Cleaning/deterring urine

[Spanky]

I think that is a wonderful cage and set up you have for her!

Usually mine just pee through the cage bars... so the cages are placed on plastic that is easy to clean.

I wish some company should make a cage as substantial as a Critter Nation cage but with the small access doors (in addition to the large doors?) and drop through pans as you have devised... I prefer flight cages for my releasable squirrel because of the small doors and drop through, but they do not last long (and require modification, at least in my reality...).

[Templeton]

I wish some company should make a cage as substantial as a Critter Nation cage but with the small access doors (in addition to the large doors?) and drop through pans as you have devised... I prefer flight cages for my releasable squirrel because of the small doors and drop through, but they do not last long (and require modification, at least in my reality...).

I plan on modifying the Critter Nation to have a small portal once we near time for releasing. My plan is to remove some of the bars toward the bottom of the cage in order to make a hole small enough for her to get in (but too small for predators) and finish off the dangerous edges with a safe fitting. My initial thought was to use a 90° angled pipe that would fit through the opening at the bottom of the cage, which I could cap off at night.

Loosely, something like this:

[TubeDriver]

You should put the portal up high on the cage. Also consider adding hardware cloth to armor up the release cage against raccoons. Here is what my Critter Nation release cage portal looks like. I use a 2" hole, which even an adult can squeeze through but too small for small cat or raccoon.

I plan on modifying the Critter Nation to have a small portal once we near time for releasing. My plan is to remove some of the bars toward the bottom of the cage in order to make a hole small enough for her to get in (but too small for predators) and finish off the dangerous edges with a safe fitting. My initial thought was to use a 90° angled pipe that would fit through the opening at the bottom of the cage, which I could cap off at night.

Loosely, something like this:

[Templeton]

Oh wow that looks great! I’d read a few people say that the portal was down low. What are the pros/cons of each?

[TubeDriver]

Thanks. I can't see any pros to a low position portal. Harder to reach for you, closer to the ground makes it easier for cats and other predators to discover (cats can squeeze into EXTREMELY small holes, basically the limit is the skull size of the cat).

A high positioned portal is safer since entering/exiting squirrels are farther away from the ground, and also it is more similar to what they will be doing out in the wild (entering/exiting dreys that are up very high).

Oh wow that looks great! I’d read a few people say that the portal was down low. What are the pros/cons of each?

[stepnstone]

TD, you nailed it on both accounts!
Critter Nation cages are not safe for use outside unless modified as you have done with hardware cloth.
~Nice job btw~

Portals should always be up high for safety and what is natural to a squirrel.
A squirrels ability to jump is one of it's most effective maneuvers to escape a predator.