There are so many factors to consider when choosing a living space for your hedgehog. Whether you’re already a proud hedgehog parent or considering a hedgehog. you’ve probably concluded that your hedgehog needs a safe comfortable environment.
Hedgehogs have only recently become pets, so there is still so much we need to learn about them and their cage preferences.
When looking at all the cage choices, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Many hedgehog parents end up choosing the first cage they find. The cheapest cage they find as a result, is not always the best choice for your hedgehog.
Today, we’re going over what factors you should consider when purchasing a hedgehog cage, along with our top picks for the best hedgehog cages.
What is the Best Hedgehog Living Space?
As exotic pets, there is still much for us to learn about hedgehogs. Hedgehog cages are small, athletic mammals that need plenty of space to run. They notoriously run miles every night and need plenty of room to exercise while you’re asleep.
During our research, we considered many key features of hedgehog cages, including size, safety, cleaning, and the potential noise a cage may make.
As part of our research process, we threw out any cages that did not receive a minimum of 4 out of 5-star reviews. We also heavily considered the materials. The cages were made of as that plays a huge part in cleaning and safety.
Key Features To Consider When Choosing The Best Hedgehog Cage:
1:) Size: How Big Should A Hedgehog Cage Be?
One of the first questions you may be asking yourself about hedgehog cages is, “How big does a hedgehog cage need to be?”
Although hedgehogs are small animals, they need a lot of space to run to be healthy and happy. The absolute minimum size any hedgehog cage should be is 2 feet by 4 feet in size. If you can get a much larger cage, then please do. At a minimum, a hedgehog cage needs to contain a sleeping area, litter box, wheel, and eating area. Your cage should also be well-ventilated.
Before purchasing a hedgehog cage, consider the ideal location for it. Hedgehogs need to be kept in a warm, comfortable environment away from drafts, fans, or cold air conditioning. Many hedgehog parents purchase heating pads to give their hedgehogs a warm place to sleep in their cages. If you plan on using heating pads, make sure that your hedgehog cage will be close enough to an outlet for this to be a practical option.
2:) Safety: How Can I Choose A Safe Hedgehog Cage?
Hedgehogs have delicate feet that can become injured if they are running around on the wrong surfaces. It’s recommended that any hedgehog cage you choose has a flat base surface and that the cage edges are not sharp. Any objects, such as toys, should also be dull. There shouldn’t be any large openings where your hedgehog could get its head stuck.
If you have any other pets, please make sure that your hedgehog’s cage is well out of reach. Even if your dog is only looking over at your hedgehog, this could, understandably, make your hedgehog very nervous!
In addition to these safety concerns, ensure that your hedgehog’s cage is at a comfortable 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Hedgehogs are sensitive to temperature, and other hotter or colder temperatures could cause them to hibernate, which can lead to health risks for pet hedgehogs.
Please note that plastic, metal, and glass cages can be a safety hazard for your hedgehog if you plan to add heat sources, like heating pads, to the cage. If you plan to use a heating pad inside your hedgehog’s cage, please consider a wire hedgehog cage as they are well-ventilated and can handle warm temperatures.
3:) Cleaning: Choosing An Easy To Clean Hedgehog Habitat
Hedgehog habitats need to be spot-cleaned daily and thoroughly cleaned at least once a week. So taking the time to choose an easy-to-clean hedgehog cage now will save you a lot of time in the long run!
Since you’ll be spending a fair amount of time cleaning your hedgehog’s cage, we heavily weighed the options that will save you time each week. Having the right cage can mean the difference between cleaning for ten minutes or thirty minutes, and we know that you’d prefer ten minutes of cleaning!
During our research, we looked for cages that had easy access to all parts of the cage and smooth surfaces, as these factors impact the ease of cleaning the most.
4:) Potential Noise
Depending on the location of your hedgehog’s cage, this may be an important factor for you.
Hedgehogs are incredibly active at night and tend to do a lot of running, playing, and climbing while we are asleep.
Some cages are noisier than others, so if you plan on keeping your hedgehog’s cage near your bedroom, the potential noise factor is something that you should consider before purchasing a cage, especially if you are a lighter sleeper.
Best Hedgehog Cages List
With all that said, here are our top picks for the very best hedgehog cages available, from the most affordable choices to the best overall to the most spacious habitat.
