Chinchilla Cages a Smart Shopper Guide

Feb 14 2012

chinchilla cages closeupFinding good chinchilla cages as a brand new chinchilla owner shouldn’t be a hassle, if you are patient and thorough, then you are going to save money. Generally people start off with a smaller cage which is not a bad idea as it will serve as backup until you can find just the right cage for your pet. However you can’t keep your new chinchilla in a small cage for very long try to find a chinchilla cage within a few days of getting your pet if not sooner. Considering chinchilla’s can live 10 – 15 years or more it pays to have a good cage.

What size cage does a chinchilla need?
Chinchillas are active and need space to run around and jump. Your chinchilla should have at least 24 x 24 of floor space. While you want a tall cage you don’t want too large a cage where they could fall all the way down to the bottom and hurt themselves. Make sure the chinchilla cage has ledges spaced accordingly for the chinchilla to jump on, this will help prevent falls as they can grab onto the ledges if they loose their footing.

What should a chinchilla cage be made of?
One thing to keep in mind when you’re searching for chinchilla cages are chinchillas are rodents and if you buy a plastic cage, they are going to chew it all up.

Chinchilla cages that are considered durable are the ones which are made from a combination of wood and metal, or all metal with shelves to make sure your pet gets some exercise as chinchillas are quite jumpy and active animals.

If you have adult chinchillas a 1′ inch gaps between the bars is as large as you want to go. If you are planning on breeding a chinchilla family you will require a 1/2 inch to 1 inch distance between the bars. Thickness also plays apart in the decision to buy a chinchilla cage you want a cage made from thicker metal not anything flimsy.

Cheap chinchilla cages usually do not have this feature and if the metal used is not thick enough it will start showing inward dents that will make the cage look unattractive. So avoid cages constructed entirely of wood, plastic and super thin metal bars.

Extra Features
Another nice feature you should keep your eye out for is a rolling castor beneath the cage for easy transportation from place to place. It is also quite beneficial to have a cage that has pockets underneath where you can put in various items and chinchilla accessories that would make it easier for you to replace their food and to clean the cage.

Pull Out Tray
A pull out tray is an essential component of any chinchilla cage for sale. This is a removable tray located at the bottom of the cage which makes it easier for you to remove your pet droppings. This is very an important feature because if you do not clean the cage frequently it can cause a build up of bacteria and other parasites that can cause diseases for your pet.

Here’s a chinchilla cage that fits all the criteria

chinchilla cages

Large Chinchilla Cage

The Midwest Critter Nation is about the size of an armoire or bookcase (36 x 24 x 63 inches). The doors swing open wide for easy cleaning. Adjustable shelves and plenty of places to hang chinchilla accessories like hammocks or toys abound.

The ramps swing up into the top or bottom depending how you look at it for easy cleaning you can put all your chinchillas on the top shelf lock the ramp in place and clean the rest of the cage. Then you unlock the ramp let it back down and all your furry friends can run around the cleaned cage, or you could use this feature to separate the pets that don’t get along so well.

Read all about Midwest Critter Nation Chinchilla Cages

small chinchilla cage

Small Chinchilla Cage

 

Midwest also has a chinchilla cage that is a bit smaller too (36″L x 24″W x 39″H) perfect for those of you that have one chinchilla.

Here are what real owners have to say about the Midwest Critter Nation Small Pet Habitat

The manufacturer says you don’t need any tools but you may need a small hammer to nudge the pieces in place especially if they are a little bent. It would be helpful if there were two people assembling the though one could do it alone if needed.

The pullout potty pan is shallow and most owners say they have replaced it with a deeper pan. Altogether that is the extent of it, they love the chinchilla cages

Buy this Chinchilla Cage now at Amazon.com

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Cat Tree Molly and Friends Scratching Post

Oct 01 2011

Cat treeWhen it comes to accessories for pets, there is truly no end to the options. There are collars, houses, toys and treats it would be easy to get overwhelmed with all the many choices. Some may be a waste of money, but one pet product that every cat should have is a cat tree.

By nature cats enjoying hunting, climbing, and hiding out whether indoors or out. Apartment dwellers with cats or kittens sometimes have a problem since many don’t have backyards. Cats also enjoy exploring nooks and dark places in your house, hiding in boxes or drawers.

If you haven’t provided your cat or kitten the opportunity to use a scratching post then they are likely using your living room furniture. When you have a cat tree you give your cat the best of both worlds, the ability to play inside without the dangers of outside. This is not only a blast for the cats, but an important part of their health because it allows them to get the exercise they need.

