Securing Cage Door

[AprilPearl]

Mushu's current cage is the large pets at home wire cage. His new cage is the Alaska, but is still in transit.

Both these cages have the same kind of door. You can see it here on the Alaska:

Alaska Hamster Cage | Free P&P on orders £29+ at zooplus!

The door is on the wire section and opens outwards.

Now, my first hamster had a cage with the same kind of door, which he quickly learnt how to push open. After his first (and last!) escape, I took to securing the cage door by twisting paper clips around either side.

I am ashamed to say that I have done this ever since with all the hamsters I have owned. I've never had any other escapes and all my hamsters have lived 2 years or more, so hopefully it did not hurt them. But, today I read that paperclips can contain zinc and zinc toxicity can hurt hamsters.

My question is: what does everyone else use to prevent their hamsters from pushing open doors such as this?

[cypher]

I've never had a problem with the door on the alaska, with other cages where I wasn't 100% convinced they couldn't be opened I used bull dog clips.

[AprilPearl]

Thank you Cypher. I did consider bulldog clips, but apparently they are made of galvanised steel (and therefore covered with zinc) just like paper clips. Do you think I might have just been worrying too much?

[Drago]

Hamsters can be quite the little Houdinis! Yes, you should avoid zinc if possible, but I wouldn't worry over it too much in all honesty. Paper clips don't help much in my experience, instead, you can use the metal bottle holders that come with some water bottles. These are safe and hold doors shut well

https://www.amazon.com/LIXIT-GLASS-W.../dp/B001B1ZXZY

(Here's an example of what I mean)

[AprilPearl]

That helps Drago, thanks. Excuse my ignorance, but how do I use this on the door?

[Drago]

Not at all ignorance! I was quite confused when I first heard of this method

See the clips on either end of the little chain holder (not actually chain)? You clip one end onto the door, and then pull the other end as far as possible up and clip it to the bars somewhere on the cage. Then, when he attempts to open the door, the spring like bottle holder pulls back against it. I'm not home currently, but when I get back I can take some photos which explain the process if you need them

[AprilPearl]

Thank you Drago!! I think that makes sense, but photos would be fab too if that isn’t too much trouble

[chesca_27]

I think Drago means using the spring from this to clip the cage together. Basically, you put one clip onto the bars of the door and pull the spring tight and clip to the cage bars, so that the spring holds it shut if Mushu tries to open the door. The spring may end up reaching the roof of the cage, which is fine.

I hope that makes sense.

[AprilPearl]

Thank you. That looks like a good idea. So, I’d use the cage attachment for the bottle to clip around the door and onto the cage wire?

[flowerfairy]

I have the alaska cage and find the front door to be perfectly secure.