New 100cm cage from Pets at Home!

[Daisy]

I saw this cage in person at Pets at Home a few weeks ago, and thought it looked close to 100cm but wasn't sure, and at the time there was no information about it online to confirm its size.

Now it's finally made it onto the website, which confirms it's 95cm long, so nearly 100cm, and the 57cm width makes up for being a little short on length. And it's only £55, which is really very economical for a decent-sized cage.

It has a large platform. It also looks like it doesn't come with the usual tiny wheel, which is good, as it means less wasted plastic, and people will be more likely to buy a decent-sized wheel separately. Also no tiny plastic hut like cages usually come with, so people will also be more likely to buy a proper-sized house separately.

The big downside of this cage is the terrible access - only one small front door and one small top door, which really isn't very good for such a big cage. But still an option for those on a tight budget, especially those who might already have spent money on an unsuitable cage.

Its height of 41cm is a little lower than ideal for Syrians but ideal for dwarfs.

Welcome to Pets at Home

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[Socks' Mum]

I wonder how wide the bar spaces are. Perhaps the small doorways are intended to make it more secure for mice, closer fitting?

 

[Socks' Mum]

Like the simplicity too.

 

[Hank]

And there is a deal at the moment, so even cheaper. I think it's a good step in the right direction

 

[Maz]

It's a big improvement. As you say, the small doors would only work for a hamster that was confident about coming out of the cage, plus the barred top would need taking off for spot cleaning etc. It looks like there may be two small doors on top?

I'm not sure smaller doors are any better for security though It's sometimes the smaller ones that hamsters can open more easily! But that's the same for any cage.

If the bar spacing is ok then it could be a good cage for dwarf hamsters due to the height but it could be difficult to fit more bedding in than the base allows unless you only used the top doors. Because the bedding would block the door - it's quite low at the front. Although it could just be deeper at the back and sides. They haven't quite thought it through perhaps, but it's a good step in the right direction.

I don't think it would work well as a permanent cage for Syrians, again due to the limitations for bedding deeper than the cage base, plus the height to fit in both an 11" wheel and enough bedding.

 

[Doodleham]

It's a good idea but it'd put me off with the teeny doors. I used to have a Barney cage (showing my age here) before zoo plus stopped making them. And the doors were the same, I had to lift the lid off every day to get my hamster out. I sold it when it's resident passed away and then got a plaza for my next hamster. *Also in my Barney cage I used little bulldog clips on the front doors (it had 2 ) as I felt they weren't very secure

 

[Maz]

Not at all - there are still Barney cages around! I had one too and had the same issues. It was fine with one hamster who would come to one of the front doors waiting to come out. But the one after that was much more shy and I'd have to take the bars off - and that's risky because then they can jump out! And he did! Yes that top door on the Barney had quite a big gap under it - I tied mine down with cable ties which was a pain! I also sold mine and got a plaza. Although I really missed the extra depth of the Barney! So I'm much happier with the Plaza 120 for that reason

It does mean they are less likely to jump out of a smaller door than a larger one. And the small doors are fine for a hamster who wants to come out. But I would absolutely hate having to try and spot clean through those small doors or have to take the bars off each time!

 

[elusive]

That is definitely a step in the right direction for P@H, I really like the fact it’s wider at 57cm, that would make a big difference in setting up the cage, the height is a bit more than the hamster heaven or similar cages so it would be ok for a Russian, Chinese or Robo
with a 20cm wheel with a reasonable amount of bedding but around 50cm would still be better.

What are they thinking when they design the doors on these cages though?! That would be a definite no no for me I’m afraid.

 

[Maz]

I don't think they do think Elusive! Not from an owner's point of view anyway. I assume it's easy and cheap to manufacture cages with the commonly used small doors than some more specialised design with a large door and better fastenings!

 

[Maz]

I can see people buying it though, because it's a good size and a good price.

 

[Daisy]

I wonder how wide the bar spaces are. Perhaps the small doorways are intended to make it more secure for mice, closer fitting?

When I saw it in person, I believe it had narrow bars, suitable for mice. I don't think that's the reason for the small doors though. I think these cages are designed by people who have never had a hamster before so they don't know what we need from a cage.

 

[Daisy]

It's a big improvement. As you say, the small doors would only work for a hamster that was confident about coming out of the cage, plus the barred top would need taking off for spot cleaning etc. It looks like there may be two small doors on top?

I'm not sure smaller doors are any better for security though It's sometimes the smaller ones that hamsters can open more easily! But that's the same for any cage.

If the bar spacing is ok then it could be a good cage for dwarf hamsters due to the height but it could be difficult to fit more bedding in than the base allows unless you only used the top doors. Because the bedding would block the door - it's quite low at the front. Although it could just be deeper at the back and sides. They haven't quite thought it through perhaps, but it's a good step in the right direction.

