I'm a dog person. I used to be a cat person. I've never been a rodent, small-creatures-in-cages-person. That said, there's an obvious lack of cool things for smaller pets to play with. Even if you're like me and not into mice, hamsters or, in this case, hedgehogs, that doesn't mean they shouldn't have designer digs to hang out in.
Amanda Kirk from San Antonio has watched diligently as we've featured all sorts of hip home items for dogs and cats alike, while her adorable little hedgehogs have suffered in silence with the lame plastic things they sell at the pet store.
Having had enough, she took matters into her own hands and crafted up a quick record store and French bakery for her small pets. They might not be designer, but they get used and are far more adorable and personable than store-bought options. It's a great reminder that if you can't find something you love, make it yourself!
Thanks Amanda!
Image: Amanda Kirk
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Darling - both the houses and their occupants!
Cute and funny, but I always been a pocket pet person.
My sister modified her doll house as a kid so that her hamsters could play in it. This post totally reminded me of that. :)
I love the little trim on the windows as valances.
What, pray tell, is awful about this? Keeping hedgehogs as pets? Or just spending time on making them cardboard houses?
I'll have to share this with my daughter. Her hedgehog definitely needs more stylish digs.
I love hedgehogs!!! So freakin' cute!!!
But unfortunately, totally illegal in CA. If I could have one, I'd make little cardboard houses for them, too.
ohokrachel, you're a party pooper.
I remember making huge houses and habitrails for my friend's hamsters when I was a kid- mostly out of shoe boxes and cardboard. Never were as nicely decorated as these though (but maybe a bit more intricate).
Many people are phobic about rodents and similar animals, so that may be what was meant by the "awful" comment. Or, it may have referred to keeping a wild animal in captivity and captive hedgehogs' high mortality rate. Regardless, the hand-decorated box and its occupant are very cute. My extensive experience with domesticated house pet rodents tells me that soon the box will be gnawed to bits with gusto.
My partner and I live with an African pygmy hedgehog. They are not rodents, but in the order Erinaceidae and have canine teeth like people or dogs. Rodents gnaw because of their continuosly growing incisors.
Interesting. Do you find hedgehogs difficult to keep healthy and content? Can they become tame? I'm curious because I have no direct experience with them and they are very cute although, while I have dogs, smaller pets are not an option.
Too cute for words. Adorable. Okay, one word.
I knew someone who had hedgehogs once. They were always very affectionate; they bond with the owner almost like birds do, IMO. I think the ones sold as pets are hybrids between two African species. I might be wrong though.
I had no idea that people kept hedgehogs as pets. That's awesome. Probably even cooler than my pet rats.
hedgehogs are not an easy pet, but i think they are worth the expense for me. i have two and they are both rescues from a closed breeding mill that was shut down for neglecting animals and unsafe conditions.
they are not difficult to keep healthy, but they do require more specialized care than say, a hamster or a rat.
if you are interested a good place to start is here for more info.---http://hedgehogcentral.com/
the pet stores only really sell things for rodents and ferrets so i have been forced to improvise most of their supplies.
thank you for the nice comments!
I couldn't have guinea pigs because they were too allergenic. My siblings and I had rats, mice, and hamsters as kids. I liked gerbils best, although rats are smarter.
My bunny would chew those things to pieces! Which is all good, but I couldn't paint them.
So...much...cuteness! Must...click...away...
Heh, I did something like this for my rabbit when I was 10. Though there was more crayon involved, and less in the way of doilies. ;-) These are very cute!
Hedgehogs (African pygmy ones, anyhow) ROCK!
But I'm a bit afraid I coudn't take proper care of them. They are freaking adorable (love the little turned up noses!) but I don't know of any vets around here who know how to keep them healthy, and the poster mentioned having difficulty finding appropriate food.
One local pet store had some one time (I suspect they buy from puppy mills, so I don't trust them) and I so wanted to take one home. But I didn't feel I should adopt a critter without being sure I could properly provide for it. Sigh. Cats and rabbits will have to suffice!
(The box houses are very cute, so long as the hedgies don't chew and ingest the paint -- don't know if that's their habit or not...)
THIS. First thing I'm doing when I eventually leave CA is get a hedgie. I've wanted one for years---damn you idiotic laws!!