Having a guinea pig isn’t something that will take tons of cash from your pocket. But still, having a high-quality cage is mandatory.
What guinea pig cage is the best? The best guinea pig cage is the one with the most space. The size of the cage always depends on the size of a particular guinea pig, as well as the number of them in a cage. If you’re going to have two or three, a bigger cage is just a must.
In this article, we’ll explain what makes a cage great, as well as the best guinea pigs cage and some alternatives.
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What Makes a Guinea Pig Cage Great?
Generally, a cage with a modular design is always welcome. Modular means that you can easily modify it and adapt it to a new Guinea pig or simply to a new condition if needed. For example, it needs to provide easy cleaning, a lot of space, a possibility for expansion, and much more. Here are the most important factors:
Size
The size of the cage is very important, that’s why it’s in the first spot on this mini-list. These animals love to have a lot of space so they can function as they should. And if we take into account that there needs to be a litter box in the care, as well as a dedicated space for feeding, there is quite a lot of space required. Ranging from 45 to 50 inches in length and 20 to 25 inches in width is enough for a Guinea pig.
When it comes to height, it’s a bit less critical, but 15 to 20 inches will suffice. The best thing about this size is that it can easily fit two guinea pigs. And when you look at it better, it’s not that big and will not take too much space in your house.
Expandability
Speaking of having two guinea pigs together, scalability is of utmost importance. To expand their cage, you can simply craft some wire gates or a wooden hutch extension. The sheer possibility for expansion depends on the type of cage, which we’ll talk about in a minute.
Ease of Cleaning
If certain parts of the cage are removable, it is easy to clean. That’s why it’s important to have side doors that can be opened and it’s even better to have a removable top. You can then remove it, wipe the cage with a wet tissue, and put it back. For that time, your piggies can go out and enjoy while you do the dirty job.
Build Quality
I’m not going to elaborate too much on this one. Having a low-quality cage that’s prone to break isn’t going to cut it. A solid combination of metal and polycarbonate is excellent in this case. The base should be made of polycarbonate, and the cage wires are, of course, always made of metal.
Weight
If the cage is too heavy, you aren’t going to be able to move it swiftly. And moving your cage is quite essential, especially when the summer comes and you want to spend some time outside. Guinea pigs love being outside.
What Guinea Pig Cage Is the Best?
It’s a C&C Guinea pig cage that’s the best. C&C stands for “Cubes & Coroplast,” and this kind of cage represents a gold standard for keeping your guinea pigs safe and sound. The cage is made of storage cube grids and a very popular type of corrugated plastic that’s called Coroplast.
Generally speaking, you can get most of your guinea pig cage with a combination of these two materials. Since these cages are usually the biggest, they will have a lot of space to move around. It’s always recommended that you put some isolation on the floor of the cage. It can be either some felt or conventional bedding – both are very good.
But, if you’ve ever seen a C&C Guinea pig cage, you know that they have no lid. This can either be an advantage or disadvantage. It’s an advantage if you don’t have any other predatory animals in the house.
In that case, a C&C cage will not represent any kind of danger to a Guinea pig. However, having a lid over your C&C cage is almost always recommended, especially if you live in a rural area.
For a lid, you can use any kind of material. It’s important that the lid connects firmly to the construction, as cats and dogs can easily remove it with their paws. Alternatively, you can always buy more corrugated plastic and make your lid or even your C&C cage.
Related: Top 10 Best Guinea Pig Cages in 2022: Reviews and Guide
Is Corrugated Plastic Safe for Guinea Pigs?
Many people are somewhat skeptical when it comes to plastic. Some say it’s not healthy and there is also some scientific research that is backing up this fact. However, during all these years, it proved that corrugated plastic is perfectly safe for them.
Guinea pigs may chew some corrugated plastic. Thankfully, most cages are designed in a way to prevent it, and if this accidentally happens, the corrugated plastic will not harm them.
To avoid having your guinea pig chew its habitat, be sure to plant some hay inside so it covers the floor completely. You can also use some soft toys to redirect their attention away from corrugated plastic.
Some Guinea Pig Cage Alternatives
You don’t always have to go with the best solution out there. Instead, you can buy whatever suits your needs! Here are some ideas for you:
Guinea Pig Aquarium
Keeping a guinea pig in the aquarium is not a very wise decision. It’s not that good, but it’s still a viable choice if it’s big enough and if there’s enough air in it.
First of all, aquariums are almost always very cheap, and that’s what makes people go for it. Since it’s made of glass, it’s fragile but also easier to clean. You can always grab a wet tissue, use some cleaning agent and wipe the glass in just a couple of minutes.
The glass is an excellent heat conductor which means that you’ll need proper isolation and a lot of space. Since most of the aquariums are very small, it’s not recommended to keep more than one guinea pig inside. If you try to put two of them inside, it’s most likely that the fight will occur.
As much as it conducts heat, the glass also slightly muffles the sounds outside of it. This is bad for them and their learning process. But, if you manage to make a massive aquarium with lots of air flowing in and out, this can be a solid solution.
Commercial Guinea Pig Cages
Most commonly, people will go to their nearest pet store and buy a guinea pig cage. However, it’s worth noting that most of those cages are either small or don’t have solid build quality.
The minimum requirement for a single guinea pig is 7.5 square feet and 10 square feet for two of them. With that in mind, don’t let anyone sell you a cage that’s too small even for a single Guinea pig.
If you can, always spend a bit more money on the larger cage. Alternatively, you can always buy two smaller cages and connect them with tunnels. Luckily, those more expensive cages will cost you less than $70, which is still a low price.
Homemade Solution
If you’re a bit creative, you can come up with your solution for a piggie. If you have the money, you can always buy some Coroplast and show off your craftsmanship. The most important factor is that the cage remains perfectly safe for a guinea pig.
When making a cage, make sure it’s sturdy and tall enough so that the pig can’t jump out. And before you start this process, carefully design your final product on paper to ensure it’s a good solution.
Summary
The best cage for your guinea piggie is, without a doubt, a C&C cage. This cage is characterized by high-quality build, sturdiness, and it perfectly adapts to the guinea pig’s lifestyle. With Coroplast being a perfectly safe material for any animal, there isn’t any cage that’s better than this one.
Still, a creative guinea pig owner will want something unique for his little friend, and that’s acceptable. Just be sure to meet the minimum requirements and use safe materials when building a cage.