Help! Cage Smell!

[Exxiilem]

So, this is a serious issue for me. My husband and his family have allergies, and since we have brought my two girls (An American Satin, and a Sheltie), everyone has been complaining of the smell. So, in order to keep them, we need odor control.

Upon inspection, the lining is completely awful. (Not sure if is coraplast or A wipeable canvas material) It is covered in urine stains, and looks as though no one has EVER even bothered wiping it down.(Would a mixture of vinegar and water remove such a stench?) To cover the mess, the previous owners have simply thrown down puppy training pads to cover the odor and stains.

However, I don't think my girls are all the blame. They came from a home in which there were other animals. Including cats and dogs. Seeing as to how they're sitting on a wooden base, perhaps that has absorbed some scent?

I need some help with this odor problem though, or else my girls are going to have to be re-homed. Do any of you think a bath and a trim would help my Sheltie, Ikarous. And just a bath for Nymph? As for the cage, maybe we should throw down some extra bedding to help absorb the smell, and hay to add some sweetness?

I just got them, but I would be devastated to get rid of my girls.

 

[BossHogg]

A reply will have to wait till tomorrow I'm afraid whilst a major software upgrade takes place overnight.

 

[Stewybus]

White vinegar is best. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes then wipe & clean with damp kitchen roll or similar until the vinegar smell has gone. That should remove the stain but the smell could be caused by the bedding. What sort are you using?

 

[Rodentopia]

Bathing the piggies might help remove the odour from them but if the base of the cage is stinking its not going to help. Sounds like it needs cleaning completely and no amount of fresh bedding will help. I second white vinegar brilliant for removing stubborn stains, I use it for a lot of things I would scrub the cage thoroughly but being wood it might be hard to get rid off the smell. If its an option could you get a new cage as if its new to you, you could keep it clean and keep on top of the odour. You can pick up plastic based cages pretty cheaply, might be worth looking for something

 

[Exxiilem]

See the lining of the cage is like this wipeable waterproof canvas like material, and since the bottom is soft, and has no support to it whatsoever, the previous owners placed a board underneath to stabilize it. Come to find out as of this morning, it isn't even wood all the way through. It looks at though it is an old window that they have just plopped the girls' cage on.

Luckily, I have removed some of the items from their residence that seems to have been making quite a stink (literally.) They had the girls separated, saying that they would battle one another, when come to find out, it was a mere dominance squabble. Upon removing the divider (and doing some redecorating) it seems as though the scent has diminished tremendously.

To improve their safety however, because we all know how piggies can romp, my father-in-law is constructing them a new base, so no piggies (or other household residents) will be injured. We are thinking that will remove some smell too.

As a bit of a curiosity, should I add a bit of baking soda to my girls' litter pans, or would it cause them harm?

 

[theoretikos]

I think you could mix the vinegar and baking soda together to clean the pans like you would a carpet but I wouldn't just leave baking soda sitting in case they eat it or get it into their eyes.

 

[helen105281]

You mention adding hay for sweetness, can I just check that you are giving them hay anyway? as it is the main part of their diet.

I find daily poo picking and removal of any wet hay of bedding helps limit smell.

 

[Exxiilem]

Yes of course, I would never leave my little girls without hay. But perhaps adding it in with their bedding might help as well?

Someone asked my as to what bedding I was using, and I use the 'Critter Care Natural Pet Bedding.' Perhaps a dusting of pine shavings (Kiln-dried) would help?

These are the stains I had mentioned as well.

 

[Hermes]

DIs it a Midwest habitat cage? If so I think the base is removable and can be put through the washing machine on a cool wash which might help. Then using puppy pads to line it and an absorbent substrate on top of that (finacard, Fitch etc.) with hay for them to rummage through will all help reduce smell.

ETA. Just realise you're from the US, I'm not sure what beddings are available there, fleece liners (fleece with an absorbent layer below) may be another option.

 

[Exxiilem]

I believe that may an off brand like Midwest, but there is Velcro to where you can remove the cage's bottom. With that being said, I can then use their cage as a play pen while I slave away giving them a good clean liner!

I am upgrading them to a C&C, hopefully. Just have to wait on a nice little burst of extra change.