Choosing Safe and Engaging Toys

Enrichment is not a luxury, it’s a crucial part of hedgehog care that supports both mental and physical wellbeing. In captivity, hedgehogs rely on their environment to satisfy natural instincts like foraging, exploring, and problem-solving. Toys play a central role in this stimulation, helping to prevent boredom, reduce stress, and promote healthier behavior.

But not all toys are created equal. Some can be dangerous, others may bore your hedgehog quickly. In this lesson, we’ll look at what makes a toy both safe and effective, how to introduce new toys, and how to build a rotation system that keeps your hedgehog mentally sharp.

Why Enrichment Matters

Hedgehogs in the wild travel up to 3 kilometers a night, sniffing, digging, and hunting. In a confined space, that natural drive doesn’t disappear, it needs to be redirected. Without enrichment, hedgehogs often develop stress-related behaviors such as:

• Repetitive pacing
• Overgrooming
• Biting the bars of their enclosure
• Overeating or inactivity

A variety of sensory, cognitive and physical toys can greatly reduce the risk of these issues, but they need to be chosen with care.

Toy Types That Work Well

Hedgehogs tend to enjoy toys that appeal to scent, texture, and movement. While every individual has preferences, some reliable categories include:

• Tunnels & Hideouts
  Cardboard tubes (wide enough to prevent trapping), fabric tunnels, and PVC pipes let hedgehogs explore and retreat. Avoid tight spaces or ones with sharp edges.
• Snuffle Mats & Foraging Toys
  Encourage natural foraging by hiding insects or treats in fleece strips or soft foraging toys. These mimic natural searching behaviors and keep the mind active.
• Balls (With Caution)
  Small, smooth plastic balls without holes can sometimes be nudged or pushed. Avoid balls with holes or bells inside, as claws or teeth can get stuck.
• Chew and Shred Toys
  While hedgehogs don’t chew like rodents, they may shred soft materials for nesting. Paper balls, clean cardboard scraps or coconut fiber make great additions.
• Interactive Puzzles
  Pet puzzles designed for cats or small dogs can also work for hedgehogs if modified for their size and mobility. Simple food puzzles can be both entertaining and rewarding.

Toys and Materials to Avoid

Safety is critical when selecting toys. Avoid:

• Wheelswith crossbars or mesh surfaces: These can cause foot or toe injuries.
• Rubber or foam items: Risk of ingestion and intestinal blockage.
• Cat toys with feathers, bells or strings: Can be swallowed or wrapped around limbs.
• Toys with small holes: Hedgehogs may get their head or legs stuck.

If you’re unsure whether a toy is safe, err on the side of caution and observe your hedgehog carefully the first time it’s introduced.

Keep Things Interesting: Rotate Toys Weekly

Just like humans, hedgehogs get bored of the same stimuli. To keep interest high:

• Use a toy rotation system: Have 3–4 sets of different toys and switch them out weekly.
• Introduce new items slowly: Place the toy near their nest first so they can investigate at their own pace.
• Use scent-based surprises: Rotate foraging toys with new scents (a piece of worn clothing, herbs like mint, chamomile or basil).

You don’t need dozens of toys, just a thoughtful routine that provides variety.

DIY Toys: Budget-Friendly Options

• Toilet paper tubes (cut lengthwise to prevent trapping)
• Small cardboard boxes with holes for exploring
• Old T-shirts or fleece strips for nesting and dragging
• Paper crinkle tunnels from safe packing material
• Digging box: a plastic container large enough to a hedgehog to dig in, filled with loose substrate or fleece strips and treats inside

Just ensure all materials are clean, unscented, and free of glue, staples or toxic ink.

Summary

Toys aren’t just fun, they’re vital for your hedgehog’s quality of life. Choose safe materials, vary the type of play (foraging, exploring, nesting), and build in routine changes to prevent boredom. With a small selection of thoughtfully chosen toys, you can help your hedgehog stay happy, active and behaviorally healthy.

Sources

Reeve, N. (1994). Hedgehogs. Poyser Natural History.

Roggen, S. (2022). The Complete Guide to African Pygmy Hedgehogs. Hedgehog Welfare Publications.

Hedgehog Welfare Society. (2021). Enrichment & Toys for Hedgehogs.

Exotic Animal Training and Enrichment Group (EATEG). Sensory and Environmental Enrichment for Small Mammals.

Dierenkliniek Wilhelminapark. (NL) Gedrag en verrijking bij egels in gevangenschap.