Each hedgie has a different preference when it comes to toys. Some will play with anything, some have certain things they like & others they don't, and some want nothing to do with any toys whatsoever. Start out small and don't waste money on buying expensive versions of toys if there is a similar toy that is suitable and costs less, because your hedgie may not want anything to do with it. You have to just try different things and see which toys are a hit and which aren't.

- Tubes:

• toilet paper tubes (cut up the side lengthwise, then the corners cut off to be sure hedgie won't get hurt or stuck
  
• craft foam tubes made by taking a piece of craft foam and gluing sides together.

• pieces of PVC pipe (4 inches in diameter) to crawl through. Some people like to line these with fleece.

- Cat balls: should be solid, not the ones with giant holes and rough edges that the hedgie can get a jaw stuck in or cut its tongue

- Ping pong balls

- Plastic toy cars -- be sure the wheels won't come off easily

- Small plastic dump truck

- Beanie baby animal -- nothing with loose strings

-Dig box -- a little area set up with a material to burrow in; fleece cut into strips works well for this; soil/sand is not recommended for sanitary reasons

Catnip note:

A lot of people like to use cat toys that have catnip in them. Most people say that the catnip doesn't have the same effect on hedgies that it does on cats. In general, there don't seem to be any problems resulting from use. However, there are no proven reports that catnip is completely safe for a hedgie. If you have any doubts, it could be better to err on the side of caution.

Hamster/Guinea pig exercise balls: In general, these should not be used. They have little holes that hedgehog feet easily slip through, which can result in broken toes and ripped out toenails. They also have almost no ventilation, so if the hedgie poops or pees in there, they're surrounded by the smell. Any hedgehog owner will tell you that fresh poop has a strong smell when in open air--just think what that's like when it's totally surrounding the hedgie with no escape! If you absolutely are set on using one of these, do not use it for more than 20-30 minutes at a time and if you notice any poop in there immediately open it up and clean it. I do NOT recommend using these, though.