Small Mammal Enrichment - Think Outside the Box!

In order to be happy and well balanced, small mammals such as mice, gerbils, and hamsters require more than just food and love. They also require fun enrichment activities. In the wild they would spend all their time searching for food, building and maintaining shelters, and trying to escape predators. When in captivity, these behaviors are no longer necessary. As a result, many small mammals become bored even when living in the nicest of habitats. Through various enrichment activities, boredom can be avoided, and the animal will be much happier and content with its surroundings.

Giving small mammals a “job” is an excellent way to ensure their happiness while satisfying their instinctive needs. While commercial litter and chips are widely available for use in a small mammal's cage, such materials do little to stimulate the nesting instinct. Rather, providing your small mammal with newspaper or cardboard that has not been shredded can allow your pet to create its own bedding. Not only will the need to shred the material for bedding eliminate boredom, it also simulates behaviors that would be necessary in the wild.

Small mammals are also very curious. Living inside a cage they can feel isolated and quickly become tired of their surroundings. Since allowing most small mammals to run free inside the home is not practical for safety reasons, a rodent ball is an ideal solution. Inside a ball, small mammals are free to run and explore their surroundings without the risk of becoming lost or getting injured.

The lives of small mammals can be greatly enriched by making even the smallest activity resemble what it would be like in their natural habitat. Even something as simple as not feeding small mammals from a designated bowl can be beneficial. In the wild, most mammals spend a large portion of their day searching for food. Placing food and various treats such as pieces of romaine lettuce or baby carrots in various parts of a clean cage can prove fun and rewarding for many pets.

Providing enriching activities for small mammals can decrease boredom, which could otherwise lead to depression and destructive behavior. By giving small mammals activities that will allow them to perform activities that are similar to what they would do in nature, owners can ensure the pet's best chance of successful survival in captivity. Such activities will also create a happier, more balanced pet with an increased lifespan.