I need some suggestions/advice (kinda long)

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Posted by shanna on September 11, 2002 at 12:00:16:

Spike has been spending absolutely no time in his cage now that I have his new "set up". He used to sit up on top of his cage all day and then at night or when I would leave or something he would go in his cage. Now he has a long window sill to sit on and his cage if he wants. I put his basking light up on the window sill and his food on his cage and gave him a little ladder to get up to the sill easily. He wonders around my room sometimes, too. There really isn't anything bad for him to get into in my room and the carpet is too short to eat (which he did at the other house). :)

This is great for him and I really think he likes it, but the window sill is not very wide (deep) and I don't think is very comfortable, plus I see him having a hard time turning around and I think he fell off once (its 5 feet off the ground).

Here is a picture of the area I have right now.

I have been thinking that I should build him something, I'll call it a jungle gym. i'm not sure exactly what I want to do and this is why I need your help. This is what I'm thinking so far:

It will be made of wood with some type of material to cover it like soft carpet. I'll want it to be about 5 ft tall and 5 ft long and about 3 ft deep. I want there to be a basking spot a feeding spot and i was thinking I would like to give him a box to sort of hide it (he really doesn't have any privacy and I think he might appriciate that since it is a room that I frequent a lot). I can draw up a design and my dad can help me build it, but I am wondering if any of you have ever done something like this and would want to give me pointers. Mainly, what should I use for a cover material.

Also, on a sort of serperate note, I think I would like to get Spike a heat mat of some kind. I think I heard someone say one time or read somewhere that someone used a heat matt and wrapped it in a towel and kept it on a low setting. I of course want to find a very safe way to do this, I just don't think that Spike is getting enough heat. His basking spot provides plenty of heat (the bulb is fairly close), but everywhere else in the room is only room temperature and he is not always at his basking spot. A lot of times I find him on my headboard (a nice wide flat spot) and other more comfy places. What do you think I could arrange? I was thinking I could put it in his box and hopefully he would sleep in there. You think?

I'm still in the idea stage and having drawn anything up yet (or even asked my dad :) ). I thought it would be a good idea to consult some of you first as you may have done soemthing like this before.

Thanks so much (especially for reading that whole thing),
Shanna

PS - Here is a picture of Spike on the window sill, you can see how cramped he seems. I don't know, sometimes he seems fine, other times, he seems like he wants more room. :)

Follow Ups:

You know, when Phil is out and about... lily 09/11/02 (5)
- I've seen in the stores a cat hammock/shelf......more jiffypop 09/12/02 (2)
  - Hey, that's cool!!! shanna 09/12/02 (0)
  - Good idea!!n/m Flavia Guimaraes 09/12/02 (0)
- Re: You know, when Phil is out and about... xta 09/11/02 (1)
  - Re: You know, when Phil is out and about... shanna 09/11/02 (0)