I don't think it would work well as a permanent cage for Syrians, again due to the limitations for bedding deeper than the cage base, plus the height to fit in both an 11" wheel and enough bedding.

I find those small doors can get loose over time, and some hamsters can then figure out how to open them by pushing the bar they are hooked over down. The larger doors like in the Plaza are much more secure as they're hooked over the bars at two points.

I wonder if the small door thing comes from bird cages. I'm not a bird owner, but I can imagine that a large door on a bird cage might not be ideal as the birds might fly out when it's opened. But I've never known a hamster to run straight out of the cage door when I open it.

 

[Maz]

I don't know. The two small doors on the front of the Barney were a pain, but at least it had a large top door. I suspect they have a particular cage manufacturer and it's just a larger version of their existing smaller cages so similar design. The shelf looks a bit like a Ferplast shelf though - but then maybe they are a generic shelf that ferplast use.

 

[Daisy]

I don't know. The two small doors on the front of the Barney were a pain, but at least it had a large top door. I suspect they have a particular cage manufacturer and it's just a larger version of their existing smaller cages so similar design. The shelf looks a bit like a Ferplast shelf though - but then maybe they are a generic shelf that ferplast use.

Pets at Home cages are manufactured by either Savic or Ferplast, usually Ferplast. I would guess this cage was made by Ferplast, and Ferplast still haven't got the message about larger doors. Savic have got the right idea with larger Savic Plaza and Hamster Heaven doors, but Ferplast are still behind.

 

[Daisy]

In fact, I would say it's definitely made by Ferplast as the water bottle is the same as the Ferplast Drinky.

 

[Maz]

I didn't know that. I know some pets at home cages, like the "large" perspex one with the shelf, looked identical to the Duna Fun large, and that pets at home had or have a tiny one that looks identical to one of the Savic spelos cages. But the quality is a bit lesser I think. So maybe those manufacturers do a "budget" range for them. But I think there are some generic cage manufacturers as well who churn out bog standard cages - I guess it's possible it's one of those and they just used ferplast accessories? But then the shelf would need to be a specific size to fit the cage.

The other PAH barred cages are a similar design and don't seem to look like anything else I've seen.

 

[Daisy]

I didn't know that. I know some pets at home cages, like the "large" perspex one with the shelf, looked identical to the Duna Fun large, and that pets at home had or have a tiny one that looks identical to one of the Savic spelos cages. But the quality is a bit lesser I think. So maybe those manufacturers do a "budget" range for them. But I think there are some generic cage manufacturers as well who churn out bog standard cages - I guess it's possible it's one of those and they just used ferplast accessories? But then the shelf would need to be a specific size to fit the cage.

The other PAH barred cages are a similar design and don't seem to look like anything else I've seen.

The other PAH barred cages are the same design as some Ferplast cages, but these cages aren't very common so aren't easily recognisable. This one is the same as the PAH Large cage. I agree that the Pets at Home cages seem to be lower quality than the branded ones.

 

[Daisy]

I've noticed that Pets at Home have also started selling an own-brand "Duna Multy" (https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/pets-at-home-hamster-and-mouse-home-medium), which seems a bit behind the times, since most people haven't used Duna Multys for years.

 

[Maz]

The other PAH barred cages are the same design as some Ferplast cages, but these cages aren't very common so aren't easily recognisable. This one is the same as the PAH Large cage. I agree that the Pets at Home cages seem to be lower quality than the branded ones.

Ah I didn't realise that - you're right. Horrible little cage!

The "Duna multy" type has been around for a long time though. It used to be called the plastic medium or something. But maybe this one is just slightly larger than the old one. But still only 71cm and still quite low.

They don't get it do they? It's about height and access as well as cage size. Mind you Ferplast aren't that communicative and ignored me when I wrote to them with suggestions. At least Savic listen to owners.

 

[Daisy]

Ah I didn't realise that - you're right. Horrible little cage!

The "Duna multy" type has been around for a long time though. It used to be called the plastic medium or something. But maybe this one is just slightly larger than the old one. But still only 71cm and still quite low.

They don't get it do they? It's about height and access as well as cage size. Mind you Ferplast aren't that communicative and ignored me when I wrote to them with suggestions. At least Savic listen to owners.

Savic are definitely much more responsive to owners than Ferplast are. Ferplast cages are also massively overpriced. That Milos Large cage, which Pets at Home sells for £35, they sell for £75!

Even Savic are still making tiny cages though. They've recently made a smaller version of the Hamster Heaven called the Duncan, with the same large front door. I was a bit baffled when I saw it as it felt like backwards progress? In fairness, if you did need a small cage for whatever reason (like a hospital cage), this one would be a good option due to the large door. But they're also still making the oval-shaped Spelos which is a terrible cage with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.