Unfortunately, guinea pig cages are one of the things that pet stores get wrong 99% of the time. This makes it difficult for owners who want to do the right thing and provide a proper set-up for their pets. Where can you find a guinea pig cage that meets minimum requirements, and how do you choose the one that’s best for you?
In this article, we’ll talk all about choosing the right guinea pig cage, from recommended cage sizes to four of the best options.
Guinea Pig Cage Size
The minimum cage size for 1-2 guinea pigs is 7.5 square feet, according to the U.S. Humane Society. However, they recommend 10.5+ square feet as the ideal. Keep in mind that these are bare minimums, so go bigger if you can, and your piggies will thank you for it! Many piggy parents prefer to offer 12-15 square feet for two guinea pigs.
Of course, the more guinea pigs you add to your herd, the more space they’ll need to thrive. The Humane Society’s recommended size for three guinea pigs is 13+ square feet, while the recommended for four is around 16+ square feet. Once again, bigger is always better.
Remember that housing more than two boars (males) together, especially in the minimum cage size, is not recommended. Better pairings are 3+ sows (females) or one neutered boar with two or more sows.
Factors That Impact Minimum Cage Size
Aside from the obvious, which is giving your guinea pigs as much space as possible, there are several other reasons you might choose a bigger cage. They include:
- Housing two boars together – Boy guinea pigs tend to be territorial and may struggle to get along more than a female-only pairing or a female and neutered male. Giving them more space decreases the chance of their bond breaking.
- Housing young, active guinea pigs – Active guinea pigs benefit from more space than seniors who are slowing down.
- Housing a fragile bond – If your guinea pigs bicker frequently, they’ll need more space than piggies who get along great. This will help to prevent their bond from breaking and also gives you space to separate them with a divider if needed.
Guinea Pig Cages: What to Avoid
- Gridded bottoms – These can cause injuries and health problems such as bumblefoot.
- Poor ventilation – A good guinea pig cage has airflow on multiple sides of the cage to prevent ammonia build-up, respiratory problems, and heat stroke. Glass tanks are unsafe.
- Large bar spacing – Make sure your guinea pigs’ heads cannot get stuck between the bars and that they cannot escape their enclosure.
Outdoor Housing
While it’s possible to house a guinea pig properly outdoors, it’s likely more time-consuming and expensive than you think. You’ll need a temperature-controlled, predator-proofed space.
This means keeping the closure between 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit and accounting for all kinds of predators. You’ll need underground protection to prevent predators from digging in, a secure enclosure above ground, and even raccoon-proof door latches.
While many people use chicken wire for predator-proofing, it’s not secure enough to keep out all predators. Hardware cloth with small spacing is recommended instead.
What Type of Guinea Pig Cage Should I Get?
After seeing the recommended cage sizes, you might realize that finding a good guinea pig cage in pet stores is unlikely–especially if you don’t want to offer the bare minimum to your guinea pigs. Pet store cages are also often overpriced.
Below are some of the most popular guinea pig enclosures that either meet or exceed minimum standards.
C&C
The most popular guinea pig cage is a C&C (cubes and Coroplast) setup. You can DIY these cages using 14-inch panels with at least 9 squares across (so that they aren’t big enough for a guinea pig’s head to get stuck inside). You can also buy pre-built cages online.
The best thing about C&C cages is that they’re flexible. If you want to give your guinea pigs more space tomorrow, all you’ll need to do is buy more supplies. Since they’re DIY, they can be made to fit odd spaces–just make sure to build them at least two grids wide, not super long and skinny.
Some people even replace the Coroplast with other materials to make the building process easier. For instance, a shower liner can provide a waterproof layer to protect your floors, and the grids can be set up on top. However, options like this don’t keep debris in the cage as well as Coroplast, which is typically folded and taped into a box-like shape to keep the cage’s surroundings cleaner.
Midwest
One of the most popular store-bought guinea pig cages is the Midwest. This cage measures a little under 8 square feet and is good for two piggies. The best thing about it is that you can attach two cages to easily double your guinea pigs’ space.
Full Cheeks
Petsmart’s Full Cheeks cage for rabbits and guinea pigs also meets the minimum requirements for two piggies. Please keep in mind that this is not a suitable enclosure for rabbits, regardless of its advertising.
DIY
Of course, there’s no end to the number of DIY cages you can make for your guinea pigs. So long as the cage is safe, well-ventilated, and meets minimum requirements, there are few limitations.
A couple of things to consider when choosing materials are that guinea pigs chew and pee a lot! Make sure the set-up is safe for them and won’t become smelly over time.
Do Guinea Pigs Like Tiered Cages?
Guinea pigs aren’t animals who like to climb. Instead, they benefit from flat floor space where they can run and jump.
While multi-tiered cages such as rat or ferret cages won’t work for them, many guinea pigs enjoy having a loft space in their cage so long as the ramp isn’t too steep.
Remember that lofts don’t count toward the minimum cage size, as guinea pigs need that flat floor space in order to thrive. Never keep necessities like hay or water only on the second level, as these are things your guinea pig should never have to work for. Also, keep in mind that while some guinea pigs love their lofts, others won’t climb onto them at all. It depends on their preferences.
Setting Up Your Guinea Pig’s Cage
Once you’ve chosen your guinea pig’s enclosure, you’ll want to buy everything you need for a proper set-up. Here are the necessities:
- One water bottle per guinea pig
- One hide per guinea pig
- Safe bedding such as fleece liners, chenille bath mats, or disposable paper bedding
- A large amount of grass hay, such as timothy or orchard grass, available at all times
The following are optional cage additions:
- A litter box – A shallow box with a guinea-pig-safe litter material, such as paper bedding and hay, to encourage use.
- A hay rack – If you choose to use one, make sure the holes are large enough that your guinea pig’s whole body can fit inside. You don’t want it to be difficult to eat freely from or for your guinea pig’s head to get stuck in the holes.
- Toys – While not all guinea pigs will use toys, they’re great for enrichment and highly recommended!
- Pellet bowls – Some people prefer to scatter pellets around the cage instead–both options work well.
