public function getCages($query, cageQueryParams $params)
    {

       $q = $this->createQuery('c')
                ->leftJoin('c.Strain s')
                ->leftJoin('c.MouseCage m')
                ->where('m.dateout IS NULL');

       if($params->strainid) {
            $q->addWhere('c.strain_id = ?', $params->strainid);
       }

       if($params->projectlicenceid) {
            $q->addWhere('c.project_licence_id = ?', $params->projectlicenceid);
       }

       //lots more ifs here

       $q->andWhere('c.is_active = ?', '1')
         ->addOrderBy('c.number DESC')
         ->limit(10);

        return $q->execute();
    }