In the middle of the week the Midwest cage retrofit from Kritter
Koncepts(Ferret Nook) arrived.  I didn't get to setting it up until
Saturday evening.
 
The kit arrived with 2 balconices and ramps, one for each floor, and a
floor with a trap door.  The trap door locks allowing it to be a divider
between levels or an open door for access to the whole cage.  Everything
was 1/4 inch vinyl coated hardware cloth.  Edges were crimped and covered
with plastic.  The kit came with metals rings to attach it to the Midwest
cage.  I decided to go with ziploc ties instead.  If I don't like the set
up, or I need to take the cage down and move it, I just clip the ties and
remove the floors and balconies.
 
I took pictures fo the kit parts and the cage as I added each part.  I'll
see how well they turned out.  I'll try to post a link with a picture of
the finished cage.
 
I set up the cage and decided to secure all the corners of the cage with
ziploc ties also to close up any gaps.
 
I made another change to Onyx cage.  I decided to remove the plastic tray.
It is too difficult to clean and vacuum on the second floor of the house.
I had Dan find and cut one of the rolls of linoleum we had in the
basement.  He rolled it out over the carpet and cut it a foot wider than
the cage all around.  Now I can vacuum the floor up, bring the steam
cleaner up stairs and clean the floor in five minutes.  Minimize the
impact of the spillage from the cage.
 
I did a minimal set up for Onyx.  I put a locking crock dish and water
bottle on the second floor.  I found a standard sized cat litter box that
had been cut down for ferret kits.  I hung a hammock, put down a sleep
sack and several on his toys all on the second floor.
 
ON the first floor, I put a large corner litter box.  We've been using
the small ones.  I added some baby blankets and sweat pants and several
more toys.
 
We put Onyx back in his cage, which no longer smelled right and was laid
out differently It took him an hour to figure out how to get from the
second floor to the first floor.  He didn't stay upset for long.
Anything that wasn't totally disgusting, I didn't wash and left in the
cage.  With the second floor I did put in a lot of new bedding.
 
I moved his ferret boat and plastic two story cat house to another corner
of the room and put some toys into each of them.
 
I didn't pay too badly for doing all this week.  A lot of pain that was
managed with some ibiprofen.  (With the fibromyalgia I usually reach for
one or two Tylenol 3s for pain managment.)
 
We've decided to order Midwest retro cage fits for the rest of our Midwest
cages.  I have 3 group cages that would benefit immediately from these
kits with increased room.  My other cages are split in half, but would
gain more floor space from the balconies.
 
KG
[Posted in FML issue 3823]