Small pets
Little guides for a lovelier life together: what a puzzle toy does for a busy mind, how to choose a bed, a feeder or a harness, and the finds we think are worth a closer look. Written to be useful whether or not you buy anything.
Rabbit Hay Feeder Guide: Rack vs Bag vs Box vs Ball vs Combo
A rabbit hay feeder keeps hay off the floor. Racks are sturdy and quick to refill, bags are soft and quiet, boxes catch the bits, balls add play, and combos sit over the litter tray.
What Size Hamster Wheel? Diameters for Syrian, Dwarf and Robo
Most Syrian hamsters need a wheel of about 11 to 12 inches across, and dwarf and Roborovski hamsters about 8 to 9 inches, with a solid track. Watch the back: it should stay flat.
Chinchilla Dust Bath Explained: Why They Roll in Dust, Not Water
Chinchillas clean their thick coats by rolling in fine bath dust, not water. Here is which dust to use, how to contain the mess, where to set it up and how to tidy afterwards.
What Do Hermit Crabs Need? A Habitat Setup Checklist
Hermit crabs need a glass tank with a tight lid, deep damp substrate, gentle warmth, high humidity, fresh and salt water, spare shells, hides and a friend or two.
Best Toys for Rabbits: Chew, Toss, Dig, Hide and Forage
The best toys for rabbits match how bunnies play: something safe to chew, something to toss, a place to dig, a tunnel to hide in and a puzzle to forage from. Rotate them weekly.
Guinea Pig vs Rabbit: Which Suits Your Home, Space and Day?
Guinea pigs suit a home with one big, flat enclosure and someone who enjoys chatter; rabbits suit a home that can give a bunny-proofed room and longer free-roam time.
What Do Ferrets Need? A Setup Checklist for Cage, Beds and Play
Ferrets need a tall multi-level cage with solid shelves, soft hammocks for long naps, a corner litter box, steady water, chew-safe toys, a harness and a ferret-proofed room for daily play.
Best Bedding for Hamsters: Paper, Aspen, Hemp, Hay and Sand
The best hamster bedding is soft, unscented and holds a tunnel: paper as the base, aspen or hemp for texture, hay for structure, sand in its own corner.
Indoor Rabbit Setup Checklist: Pen, Flooring, Hay and Hideouts
Rabbits need a roomy pen with soft flooring, daily free-roam time, a hay rack, a litter box with paper litter, a water bowl, a two-door hideout and things to chew and dig.
What Size Hamster Cage? Floor Space, Bedding Depth and Wheels
Choose a hamster home by its unbroken floor area, not its height. The PDSA suggests at least 100 x 50 cm of floor for any hamster, with deep bedding and a wheel sized to the species.
How to Set Up a Guinea Pig Cage: Space, Hideouts and Hay
Give guinea pigs a long, flat floor, a fleece liner or deep unscented bedding, one hideout each plus a spare, a hay rack that stays full and a water bottle at nose height.