Raise the legal minimum cage size for small furries to 80cmx50cm. Make it illegal for stores (both physical and online) to sell cages intended for habitation that are smaller than the required minimum size in the UK.

Small animals, such as hamsters, gerbils and mice are often kept in poor conditions and neglected. The leading cause is incorrect information and supplies being provided by leading chain pet stores such as Pets At Home and PetsCorner. The priority of many cages on sale is to make a profit and not to ensure the complete welfare of the small animals within them. There is very little legislation in place currently to protect the rights and welfare of small animals. A staggering amount of cages and enclosures sold by pet stores are cruelly small, dangerous and prevent the animals from displaying basic natural behaviours. Pet stores should be advocating for the highest standards of animal welfare and not focusing on what makes the most sales. 

For the same price or less of an unsuitable cage from a pet store you can almost always find a significantly larger and more suitable DIY enclosure, such as a large plastic tub enclosure or a large glass tank. There is a growing number of small pet owners who are seeking out these options rather than buying from pet stores because the cage options on offer are not suitable and are not made with the animal’s welfare as the priority.

The recommended minimum size for a small rodent cage is 80cmx50cm (620 square inches). This is the recommended size for hamsters, gerbils and mice as it has enough space for an appropriate sized wheel (a minimum of 10 inches diameter), deep levels of substrate (15cm minimum) and adequate amounts of enrichment and toys. I counted the cages on the following sites - Pets At Home, Pets Corner, Viovet, Jolleys, Zooplus, Pet Planet and The Pet Express. Of the 126 cages I counted across these sites, only a shocking 14 cages marketed for small furries were of a suitable size.  Any space smaller than 80cmx50cm prevents your animal from displaying natural behaviours such as burrowing, foraging and exploring. As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to provide your animal with opportunities to display these behaviours. If you don’t, you are neglecting your animal. 

From my research, there are very little in the way of law and legislation to protect them. They are often marketed more as toys than living creatures and that they don’t require much care and time. They are alive. They are not discardable. They are not toys. They deserve the best care we can provide in our ownership. 

There is a long way to go with the care and rights of small furries before it is of a suitable standard in the mainstream. The first step is to raise the legal minimum cage size to 80x50cm and make it illegal for pet stores and online stores which sell animal products to sell cages and enclosures which are any smaller than this. 

Please sign this petition to show your support for making high standards of small animal care the norm and to show pet stores and our government that we expect change to happen now and not later.