Hello

[Mikehedge]

I sm about to own my first Hedgehog. I am getting from Millermeade Farm about 2.5 hours away from me in Ohio. What is better for a hedgehog: hedgehog food or very good cat food? What do i have to look out in food? Can hedgehogs be litter trained and how? Thanks you all that answer my question. :ring:

[hemi_mygirl]

Feed your hedgie very good catfood. Do a search for it, but some of the best is Royal Canin Light 37, Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul, and some others I just can't remember. Look out for high fat content (anything over 15% - that's bad) and make sure the food you get is high in protein (30%+). Laura (PrettyHate) is a much better authority on food than I am.

Yes, hedgehogs can be litter trained. Just leave a litter box (I made one out of coroplast) under their wheel. Make sure it sticks out about 6 inches, and they should use it most of the time. The trick is putting it wherever they do most of their "business", which is usually on the wheel. My girl litter trained herself. All I had to do was provide a litter box with Yesterdays New in it, and that's where she went. That reminds me... don't use clumping cat litter, because it can get stuck in certain areas and is not safe to ingest. Also, avoid corn cob litter. The best is Yesterdays New (available in any petstore, pretty much, and absorbs odors well), paper towel (have fun with this, my girl loves it and will shred it to bring into her bag.) or shredded newspaper.

Have fun with your new hedgehog... they're a joy, and you'll definately want more than one.

[Tsukiko]

My girl litter trained herself as well. Her litter pan is under the wheel and it sticks out about two inches. She always uses it, even to pee in, except when she's mad at me in which case she poops right in front of it :dunno:

[Kerrie]

Hi Mike and welcome to the forum. :)
You may be able to find just about everything you are looking for in our "Frequently asked Questions" section.
http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41396
Have fun here, and posting pics is a must!:winkgrin:

[HedgeMom]

Gail Dick sells food. Ask her what she's feeding and then buy enough to last you til you can order more from her. She's knowledgable enough that her food suggestions can be followed.

[Mikehedge]

Thanks you alot. I love them that I do want to have more then one but I can't.

[Sylverwynde]

I sm about to own my first Hedgehog. I am getting from Millermeade Farm about 2.5 hours away from me in Ohio. What is better for a hedgehog: hedgehog food or very good cat food? What do i have to look out in food?

Congrats on being about to get a hedgehog! I hope you come to love him as much as I've come to love my little Sheridan.

As to food, I am about to start feeding a mix of cat food and hedgie food (more on that in the appropraite section), since my vet suggested the hedgie food would be better for him than the cat food. If you feed your hedgie cat food, just be sure it has low fat, less than 10% if I recall correctly.

Good luck!

[cecelia117]

I got my hedgie from their and just love her. I use a mix of hedgehog food Spike's delight that I got from her, and also cat food Chicken Soup for the Cat Lovers Soul Light. Also you get a discount on the Spike's Delight if you use Gail's name. Good luck with your new hedgehog!

[ebengston]

Congrads on your hedgie. I found a website that has many foods listed. The site includes: ingredients and nutritional analysis. Go to:
http://www.petfooddirect.com/store
Click on shop by brand in the upper lft corner. This will take you to a list of every food they stock. When you click on a food brand, each formula they carry for that food comes up. You can view each one from there and do a comparison of the foods for the best ones for your hedgie.
Here is another site and this one has most of the hedgie foods that are available. Again, ingredients and nutritional analysis too:
http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/comemeetmyfamily/hhcare7A.html