by 11 people |
So, you've brought a guinea pig (or two) into your home.
Have they taken over yet?
Anyone guinea pig owner will tell you that they very quickly wrap their human owners around their little front paws -- turning them into slaves who go out of their way to provide their guinea pig masters with everything they could possibly want. After awhile, you don't notice, much less mind, that you're treating yourself to fewer lattes at Starbucks or a few less new books from Barnes & Noble. The furkids are happy -- that's all that matters.
Building The Perfect Castle
Cavy CagesWe love Love LOVE C&C ("Cubes & Coroplast") cages. These expansive cages are constructed from sheets of coroplast (for the cage floor) and Neat Cubes (for the walls). One level, two levels, long and narrow, short and wide, rectangular, square...you can create them all to fit the space you have and give your guinea pigs the space they need.
These cages are easy to build, easy to disassemble, and easy to clean. Check out the site to learn more and see photos of some of the cool configurations you can create!
The Lap Of Luxury
Helping Your Piggies Sleep Like Royalty
These wonderful critter beds are handmade by Marsha Weaver through her Alabama-based business The Cozy Cavy.They are incredibly soft, warm, and cozy creations, and are available in a variety of fabrics that you can choose for yourself -- or let Marsha pick for you. These were a huge hit with the guinea pigs in our rescue -- even the pigs who'd previously turned up their little noses at the cozy cups commonly found in pet stores. They're sure to be equally well-loved by your critters!
Recently, Marsha started making and selling Cozy Saks. Equally soft and warm, they feature a design that makes them easier to wash and dry.
Hide 'n' Sleep
The items listed below can be used in cages and/or in enclosed play areas used for daily out-of-cage recreation time.
Super Pet Rabbit Large Tropical Fiddle Sticks Hideout
A tunnel/shelter that can accommodate a couple of guinea pigs (assuming that either one is willing to share). Fiddle Sticks shelters are typically "prime real estate" in both cages and play areas.
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 07/04/2009) 
PETS INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL HIDE-OUTS LARGE For Ferrets, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, and Chinchillas.
A sturdy wooden house large enough to accommodate a couple of full-grown guinea pigs.
Amazon Price: $16.96 (as of 07/04/2009)
Woodland Get-a-way Houses Large
Another popular choice is the Timber Hide-A-Way (Penn Plax), which is frequently found in local pet stores. Look for the large or extra large size -- especially if you have two or more guinea pigs. Besides giving your pet some place to hide, it also gives them something to chew on.
If you get a wooden house for your critter's cage, buy a package of sandpaper as well. If you routinely find wet spots inside the house against one of the walls or corners, sandpaper will help you clean off the surface and reduce the chance for mold to grow.
Amazon Price: $11.44 (as of 07/04/2009)
Oxbow Timothy Club Large Bungalow Edible Environment For Small Animals
For the guinea pig who really wants to hide out for a while, this bungalow is just the trick. As the bungalow is quite large, we recommend for C&C cages that are 2x3 or larger. Warning: Baby and adolescent guinea pigs really love this bungalow -- you'll have a tough time luring them out (though enticing them with carrots or a leaf of lettuce should do the trick)!
Amazon Price: $21.46 (as of 07/04/2009)
Oxbow Timothy Club Lounger Edible Environment For Small Animals
A comfy (and edible) lounger that will accommodate a full-grown guinea pig or a couple of youngsters. To make it even more comfy, line the bottom with a piece of fleece or a fleece pad from The Cozy Cavy!
Amazon Price: $8.48 (as of 07/04/2009)
Pigs At Play
Play time starts with an enclosed play area -- an area that gives guinea pigs plenty of room to run and romp without risk of finding, biting, or getting tangled up in electrical wires and without risk of getting stuck under or behind furniture and appliances.
Create a play area with different toys and accessories than the ones in your guinea pig's cage, and change up the contents and the layout of the play area regularly so that your critter doesn't get bored.
Super Pet Totally Chewbular Large Play Tube Large
Guinea pigs (by nature) love to tunnel and hide, and a good tunnel will never sit unused in a play area. Chubes are chewable (and non-toxic), lightweight enough for a guinea pig to roll with a nudge of its nose, and wide enough for an adult guinea pig to run through comfortably.
Amazon Price: $3.56 (as of 07/04/2009)
Marshall Pet Ferret Leisure Lodge
For extended play sessions, it's good to give your guinea pigs a place to hide and nap. Not really suitable for use in guinea pig cages, it is a good way to jazz up your pigs' play area with something different to explore.
Amazon Price: $13.89 (as of 07/04/2009)
Ferretrail Fuzz-E Funnel
This super-long tunnel is wide enough in diameter to accommodate even portly guinea pigs, and features several entrances to facilitate lively chases and games of hide-and-seek.
Amazon Price: $12.84 (as of 07/04/2009)
Playtime On A Budget
Flexible & Inexpensive Alternatives For Your Pigs' Play Area
With quick trips to familiar retailers, you can find everything you need to create a flexible, long-lasting, and safe play area.
- Neat Cubes or similar wire-grid storage solutions to serve as the fence walls around the play area. These storage cubes can be found at Target, Linens & Things, and office supply stores. Fasten them together (with the accompanying round connectors) just as you would for storage cubes or for C&C Cages.
- Bath towels, sheets, cotton or fleece blankets, or yardage of fleece or terry cloth from your nearby fabric store, to serve as the floor of the play area. These materials are washable, soft, warm, and give your guinea pigs' feet needed traction while they play. Wash these materials at least once a week in warm or hot water.
- Remnants of vinyl flooring, found at Home Depot, Lowe's, or other home improvement stores. Cut the remnant to the size of your play area, with a couple of inches to spare all the way around. Put the flooring remnant under your towels/blankets. The flooring remnant will protect your carpets/floors from the moisture that would otherwise soak through the towels and stain your carpet/floor.
- IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have baby guinea pigs, Neat Cubes, similar storage solutions, and many pet fence products are not suitable! The open spaces in these products are large enough that a baby guinea pig could get through and escape, or could get partway through before getting stuck -- and getting hurt. For the few months that they're that little, use storage cube solutions that use mesh panels instead of grids. Later, when the babies are older and bigger, you can replace the mesh grids with the wire grids and move the mesh grids off to another purpose.
More Ways To Spoil Your Guinea Pigs
Suggestions From Our Blog Archives
- The Common Tunnel Toy Gets A Makeover
- This soft, fleece-lined tunnel gives your guinea pigs a nice place to play and sleep.
- Making Snuggle Time Enjoyable For All (Part II)
- A look at the new Cozy Saks from Alabama-based The Cozy Cavy.
- Shopping Tip For Guinea Pig Owners
- The art to finding cool toys for guinea pigs is to widen your search net.
- Last-Minute Gift Ideas For Your Guinea Pigs
- A holiday roundup of some easy-to-find items that are sure to please any pig.
- Toys To Avoid
- One toy we wish manufacturers would stop marketing for guinea pigs. A perfect example of how some toys are not appropriate for all small animals.
by GPRescuer
Whitney is the Vice President of The Critter Connection, Inc., Connecticut's original guinea pig rescue. To pay for the home that her brood of four gu...
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