How Do You House a Hedgehog? (Our top picks)

Keeping a hedgehog warm during the colder months is essential as they can go into hibernation and potentially starve to death in their hibernation state.

How do you house a hedgehog? There are many options to house a hedgehog including wooden housing, plastic housing to fabric based housing. Wooden housing consists of a wooden hut made from hedgehog safe woods. Plastic housing uses low odor plastic in an igloo shape, with fabric housing being large sleeping pouches.

We use plastic housing for our hedgehog Hynee using an igloo shaped house, with a small entrance that’s protrudes out. The igloo house is easy to clean and our hedgehog loves hiding in his igloo house and sleeping there too.

For plastic cages like the ZooZone Habitat cage, hedgehog houses made of plastic are fine if you are NOT using a Heat Lamp (Ceramic Heat Emitter).

WARNING: Do not buy any houses made of wood as they may contain mites, toxic oils or chemicals.

These are the Top 3 Hedgehog Houses for 2020:

Why I picked the Kaytee Superpet Pet Igloo house?

When I sat down and compared the houses, I found the Kaytee Superpet Pet Igloo ticked a lot of the boxes, as:

  • the Igloo house is great value for money, compared to the other options which I found very expensive;
  • the Kaytee Superpet Pet Igloo house is made from durable plastic making it very sturdy;
  • it allows some light in, but no too much, so the hedgehog can determine when it’s dark or light outside;
  • not toxic, as some wood-based houses could be, especially if oils used to treat them haven’t been properly sealed;
  • provided warmth.

Features to look at in a quality Hedgehog House

These are the features to look at in a quality Hedgehog House:

  • Allows some light in, so the nocturnal nature of the hedgehog is preserved;
  • Sturdy enough to take the day to day tolls of a hedgehog;
  • Safe for hedgehogs without any toxic materials used in the manufacture;
  • Baseless so when rested on a heat mat, doesn’t stop the heat getting to the hedgehog;

These are the Top 3 Snuggle Pouches for 2020:

Why I picked the Pet Snuggle Pouch ?

When I sat down and compared the different pouches, I found the Pet Snuggle Pouch ticked a lot of the boxes, as it:

  • is great value for money, compared to the other options which I found very expensive;
  • is big enough to get into, shutting out all the light;
  • provides enough space to turn around in;
  • is lined with fleece so it’s warm as well as being snug;
  • easily becomes a carry case, allowing us to pick up the pouch with the hedgehog in, to carry safely.

Features to look at in a quality Snuggle Pouch

These are the features to look at in a quality snuggle pouch:

  • doesn’t contain any loose or frayed threads as these can get tied around hedgehog limbs causing blood flow restrictions, leading to limb loss through amputation;
  • provides enough space for comfort including keeping the light out, should the hedgehog want some privacy;
  • is warm enough to provide a snug environment, generally, fleece lining provides excellent warmth;
  • is absorbent, as hedgehogs can urinate inside their pouches.

These are the Top 3 cage liners for 2020:

Why I picked the Courtney’s Handmade Cage liner?

When I sat down and compared the different cage liners, I found the Courtney’s Handmade Cage liner a lot of the boxes, as it:

  • is great value for money, compared to the other options which I found very expensive;
  • is big enough to cover the cage floor of our ZooZone 2 Habitate cage;
  • is waterproof so it stops puddles of water/urine from forming;
  • soaked in water/urine; and
  • dried poop was easily removable.

Features to look at in a quality cage liner

These are the features to look at in a quality cage liner:

  • doesn’t contain any loose or frayed threads as these can get tied around hedgehog limbs causing blood flow restrictions, leading to limb loss through amputation;
  • is warm enough, generally, fleece lining provides excellent warmth;
  • is absorbent, as hedgehogs will urinate, spill drinking their drinking water; and
  • allows poop to be removed easily.