You have to put them on while building the cage so yes they can be left off if you don't want them. The huge used play stand I found for Dobby has them and it was very hard to figure out how they mounted, plus the thing is HUGE already so once I knew how they go together and mount I left them off. His actual cage I left them on to help a bit with the mess but it's in a corner where nobody gets to run into them or waste space.