Smelly Cage

[peanutsmom]

Help!

I don't get it. I have two degus in a pretty big multi level cage that I have to clean at least twice a week because they STINK! Everything I read before getting them said that they were relatively clean animals who didn't smell too badly. Mine are horrible. I clean the cage and two days later the smell is enough to knock you over. I think the main problem is that the floors of the various levels are solid and the degus have decided that these levels should be the toilet. They don't pee in the lower level which is where the shavings are. The upper levels have no absorbant materials because they are solid floors with wire walls and the degus just kick anything out that I put there.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what I can do about this? If I can't get the smell under control soon, I'm going to have to get rid of them. I just can't take the stink.

Thanks,
Peanutsmom

[Sunshinemeg]

HI

Part of the problem is definately the solid floors, however there are some things you can try to reduce the smell. When cleaning the cage out, use an animal friendly spray and wipe all the surfaces. the smell should be removed so they dont think that the area is still the toilet.

add a large jam jar that they can go in without being cramped, and put some chinchilla sand in the bottom. hopefully they will see this as a suitable toilet.

also, check out the webpage linked to this site, and look at the bedding page. there is a photo of a type of bedding that is meant to be better at minimising odour, so you could give that a go.

Good luck, dont give up on them yet, I know they can smell when the urine doesnt end where you want it, but give them a chance!!

SUNSHINEMEG ;D

[ra]

I'm really surprised at you having an odor problem with your Degus. I change Virgil's bedding once a week and there is little or no odor. I have a pretty sensitive sense of smell so perhaps the "Carefresh" bedding material labeled"etended odor control" really does make a difference.

Give it a try. I've seen it at Petco and Petsmart here in the States.

Wonder why they pee on the mid and upper levels of their mulit-level cage. Virgil's cage sounds just like yours. He has never peed on the plastic floors on the levels without bedding. Maybe your Degus are scent marking things since you have more than one. What if you used a paper towel to clean up the pee and left in in one of the lower level corners to train then to pee there?

[Sunshinemeg]

You have to remember Ra, you only have one degu. Thats going to make a difference in the smell, just by there simply not being as much urine produced.

I have noticed I need to clean my cage out more often now I have 4 degus, due to the amount of urine etc, it does start to smell, but not as quickly as it clearly does for peanutsmom.

i understand the problem, just wish I knew a sure fire way of stopping it!

SUNSHINEMEG ;D

[peanutsmom]

Thanks for the advice.

I put paper on the levels and that has helped with the smell but has now created a new issue. Now they pull the paper off the levels to make nests and when they do they pull all the stuff off the levels too. Envision a log bridge falling to the bottom of the cage while my sweet little degu devil pulls the paper out from under it. ARGGG!

I'm sure one of them is going to end up getting hurt.

I can't use the carefresh or similar bedding up there because there are no sides on the levels to hold the stuff in.

[ra]

I sat looking at my multilevel cage lastnight thinking of your dilema.

You could build an edge on the three outside sides say 4" high using something like the aluminum flashing the guys fashioned my "base guard" out of. They rolled and hammered the upper edge of the flashing so that it was rounded and would not cut little feet. I was trying to think of a way to attach it to the cage wire and came up with weaving it in and out of some of the wires. Depends on the design of your cage.

With a rim on the outside edges of the two upper levels the only place the carefresh litter would go would be down into the center of the bottom level. At least it wouldn't get kicked out of the cage all over the house!


Hmmmmmmmm another thought what about double side taping some of those puppy pee pads on the upper two levels? They shouldn't be able to pull them down though I imagine they could tear them up with their teeth if they so desired. Hopefully they have better things to do....right!