Smelly odors and hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice and gerbils

When it comes to your little critter's cage, controlling odor is nothing to sniff at. You may have heard terrifying tales of just how stinky companion rodents really are, but we're betting those rumors were started by disgruntled, less-than-fastidious caretakers. If you use proper bedding in your pet's cage and keep to a regular cleaning schedule, you're sure to meet with the sweet smell of success.

Recognizing pet odors

To begin with, though, we will make one small concession. To the untrained nose, mice and rats (the males in particular) have a unique odor that some people may find unpleasant. Hamsters, too, secrete a slight musk from their hip glands when marking territory. If smell is a real issue for you, your best bet may be a gerbil. Of all companion rodents, these guys have the least noticeable odor.

Change bedding often

The key to odor control is to use an effective, absorbent bedding and change it often. To be effective, bedding should keep your pet warm and dry, while absorbing waste materials. But it must also be safe, dust-free and non-toxic. Aspen shavings, hay, straw, and the many varieties of pelleted beddings available at pet supply stores are all safe options, though they may provide varying levels of effectiveness when it comes to odor control.

Some of the commercial beddings are specifically formulated to absorb and reduce odor. You will simply need to figure out what works best for you and your little guys.

When bedding is not changed frequently enough, it will become moist and dirty with waste. The resulting ammonia odor will begin to irritate your nose. Unfortunately, it will also irritate your pets, too. The harsh fumes can affect an animal's mucous membranes and aggravate chronic respiratory conditions.

Keep it clean

To be a good housekeeper, you'll need to remove soiled bedding, droppings and uneaten food every day. Once weekly, remove and replace the bedding and scrub the bottom of the cage with hot, soapy water. Rinse away any soapy residue, and be sure everything's dry before refilling with bedding material. If you have more than one rodent, however, you will probably need to replace the bedding more frequently.

If you're really serious about fighting odor, you'll want to check out your pet supply store. There are a variety of products available to safely eliminate odors in your furry friends' cage. Some owners find that the "room deodorizer" types that hang in the cage work best, while others prefer the odor-absorbing formulas that are simply added right in with the bedding. You may come across products that contain cedar and pine, but take care to avoid them. Both cedar and pine contain volatile phenols and acids that can irritate an animal's respiratory tract and cause liver damage.