While cats may love playing outdoors and climbing in trees whenever you let your cat outside you run the risk of them becoming lost or running into a bigger animal that may fight with your cat.  So a cat tree is the ideal solution!Cat in tree

As you can tell by the above picture “The Pinnacle” Molly and Friends cat tree has several places to lay about in relax it also has two hidey holes for your cats to play or sleep in. This particular cat tree weighs about 145 pounds and ships fully assembled which means you don’t have to worry about putting screws in the wrong place and that’s another reason why it’s so sturdy because there’s no place for it to give out.  It stands about 7 1/2 feet high and has a weighted base that won’t tip over.

You could buy three or four cheap cat trees that last few months (or maybe you have already) each or you could step up and purchase a cat tree that will last for a long time.  The difference is quality Molly and Friends has been making cat furniture since 1997 that is handmade using real wood, quality carpet & sisal rope.

Buy this or any other Cat Tree at Amazon

 

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Frontline Plus for Cats

Apr 02 2011

frontline plusIt’s that time of the year again flea season will soon be upon us (or our cats I should say) be prepared to fight fleas to the death with Frontline Plus for cats.

Dealing with fleas can be very annoying especially for your cat it’s hard to watch them suffer. But science has brought us excellent tools to combat fleas, one such brand is Frontline Plus each tube works for a month killing fleas, lice, and ticks. Packages come in 3, 6, or 12  month supplies.

Prevention from fleas and ticks with Frontline Plus

So what are fleas and why are they dangerous to your pet?
Fleas are evil little insects that bite your cat and suck on their blood. While some cats deal with the fleas better than others some cats get flea allergy dermatitis.

Fleas live and die in four stages (and can live from 8 months in their pupa stage)
eggs
larva
pupa
adult fleas

Now we aren’t going to get into who came first the flea or the egg but what happens to your cat is…

Adult fleas lay eggs on your cat (several hundred during the lifetime of a flea) these eggs can also end up anywhere your cat goes.

If you have ever seen little black flecks that resemble pepper it’s called flea dirt that’s the nice name its actually flea poo. Sometimes the flea dirt has a red tint to it that’s your cats blood. The larva munch on organic matter like dander or dried blood and turn into pupa, this is when they get on your cat.

Most cats tolerate fleas with discomfort but other cats are super sensitive (flea allergy dermatitis) to fleas and they can get what is known has hot spots, this is where a bad flea bite has gone wrong your cat may scratch the area raw, his or her hair may fall out, and it gets progressively worse.

Indoor cats can get fleas too, fleas can sneak into the house if they are in the grass outside.

If you suspect your cat has fleas start right away to prevent an all out infestation. In the adult stage they don’t live long but they reproduce quickly. Fleas mainly come out during summer and fall months however, they can survive the winter in the pupa or larva stage.

What can be done about fleas?
One is a topical solution like Frontline Plus
Second in the line of defense are flea foggers – fleas aren’t just on your cat. The eggs may be in your bed, carpet, and couch you should use a flea fogger to rid your house of fleas.

flea fogger

flea fogger

Follow the directions on the can you may have to do your house 1 – 3 times while maintaining your cats flea medication to help prevent a new life cycle of fleas from developing. You may need a follow up spray after a couple months.

After the fogging make sure you vacuum thoroughly and it is recommended that you spread flea powder then vacuum again and dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag immediately in the outside trash.

Frontline Plus kills ticks too

Ticks are another blood sucking parasite that feed off the blood of your precious pet, they start out small and expand the more blood they consume. Ticks spread diseases to humans in the form of Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

An infected tick bite can cause anemia, diseases, tick paralysis in cats or dogs and then death.

Ticks are more common in the summer months when is warm and are drawn to more wooded areas, shrubs, and tall grass. The most common is the deer tick which carries Lyme disease.

If you keep your cats inside then it is less likely to see a tick however using Frontline Plus protects your pet from the 4 major types of ticks.

To help prevent ticks keep your grass mowed and always check your pets when coming into the house, they can crawl off your pet and onto you. If you find a tick on your pet be careful when removing it.

tick key for removal of ticks

Tick Key

Tweezers are usually used however they are not the best method you  should use a tick remover that removes the entire tick. You may want to use gloves since Rocky Mountain spotted fever is transferred from the tick body itself. You can save the tick in a jar or bag or dispose then watch your pet for a couple days and check the spot if it latched on.

Frontline Plus is recommend by veterinarians to control fleas, ticks and lice

Frontline is applied once a month and kills existing fleas in than 24 hours. Frontline kills the flea eggs and larvae as well, disrupting the reproductive cycle so no new fleas can develop, in addition Frontline Plus is waterproof so if for some reason your pet gets wet or you give them a bath the medicine is still working to protect your cat against fleas and ticks. Frontline Plus is safe to use on kittens over 8 weeks old.

