideaway to retreat from noise or other pets. If you keep two guinea pigs together, give them more than one hideaway so neither has to compete for the only hiding spot in the cage.
- How often should I clean out a small pet's cage?
- Most owners do a full clean with fresh bedding once a week, with wet patches and droppings removed daily in between. Wire-based cages are easier to keep on top of than solid plastic ones, which tend to hold odour for longer between full cleans.
- Can hamsters and gerbils use the same size cage?
- Not comfortably. Gerbils are natural burrowers and do best with a deep layer of substrate to tunnel through, while hamsters need more open floor space and a solid-based wheel. A cage sized well for one is rarely the right shape for the other.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.