It’s difficult to see guinea pigs as playful creatures. After all, there’s a reason that piggy parents affectionately call them “potatoes.” They can be a little lazy!
All of that said, do guinea pigs need toys, and will they play with them? The answer is yes and no. While guinea pigs don’t use toys like dogs and cats, they do need enrichment in their enclosures so they aren’t just napping all day. So, what are the best toys for guinea pigs?
Let’s explore them below!
Do Guinea Pigs Need Toys?
Some people in the guinea pig community argue that toys are unnecessary, but it’s important to provide as much enrichment for these animals as possible. Sitting in an empty cage is boring for guinea pigs and can lead to a sedentary lifestyle.
Benefits of toys for guinea pigs include:
- Reduced boredom
- Mental stimulation
- Encouraging movement and play
- Wearing down guinea pigs’ teeth, which are constantly growing
- Redirecting chewing from inappropriate items, like cage bars
Not all guinea pigs will use toys, but most will find their favorites if given plenty of options.
What Toys Do Guinea Pigs Like Best?
The best toys are those that guinea pigs can roll, toss, or chew. Tunnels are also good to provide, as piggies enjoy running through them, especially when they’re doing laps around the cage.
Burrowing is another natural behavior for guinea pigs that some cage setups don’t allow for. A pile of hay is a simple enrichment item that piggy parents should already have on hand.
What Are The Best Store Bought Guinea Pig Toys?
Unfortunately, many unsafe guinea pig toys are being sold in pet stores today. Until this changes, it’s important to do your research before purchasing new items. Even brands that sell some safe toys may sell others that are dangerous.
Look for toys that contain natural materials that are safe for guinea pigs, such as:
- Grass hay
- Aspen wood
- Willow wood
- Kiln-dried pine
- Apple tree wood
- Seagrass
- Rattan
What Toys Are Unsafe for Guinea Pigs?
Avoid unsafe woods like cedar, pine, and redwood. Stay clear of anything containing dairy products or seeds. While fruits and carrots are okay in moderation for guinea pigs, their dried versions contain more concentrated sugars and should be fed rarely.
Don’t put items not made specifically for small pets, such as baskets, into your guinea pigs’ cage unless you’re sure they’re safe. They may contain chemicals or other unsafe additives.
Be careful with round toys such as willow balls, especially once the insides have been chewed away. Because guinea pigs can get stuck in them, they’re best for supervised use only.
Can I Make DIY Toys for Guinea Pigs?
There are plenty of simple and fun DIY guinea pig toys that you can create from normal household items. Here are some examples:
Paper Bags
You can stuff anything edible into a paper bag for your guinea pigs. They can chew the bag open and feast on hay, forage, pellets, or even veggies.
Simply fold the top shut–no need for tape or staples. You can cut holes in the sides as well if your guinea pigs are struggling to get to the food.
Toilet Paper or Paper Towel Rolls
These work similarly to paper bags. You can simply stuff hay into them and let your piggies eat from the sides, or get a little more complex by creating a foraging toy.
Poke holes down the sides of the toilet paper roll large enough for your guinea pigs’ pellets to fall through but not so large that they all spill out at once. Fold the ends of the roll shut, then watch your piggy roll it around the cage to get the pellets out.
Shipping Boxes
Plain shipping boxes are great for hiding and chewing. Simply remove any tape or staples, then cut a couple of door holes in the sides of the box. Turn it upside down for your guinea pigs to play in.
Avoid boxes with abundant ink, plastic layers, or that have been treated with chemicals or disinfectants.
Hay Piles
Hay piles are messy, but they’re also a must-have! They’re the easiest way to allow your guinea pigs to burrow. This “toy” is the simplest of all–just toss a pile of hay into the cage and watch the piggies go wild!
Fleece Forests
Another DIY toy that can double as a hide is a fleece forest. Cut fleece fabric to shape to fit over one side of your cage with a few inches of excess.
Trim one-inch strips into the excess fleece–these will hang in the air, giving your piggies something to run through. The strips will also make them feel secure when they’re hiding underneath the fleece forest.
Use binder clips to attach the fleece forest over the top of the cage, either in a corner or across a small section. Some people like to add a couple of horizontal grids to the top of their C&C cage so that the fleece forest has more support.
Get Creative!
So long as the items used are safe, there’s an endless variety of DIY toys you can come up with. Think outside the box and have fun with it!
If you’re foraging for materials such as grass or safe flowers, be sure to choose an area that’s free of pesticides.
How to Keep Toys Interesting For Guinea Pigs
A simple way to keep toys interesting for your guinea pigs is to change their cage layout. For instance, moving a hanging toy to a new wall in the enclosure can give it new life!
You can also rotate your guinea pigs’ toys. Move the toys that are currently being neglected to a box outside of the cage and swap them back in after a week or so.
If you have multiple cages, try not to swap toys between them, as this can cause territorial disputes due to the smell of outsiders in the cage. It may also spread illness if some of your guinea pigs are sick.
