It would be quite a feat to cut another door in that labyrinth house! Also then it wouldn't be dark inside and he'd lose one of the compartments. Although I guess it would work if it was at the end underneath the top hole as that compartment isn't dark anyway and just an access point. But then he could just use the hole on top which is at the back end anyway. I think he'll just have to make do! He's a real digger anyway so would probably still dig under the house even if there was a door!
Although it's a good point - he also used to dig under the shoebox house. Possibly for the same reason - because there was only a door at one side. I'll think about that.
I have never had a hamster I thought needed bigger than 100cm cage before. Newt was just as active but sometimes a bit wary of the space in his cage (he needed lots of overhead cover). That was the Barney, which is a bit bigger - deeper - it makes a difference - the extra 2" of floor space. It doesn't sound much, 2" - but that 2" extra depth was the whole 100cm width of the cage. Made a very big difference to the amount of floor area.
That cage would have been ideal for Raffy! Although still might not have been big enough - who knows.
The annoying thing is - I toyed between getting another Plaza, or getting the Ritz cage instead. The Ritz cage had the bigger floor area, like the Barney - but didn't have the nice big front door. As it happens Raffy would be better with smaller doors - he literally tries to get out as soon as you open the door! It's a bit of a hazard! Small doors are no good for shy hamsters, but more protection for hamsters who like to hurl themselves out of the cage!
I remember with Newt the first time I put him back in the Barney after out of cage time. I lowered him in through the top door and he shot straight out of the small front door again and landed on the carpet! (I hadn't thought to shut the front door and it happened so fast!).
I hadn't thought about what kind of bigger cage - the thought just popped into my head and came out on here
. I wouldn't fance the idea of meshing a cage somehow. There aren't any 120cm hamster cages since German Amazon stopped shipping the Borneo. Which was very tall as well so awkward to set up.
Something else to think about. I also prefer barred cages - maybe he'll be fine with just plenty of out of cage space. Or I could get the Ritz. Not much of an upgrade but.... I am really regretting selling the Barney! But who knew we would have pandemic and they would disappear from sale.
The Ritz is the next best thing. But it doesn't have the big door on top like the Barney. So for taking big things in and out of the cage it would mean taking the bars off each time. Not keen on that idea. It's also lower than the Plaza - only 39cm tall. So the 31cm wheel wouldn't fit in properly anyway. That bit extra height in the plaza has given me more scope for enrichment. Ok so 4cm deeper isn't quite 2"
Ritz Large Rat and Hamster Cage with Shelf - Black or Grey - Little Pet Warehouse