If you have not used Frontline Plus before it is simple to apply to your cats honestly getting it out of the foil is the hardest part! I suggest using scissors once you have the application you hold it and snap the tip down on the applicator away from your face then place the tip on your pets shoulder blades and squeeze, I also suggest doing this step as quickly as possible your cat may smell the medicine and if you don’t have a grip on them they may scoot away.

Get a Frontline Plus discount through Amazon.com one of the most trusted names on the internet.

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Outside Cat Enclosures

Feb 27 2011

outdoor cat enclosure The ABO Gear Happy Habitat for Indoor Cats is a outside cat enclosure that lets your indoor cat enjoy the outdoors safely.

The ABO Gear Happy Habitat for Indoor Cats is perfect for those of you with indoor cats you want to let outside but are worried something might happen to them. With the habitat screen they are protected. Now you can work outdoors in your yard or sit on the patio in the evening and not be concerned if you do not keep a constant eye on your cat.

The Happy Habitat is also good for apartment dwellers without fences like me. You can also use it if you have an upstairs apartment with a deck or patio. I imagine you do not want to let your cat out in case they get lost or injured. The outdoor cat enclosure is just what you need to let your cat enjoy being outside.

You can use the cat tent both indoors and outdoors. Indoors it’s useful if you need to separate your cats for some reason like sickness.

You might consider putting the cat tent up in your home for a couple days to let your cats get used to the idea of being inside the enclosure. Then when they seem at ease take it outside, if it’s not too hot you can leave in the sunshine however; you should place the tent in partial shade or put a blanket on one side so your cat can get out of the heat if they choose. There’s enough room to place food, water, and litter box in the tent and still have room for the cat to play.

If you leave your cats unattended set a timer to check on them every few minutes especially if you don’t have a fenced in yard (there may be roaming dogs about). A good idea if you have the means is to place the cat enclosure outside your kitchen window and you can watch the kitties while doing dishes or preparing a meal.

The ABO Gear Happy Habitat cat tent comes with stakes to secure it in the ground. The cat enclosure is see-thru so you can view your cat from all angles when checking up on him or her.

The tent is roughly 5 by 6 made from mesh with a mesh bottom. Just pull the string to open and press to close, it is that simple, then place the cat tent back into the carry bag. Weighing in at 2.5 pounds you can easily toss it into the car when you want to travel with your cat.

Here’s a quick video that shows how easy the outdoor cat enclosure is to set up and take down.

Click here to buy The ABO Gear Happy Habitat for Indoor Cats from Amazon.com and make your cat a happy cat!

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Solvit PupSTEP Plus Pet Stairs

Jan 29 2011

The Solvit pet step is the number one bestselling pet step at amazon.com it has many satisfied customer reviews and is extremely affordable. If you would like a detailed review of pet steps and pet ramps please click on that link.

Lets take a look at this great product.

First off folks think that you have to have an older dog to use pet steps, my response to this is they are never to young to start. The more your puppy uses the steps the less pressure is put on their joints and you can prolong the onset of arthritis or joint pain.

Plus this keeps the dog or cat less dependent on you, it can wear you out picking that dog or cat up and down all day long.  Kittens love to climb so using pet stairs can help preserve your furniture, and once your cat gets to old to jump he may revert back to climbing.

So you can see it is smart to get pet steps.

The Solvit pet stairs brand holds up to 120 pounds even thought it weighs only five pounds which means you can carry it around the house to use in your bedroom if you decide not to get two, plus you can use it outside to help your pets get into the car or truck.

The pet step folds down for storage for those times you may not want your dog to get on the bed while you are gone. If you have a larger dog the pet steps are wonderful for training your dog not to jump on you in the middle of the night.

You can place the steps in a safe spot so you don’t get squished. So if you have a dog or cat or need a gift for a friend this would make a good one. if you would like more information use this link Pet Stairs Pet Steps.

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Beautiful Aquarium the Umbra FishHotel Aquarium

Jan 13 2011

Umbra FishHotel AquariumWow what a beautiful aquarium the Umbra is not your average goldfish bowl, it has style I think it is quite modern looking don’t you agree?

Another cool feature of the Umbra FishHotel Aquarium is you can stack them on top of each other which is great if you have those Betta fish that need to have their own little home sweet home. I’m sure your goldfish wouldn’t mind one either.

Not only can you stack them you can also paint them to match the decor of your home or your personality. The plastic facade is removable if you just feel like looking directly at your fish.  The tank holds about a gallon of water and is 7.5 x 7.5 x 8 inches and weighs 5 pounds. You can add a light if you have the fish tank in a darker room.

Some folks with Betta fish say you need a lid and other owners have had no problems keeping their fish in the umbra tanks. I will leave that up to you to decide.

Click to buy or get more information on the Umbra FishHotel Aquarium

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