A Guide to Finding the Best Guinea Pig Cages

If you want to ensure that your beloved guinea pig is happy and healthy, choosing the best guinea pig cages for her is very important, since she’ll be spending most of her life inside the cage. The guinea pig cage would be her home and place where she’s going to spend most of her time in. That in mind, here are some of the most important factors that you should pay attention to when choosing the best cage for guinea pigs.

Size
Have you ever seen a bunch of guinea pigs occupying deluxe cages, or the whole room? Although this may sound too extreme, something like this is possible. Besides, when it’s about guinea pig cages, there’s a rule that the bigger the cage is, the better it will be. Here are some of the reasons why:
– Guinea pigs need a place where they’ll have ample room to play. Since they used to live in the wild, these creatures love to roam and run around. They need a cage spacious enough that will allow them to do full-tilt laps.
– Overweight guinea pigs are vulnerable to a wide range of health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory problems, and bladder infections. A bigger space will give them enough room to exercise.
– There should be enough area to hold other supplies your pet needs, such as the toys, food, and things that they can chew on.
– Guinea pigs are social animals. They live in pairs, and some of them even live in groups. Their lifespan is quite long; some could even live for as long as 8 years. That’s why, if you only own one, you should consider adopting another so they’ll have company as they age. For those who would rather have just one pet, a large cage is still ideal, because this will come in handy once she grows bigger.
– Guinea pigs love clean homes, and that’s why it’s very important to have their cage cleaned at least once, and if possible, twice a week or even every day. Bigger cages are easier to clean than smaller ones.

The standard cage size universally accepted should be at least 7.5 sq.ft for a single or pair of guinea pigs. If you have several, 10.5 sq.ft would be ideal for 3 cavies, while 13 sq.ft for 4. For male guineas, you probably have to adjust this minimum a little higher.

Materials
Guinea pigs belong in the rodent family, which only implies that their teeth would continue to grow. Thus, they would always have the habit of chewing on things they see, even their home. That’s the reason why you should stay away from guinea pig hutches in wood as much as possible. We do not recommend glass cages too, since they don’t offer enough ventilation and this could limit your pet’s sense of smell, vision, and hearing. Other materials, such as wire, plastic, stainless steel, or a combination of both are safer and better.

Floor
Cavies love to run inside the cage every time they can, and it’s ideal for the cage to have a solid bottom. Wire mesh should never be used because this would just hurt the sensitive feet of your pet, and could even result in a condition known as Bumblefoot. Adding plastic may be quite helpful, but we do suggest that you should choose something else that would keep your piggy’s little feet away from the gaps.

Other cage features to consider:
– If you want to keep your guinea pig in and other animals out, choose a cage that has a large door or lid. This would also give you the quick access needed, in case of emergencies, such as seizure or fights. It’s important to be able to take them out as quickly as you can.
– A hide area is important. This can help in reducing stress and giving your pet a quiet and safe place to stay in.
– For drinking purposes, opt for a water bottle with a metal tube, instead of a water bowl.
– Although ramps and tunnels look nice, they’re only beneficial if the cage is big enough to contain it. If not, it would just limit the space of the cage.

If you’re thinking of getting a readily-made guinea pig cage, there are plenty of guinea pig cages you can get from Amazon.

MidWest Expandable Guinea Pig Habitat Plus

Midwest-expandable-guinea-pig-habitat-plus

This is one of the most popular Midwest guinea pig cages a lot of owners prefer. The cage offers 9-square-feet of living space that’s very ideal for housing 2 fully grown adult guineas and it also comes with a fence top as well as a leak-proof bottom that are very easy to clean and you don’t even have to worry about it smelling bad. The cage can also be folded up and packed for travel or storage. However, the basic version of this doesn’t really come with a top and more ideal for owners that only have small guineas, but the plus size version is different– it comes with a separator and lid.

Prevue Pet Products Small Animal Tubby Cage

Prevue-pet-products-small-animal-tubby-cage

This comes in different sizes, ranging from extra small to jumbo. It’s made of wire, while the base is plastic. The cage is spacious, sturdy, and very easy to assemble. Best of all, it’s available in different colors!

Kaytee My First Home 2-Piece Giant Rabbit Habitat with Casters

Kaytee-my-first-home-2-piece-giant-rabbit-habitat

This giant habitat contains top and front access doors, shelves, ramps, and casters for mobility. It allows the owner to lock and unlock the shelves with the help of a controllable safety switch, giving more room to the guinea pig.

Living World Deluxe Habitat

Living-world-deluxe-habitat

This one is a hybrid cage that has an upper wire frame and a plastic bottom base. Though, what makes this cage unique is the balcony and the tip-proof food dish includes. Both the large and XL versions can hold up to 2 guinea pigs.

What about C&C cages? Where can I buy them?
All of these cages are perfect for guineas. However, if you’re one of those who’d rather have a customized home for your pets, then C&C cages are more ideal. You can easily acquire the supplies you need in Amazon.  I’ve included a video here with step-by-step guide that shows you how to set up a C&C cage. Likewise, even though you’d probably need to spend a lot for finding the supplies and building the cage, this can definitely be a rewarding experience.

If you want a comprehensive guide to caring for your guinea pig, click here.

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