Hideouts: Why Every Small Animal Needs More Than One

Hiding is not shyness; for a prey animal it is a basic need. A cage with nowhere to hide is a stressful place to live.

Two exits

A hide with a single entrance can feel like a trap when another animal approaches. Two openings make it a refuge rather than a dead end.

More than one hide

One at each end of the cage means the animal never has to cross open ground to feel safe, and in shared housing it prevents one animal monopolising the only shelter.

Size

Snug is good; too tight is not. The animal should be able to turn round comfortably inside.

Cleaning

Hides get soiled and chewed. Something you can wash properly, or replace cheaply, is more practical than something decorative that cannot be cleaned.