For the average person a power outage is an annoyance at best, but for hedgehog owners it can be a life or death situation if you don’t react quickly. A hedgehog cage needs to be kept around 75 degrees Fahrenheit and if this temperature drops drastically it can cause hibernation attempts or worse. There are some easy things you can do to prepare for a power outage ahead of time to prevent your hedgehog or any other small pets from getting too cold. I also have some DIY tips and tricks for unexpected cold snaps as well!
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First things to do when the power goes out
The first thing you should do is place a heavy blanket or towel over the cage to trap in any residual heat from the heat lamps. If you have spare fleece or extra bedding you can also add this inside to help your hedgehog stay warm. Make sure to unplug any heat lamps until the power comes back on, this will prevent any accidental burns or fire risk from the blanket encasing the cage.
If the cage is still too cold consider moving your hedgehog to a smaller plastic bin and cover with a towel or blanket. The smaller area will be much easier to heat up.
Keep your hedgehog warm with handwarmers!
If you have handwarmers you can nestle these in the cage with your hog to keep them cozy. I have some ratty socks that I save for this purpose so I can put the activated handwarmer inside and then the hedgehog can’t chew directly on the handwarmer. Check the cage every once in a while to ensure your hedgehog isn’t trying to chew into these.
I recommend buying a big pack of handwarmers to keep on hand in case of emergency. These tend to go on sale at the end of winter at most box stores, or you can grab a big box online.
Use DIY hot water bottles for your hedgehog
Your hot water heater will actually stay warm for hours after the power shuts off! Fill empty soda bottles with hot water and place them inside the hedgehog’s cage. If your hedgehog has a sleeping hut you can surround the hut with bottles to keep the hog toasty while it is inside. Keep a blanket or towel on top of the cage and this will also help trap heat from the bottles.
If all else fails, cuddle up with your hedgehog!
If you are unable to keep your hedgehog warm using the above methods it’s time to snuggle up! Direct skin contact is best, but if your hog is not tame or in a foul mood you can bundle them in some fleece and tuck that inside your shirt. If the power is going to be out for quite a while I recommend wrapping them in a towel anyway to prepare for “bathroom breaks”.
Be sure to also quickly swap out any damp bedding as this can also contribute to lower temps.
How to prepare for future power outages with a hedgehog
If you know that power outages are likely in your area one of the best things you can buy to prepare ahead of time is a Snuggle Safe heating pad. In my area of Oregon we have power outages a few times almost every winter so I bought a Snuggle safe to include in my hog’s nighttime routine. These retain heat for up to 10 hours so they’re a great back up to have in case a heating bulb burns out or if there is a power outage.
All you have to do is pop it in the microwave for 4-6 minutes depending on the wattage of your microwave and place it inside the washable cover. This is also the perfect size to fit inside a large plastic igloo so I place it in there where I know my hedgehog will go to sleep.
It will keep them extra toasty + it’s insurance against any power failures since it will stay warm for 10+ hours regardless of whether the power is on or not. These are also fantastic for long car rides to the vet or if you have to move your pet to a new location by car.
As I said above, disposable hand warmers are one of the fastest and most effective ways to keep your hedgehog warm beyond stuffing your pet down your shirt which can be an uncomfortable situation if you’re dealing with the power being out for multiple hours.
It’s stressful enough dealing with a power outage without having to run to the store to try to track down supplies last minute so be sure to buy a pack of hand warmers just in case. They are shelf stable and if it’s chilly enough the humans in the house may appreciate having them on hand as well!
