What should I do?

Put up with annoying NIC cage. (2)

40%

Figure out a way to stabilize the x-pen. (3)

60%

I have this x-pen:

I really like it because it's so easy to assemble (I just tried modifying my NIC cage and it turned into a huge, frustrating mess in a matter of minutes. I had to completely tear the thing down and put Bayou in the x-pen until I calm down. ) Anyway, it's easy to assemble but it's not big enough. So I'm going to buy another one because you can put them together to add more space. BUT, the reason I built an NIC cage was because of another problem I have with the pen. Bayou grabs the bars and then pushes the pen all over the place.

Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but he'll push the pen off the plastic mat I have him on and onto the carpet which becomes his dinner.

Long story short, I love this x-pen and want to expand it, but I need a way to stabilize it so he can't move it onto the carpet.

Any ideas? I'm sorry if this is confusing.

I got the other pen today. Right now it looks a little ghetto because it's a white cage with black NIC grids zip tied to it with hot pink zip ties, but once I get some money I'll get white grids and white zip ties. Now I can just open the door and not worry about the whole cage collapsing! I'm a little dissapointed the NIC thing didn't work out, because I've seen some AMAZING ones, but I'm just not that handy. I may give it another go in the future, but for right now this works.

If anyone else happens to have an idea on how to stabilize it without the grids, I'm still willing to try different things.

Posted By i~luv~frappichino on 11/28/2009 12:06 PM
what does nic mean?

NIC stands for Neat Idea Cubes which is a brand.  They're called other names too but most people refer to them as NIC.  Anyway, they are a grid squares that you can put togther to build shelving (see below).  Bunny and Guinea pig people use them for building condos.  They're so pictures in the Cool Habitats section under the BUNNY INFO tab at top of the page. 

Jessyka - you could put together a wooden frame for the floor that the pen sits inside.  I also though maybe wrapping the plastic mat you use up around the outside of the base and securing it might help stablize it.  It'll also keep the hay inside the pen.  The reinforcing with the grid squares seems the simplest way to go though!

I use dowels ziptied to my NIC pen to keep the side straight- as Cotton will push the pen out.  so dowels at the top help keep the side straight and they cannot reach them to chew on them.  You would use a NIC cube at the corner- zip tie it in on top as a corner piece- that does not allow the corner to move.  And then try to use other things like the litterbox, play house, etc to keep the walls in place.