On the hunt for cage liners!

Subsonica · Jan 16, 2012

Hey all! I'm wanting to get some cage liners for my C&C cage, but I'm struggling to find what I'm after. I've already emailed some people with questions in the past, but I'm particular about what I want.

I have a 2x5 lower level and 1x5 upper level (so reaching under it can be backbreaking), though part of that is the hay loft, and I also use connectors etc so would have to get exact measurements for both levels. I also have parts of the connectors cut out so that the correx sits snug against the grids, so I'm not really wanting liners that go up and over the sides. I'm after ones that just lie flat, like my current fleece setup does.

Another thing I've come across in the answers I've been getting back is that the fleece used isn't prepared in any way before sewing, but I've been told that the liners would be ready to use; I don't really get this since fleece normally needs to be washed a few times first to get it to wick. I'd also like to know what absorbent material is being used and the thickness etc.

I've thought about making my own, but I just don't have the time really, so can anyone suggest somewhere/someone reputable please?

Raven · Jan 16, 2012

Have you tried Pollie at Cavy Cosies?
http://www.cavycozies.com/apps/webstore/

She will make cage liners to measure.

Subsonica · Jan 16, 2012

Excellent thank you! I will have to contact her, seems to be pretty much what I am looking for.

sarahw · Jan 16, 2012

or lorraine
shes on here search for 4piggiepigs
shes currently doing an order for me, hers look lovely and she comes highly recommended

Subsonica · Jan 16, 2012

Thanks, but I'm pretty sure that she was one of the people I contacted. Unfortunately she isn't comfortable making them without the sides on them, which is a shame because all the pics I see of her liners look great.

threelittlepigs · Jan 16, 2012

Subsonica said:
Another thing I've come across in the answers I've been getting back is that the fleece used isn't prepared in any way before sewing, but I've been told that the liners would be ready to use; I don't really get this since fleece normally needs to be washed a few times first to get it to wick. I'd also like to know what absorbent material is being used and the thickness etc.

I've thought about making my own, but I just don't have the time really, so can anyone suggest somewhere/someone reputable please?

I run www.cavycozies.com I would say that fleece is like tea towels. Tea towels are not as absorbent during their first use. This is the same for fleece. It will still absorb the first time you use it: wee will not puddle on top of it, but it will become more absorbent the more you wash it.

I make my cage liners with fleece on both sides: like a mini mattress! Like a mattress the cage liner can be turned and used on its reverse. I line mine with 4oz wadding. They are designed to have newspapers underneath them to be the ultimate absorbent layer before the wee hits the bottom of the cage. Some people back their fleece with mattress protectors. This is OK, but mattress protectors are really just a very thin layer of wadding covered by a very thin layer of cotton. They have no proper absorbent capacities.

I have toyed in the past with using incontinence pads, but they are very heavy and therefore difficult to sew, expensive to buy and expensive to post.

4piggiepigs · Jan 16, 2012

You have mailed me i would be happy to make you a 1x5 if you send me your measurements and you can test it for me it will be pot luck on fleece as its a tester but no charge of course as i am unsure they will work as well but no harm in giving it a go, it may be something i can offer given the right feed back.

Threelittlepigs is correct toppers do not absob anything, my liners have a 100%cotton layer on top then a thin layer of wadding then a water resistant backing,

Urine is wicked away through the fleece and soaks in to the cotton layer which spreads it out and down into the wadding which is airy and filled with pockets of air the urine spreads through this and eventually dries the water resistant backing stops it going on your tray and keeps it inside til it dries

I believe towels smell because they never dry and just get re used over and over.

I dont wash the fleece as it takes more time and costs more money to do given that i currently have 13 liners plus toys on the go! (roughly 30metres of fleece just in liners)

Subsonica · Jan 17, 2012

Thank you both for your replies.

I've been using fleece on 2 layers of towels for a few months now, and to be honest it's got to the point that we only have to clean the cage out every 1 - 1 1/2 weeks, as they do most (though not all) of their business in the sectioned off hay area, which gets changed every couple of days.

What I've been doing is having the fleece and towels flat on the bottom, tucking the fleece under the towels to secure it, which works well for me, then I just have a single layer of towel with fleece over it on the upper level where they eat, though I do manage to tuck this over the sides because the correx up there has a bit more flexibility due to the opening. All this is back-breaking though, which is why I'm after something I can just slot in there. Theres some good pictures of my cage so you can see what I mean here: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1147986#post1147986

4piggiepigs, I would be happy for you to use me as a guinea pig (hehe), I'll get the cage measured properly when I get back from work tonight so that you can send me a quote etc.