Our Top Picks
The Best Overall Hedgehog Cage
We couldn’t write our top picks without including this dazzling cage. The Living World Deluxe Habitat is our top pick for the best overall hedgehog cage, and for good reason!
Between its 4.7 out of 5-star reviews on Amazon (over 6,000+ reviews!), its three-size options, and its safety features, this cage is any hedgehog parent’s dream.
Reviews praise this cage for its smooth plastic bottom, which makes it easy to clean and safe for your hedgehog’s delicate feet. The cage is also durable and features a high ceiling, which means that you don’t have to stick your hands very deep into the cage. The cage is also made from wire, which is our preferred material of choice for hedgehogs. It tends to be a safer material choice and allows your hedgehog cage to observe its environment, unlike wooden or plastic hedgehog cages that can’t be seen through.
Three sizes are available. However, we recommend purchasing the x-large size as the price difference between the x-large and large size is minor, and the extra space will give your hedgehog extra room to run and frolic around.
Another reason we adore the Living World Deluxe Habitat is for its balcony, tip-proof small animal food bowl, and tip-proof small animal water bottle. Hedgehogs can be messy, and having a tip-proof food bowl and water bottle will save you a lot of time cleaning up spilled food. The balcony is another great feature that gives your hedgehog a better view of everything going on around them!
Spacious and Luxurious
If you’re looking for the ultimate haven, the Midwest Deluxe Critter Nation cage may be for you! This cage is spacious, and luxurious, and has the option for add-ons. It already comes with two stories for the initial cage, but if that’s not enough, you have the option of purchasing an additional add-on that will give you even more room!
While large, this cage is on wheels, so you can easily move this hedgehog habitat around your home, then lock the wheels to ensure your hedgehog’s cage stays where you want it.
In terms of cleaning and accessibility, this cage comes with full frontal doors that open wide, making this just as simple to clean as many top-loader cages. The largest con to this cage is that it is quite expensive. Some reviewers also said they had trouble assembling the cage at first. However, with 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon (6,500+ reviews!), this cage still has a very high rating overall and is among our top recommendations.
Best Value
Rated number #8 in small animal cages on Amazon. This cage is not only less expensive than our other choices, but it still comes with many perks!
The Amazon Basics Small Animal Cage has enough room for your hedgehog to be comfortable. Features an easy inside access design, making it easy to clean and access your hedgehog.
This cage also features a secured non-tip food bowl, a non-drip water bottle, and a hay guard, just like the Living World Deluxe Habitat. All of these features will make keeping your hedgehog’s habitat clean much more manageable! Your hedgehog can also keep an eye on everything going on around it from this cage’s balcony.
Many reviewers also praised this cage for being easy to assemble. Keep clean – both of which are essential factors to consider when purchasing your hedgehog’s new home!
Comfortable and Durable
Another more affordable option. The Prevue Pet Products Small Animal Home is another excellent choice that gives your hedgehog plenty of space to run and play.
This cage features tight, secure wiring to prevent you from escaping and has a removable ramp and platform. The top has a large entry door, which makes it easier to clean and access your hedgehog. A wheel is not included in this cage, but there is enough room for a wheel if you choose.
Many reviewers on Amazon noted that this cage was easy to assemble and easy to clean. It has an impressive 4.8 out of 5-star Amazon rating (over 2,400+ reviews!).
The Ultimate Starter Kit For A New Hedgehog Owner
This is one of the few small animal cages we found that was specifically designed for hedgehogs. Not only this, but it comes with a variety of hedgehog essentials. Such as hedgehog food, treats, boosters, a comfy cave, a silent runner cage attachment, and a runner wheel.
If you are concerned about noise, this is an excellent option for you as the starter kit comes with a silent runner attachment so that your pet hedgehog can run around to its heart’s content at night without waking you up. This product has a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Amazon. And many reviews rated this as perfect for a beginner hedgehog parent.
The biggest concern we have with this product is the lack of space you are left with after adding all the attachments. While the cage itself is not small. The cage may feel small after the cave wheel and runner attachments are added inside.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a cage for your hedgehog is a highly personal decision based on your budget, space, and hedgehog’s personal needs. For example, if you have an older hedgehog. They may not be interested in extra play features or space but may value a cozy place to nap more. You can choose any one of the 5 best hedgehog cages provided by us.