a method and apparatus that detects a condition of a cage for housing laboratory animals includes providing an animal cage including a base part and a top and cage means for automatically detecting at leats one of at least one bedding condition corresponding to a humidity level or an occurring flooding condition . at least one of the resistance or the impedance of material between said pair of electrodes is determined using one of direct current or alternating current . at least one of the bedding condition or the flooding condition is measured based on a rate of oen or more changes of one of a resistance or an impedance of said material between said electrodes .