For lots of reasons I need to house my fuzzys in a cage while I'm not home.  I picked up a Critter Nation Cage at my local big box pet shop.

Several questions regarding the best way to outfit it.

I have 2 hammocks and a sleep pouch.  A few small toys.  

Flooring - The trays do a good job of protecting the feet, but I think I need something better on the floor.  I know the pet shop used a paper.   I saw a recommendation for reptile carpet.  It's really easy to just rinse out.  I am concerned it might get caught in toenails.  


Bare floor would be easier to keep clean and sanitary.  Thoughts?


Water and Food. I put a gravity feed cage attached food thing provider.  Food everywhere within minutes.  


Also added a water bottle/tube.  The big one I purchased leaked so i put the two small ones i bought for the trip home in for the night.  They use it.   Before I go replace the big one, do you guys like heavy crockery bowels  or water bottles/food dispensers?


Thanks for your thoughts.


Steve

Hi Steve.
We use lock on crocks for water  and heavy ceramic bowls for food.  If your fuzzy likes to dig food out, you can try the lock on crocks for food. You might be able to put it up a little higher so it's harder for them to dig.  As for bottles, make sure it's filled completely full to prevent leaking.

The Critter Nation is a great cage.  It's similar to the Ferret Nation but with horizontal bars for critters that like to climb.  I believe that Ferret Nation bedding sets will fit it.  Once you decide that they are not going to make messes everywhere you cna shop for bedding.  We have to line our FN with newspaper in front of the litter boxes because we have a couple brats (bro/sis) that will tear the place up if they don't want to be in there or protest poop in front of the box.  We've never been able to have one of those beautiful sets because we've always had at least one brat.

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

I have a FN cage.  I use baby comforters for the floor/base of the cage.  I pick them up at garage sales/salvation army stores.
Every saturday, I just throw them into the wash and put new one in their cage.

Baby blankets will work.

I like to use crocks.  I am not fan of water bottles.  I like to have fresh water for my furkids.  Crocks are much easier to clean that water bottles.  Ferrets will drink more water out of the crocks vs water bottles.

Thanks all.

So that's the difference between FN and CN Cages.  One of my furbutts (Roses/Nip, still haven't figured out the names yet) uses the horizontal bars to climb up the from one platform to another.  The other (Guns/Tuck) is a nice behaved lady and uses the ramps.

I got the litter box anchored better, but ya, they haven't figured out that yet.  50% of the time they hit the box. The take turns going 2" to one side or the other.  (eg in the "corner" made by the box and the cage.) I keep dumping the droppings into the box to give them the idea.  It's only been a full day so far.  I think the box may be too small.  

I started switching to bowls.  I'll find good heavy ones tonight after work.

Thanks,
Steve

Bring them down to one level.....ground floor. 

Place a high back litter box/rectangle cat litter box on one side of cage. 

On the other side of the cage:  in one corner food bowl.  Other corner water bowl/bottle. 

Place low hanging hammock for them to sleep in. 

Cover the floor with blankets/toys 

Make sure all corners are covered. 

Leave poop in litter box.  Remind them it's the potty area.  Once they start going, then you can scoop it out. 


Don't be in hurry to put the shelves back. Make sure you re enforce this behavior. 

Good luck

THANKS!

I was going to put litter box, food/water and sleeping arrangements all on one floor to night. I wasn't going to limit them to a single floor, but that makes a lot of sense.   

The litter box i have is a high back corner one.  It's pretty small.  I'm going to go find a bigger one.

For temporary blankets, is micro fiber ok?  Is there any issue with getting toenails stuck?  I have access to dozens of micro fiber towels.  If the micro fiber is ok, I could cover the floor with them loose, or drag the wife's sewing machine out and sew up a few into a cover all for the floor.

I could just go hit the local fabric store and buy a couple of yards of material and some elastic string and make some temporary covers for the trays, for a couple of bucks each.

The litter box i have is a high back corner one.

I don't have very good luck with those litter box.  Ferrets like to get their whole body into the box.
High back litter box or cat rectangle litter box work great.



I have seen where people use the corner litter boxes for: 
Corner litter boxes work great...by placing a ceramic, heavy crock bowl inside the litter box.
Furkids can't move them around.

They also make great flower boxes.

For temporary blankets, is micro fiber ok?  Is there any issue with getting toenails stuck?

My kids love the soft, fluffy baby blankets.  As long as you clip their nails ....you should have a problem.


Socks will work to cover the ladders.


I don't use the ladders or shelves in my FN cage.  I have it setup so that they have to climb into their hammocks.


I hope this helps.

wenmister
I don't use the ladders or shelves in my FN cage.  I have it setup so that they have to climb into their hammocks.

I'm not sure I understand.  My CN cage is the double level with the one full width and one half width shelf for each level.  


One carpet shark already uses the side of the cage to climb up from full width to half width shelf.   But they both use the ramp that leads from first level to the second level. 


If you don't use ladders or shelves, then I assume that the cage just has the bottom tray on it?  Is it just the single level?


Wife found a bigger high back corner pan at petco.  I'll go look and see if it's bigger enough.

 My CN cage is the double level with the one full width and one half width shelf for each level.  

OK,  I follow you.


FN cage has come with two ladders that can be attached to shelves.


I have a double  level cage.  With a ladder that goes up to the top level.  Two half shelves (one for top and one for bottom)

This is a old picture.  I don't use the shelves very often.  I replaced that with a hammock.

Thanks for the pic.  That helps.

2 questions.  Which gets watched more, the critters or the TV?  What's that corregated tube.  I think I know what it's for, but where did it come from?

Thanks,
Steve

>Which gets watched more, the critters or the TV? 

Critters get to watch TV in the living room....bigger screen.   Mom gets  to watch the smaller one.
My furkids have run of the house when we are at home.  They are really good in the home.  When
it time for bed....I just call them or turn on the microwave.....they come running to kitchen, because
they know it's soup time.




 What's that corregated tube.  I think I know what it's for, but where did it come from?


That is Marshall Ferret Super Thru way Tunnel.  I have it twisted up.  Ferret.com sells this item.


http://www.ferret.com/item/marshall-ferret-super-thru-way-tunnel/650727/


Drainage Pipes work too.  I have few of them behind my furniture and under our bed.  They love to run thru them. 
I try to hide them....that way I don't have to pick them up every night.  No body knows they are there....just ferrets and us human in the house.  Sometimes, I will surprised them in put treats in the tunnels before I let them out.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Advanced-Drainage-Systems-4-in-x-10-ft-Corex-Drain-Pipe-Perforated-4040010/100211970

Thanks for the links.  

I did as recommended with the shelves/bedding/toys, and they have not had an accident since.  It worked so well, they even hold it while running the living room, and use the litter box as soon as I put them back in.  GREAT SUGGESTION, THANKS!!

I'm about to open up one of the 1/2 shelves.  Probably take the hammock/hanging bedroom and put it above the half shelf, put in the ramp. Keep food/toys/Litter on the full sized shelf.

When I get all 4 shelves 2 X full and 2 X 1/2 back in play, would you recommend sticking with one litter box, or put 2, one on each full shelf?  Or will just filling the floor on all the shelves with bedding, toys, do the trick.

don't rush it.   Give it a few weeks, then you can change the cage around.

Good luck