A bird cage mat is an essential item for all parrots to stand on. The natural wood base of the birdcage offers a pleasant surface to place your pet when it comes in and out of the cage and provides insulation against cold and heat from the floor beneath it. This can be especially beneficial in homes where floors are not heated or cooled throughout the year, which means that during hot summer days, your parrot will remain cool and shaded by his perch while enjoying life outside its cage. The mat will offer warmth and comfort for wintery weather, keeping them safe from draughts or wet ground below. Unfortunately, however, there are a lot of shoddy bird cage mats out there which offer little advantage for your birds and can even pose a danger to them. If you want to be sure that you’re buying a good product, here are some tips on how to go about it:
The first thing you should consider is the material that the padding is made from. You should opt for natural wool or cotton instead of synthetic materials like plastic and rubber. This is because parrots tend to keep much cleaner than other animals like dogs and cats, which means they will not require as extensive an area to relieve themselves. However, if they do need the mat as an alternative toilet, any remaining residue left will still contain potential allergens, rendering it unsuitable for use. Many types of shoddy mats are made with cheap plastic or rubber that is uncomfortable to the bird and contains potentially harmful toxins. This means you will need to pay more attention to cleaning your mat regularly and thoroughly to avoid contamination between birds sharing the same cage. Also, these materials do not breathe as well as wool or cotton, leaving your furry friend exposed to soggy humidity in cold weather and hot, stagnant air on warm days.
Another important thing you should pay attention to is the size of the mat itself. A too-small surface can put unnecessary pressure on your legs and feet after an extended period – particularly if your pet spends all day out of the cage. However, when the mat is too large, it can be difficult to keep clean and introduce pathogens into your parrot’s environment. It also provides unnecessary room for eliminating waste, which may pose a risk if they are not cleaned regularly enough.
The size of the perch that you buy should also match up with what you have at home. A good way to measure this is by finding out the length of the cage from inside one end to another, then adding between fifteen and twenty percent on top of that number for your pet’s safety.
In conclusion, it’s very important to find the right balance between all these factors to best care for your bird. A shoddy mat can pose a hazard to your feline friend, which means you should always strive to buy the highest quality product that will protect them from any potential harm.