I've not noticed my Superpet cages (plastic) smelling! Not even our donated plastic-based cages, of which we have many. Or our Martin's bases, which are plastic. In fact, I don't think I own a cage that doesn't have plastic, except the All Living Things cages with metal bases! Even the FN pans are plastic.it's plastic, and plastic soaks up urine and scent like anything. After a while it'd smell awful!