Guinea Pig Cages

Guinea pig cages are your guinea pig's home. This is where they will spend the majority of their lives. Guinea pigs tend to do best living in groups, yet many of the standard commercial cages aren't large enough for even a pair of pigs. Here, bigger truly is better. The older guideline of 2 square feet per guinea pig is considered out of date and not sufficient space. Many consider this too cramped and it is recommended you provide a space of 7.5 square feet for a single guinea pig and 10.5 feet for a pair of them. If you can provide the extra space beyond those dimensions, your guinea pigs will benefit from the extra space. You can also build your own guinea pigs cages and you can make a home made cage easily and they can be better than many commercial guinea pig cages.

Cages should not have wire floors or wire ramps and any cages that do have these should be avoided. Some cages have ramps and shelves or ledges, and they can provide some interest for the guinea pig, but the problem can be that they can take away some space that is needed for running laps. Space between the bars can be as much as an inch for adult cavies, or guinea pigs. Many owners have come up with some very creative solutions for space and providing large enough housing and adequate space. You can make a C and C cage, which stands for cubes and coroplast. You can buy the materials or you can purchase a kit, which comes with the materials you will need. It is best if you can get the large or even the extra large size if possible. The open top design is fine for homes without dogs or cats, but adding a top made of wire shelving should be added if you need a cover to keep other pets out.

There are several benefits of guinea pig cages that have the extra space. One has to do with exercise. The health benefit of exercise for guinea pigs is significant. Just like humans, overweight guinea pigs have a much greater risk of having health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, bladder infections, respiratory problems, bumblefoot, and more.

Adult males can develop a condition called impaction -- a loss of muscle tone in the anal area, which causes their droppings to get 'backed up' and requires some regular, periodic cleaning by their guardians. A large cage with ample room for exercise can help keep your guinea pig toned and fit.

As for adult females, they tend to put on weight in their belly as they get older. It can become more difficult to find and diagnose ovarian cysts and other related problems in females when they are overweight.

As for bedding, you want to avoid cedar shavings and pine shavings. Aspen shavings are a better choice, as is hay with a paper layer underneath to help with absorbency. Newly recycled newspaper beddings are acceptable too in addition to some new kinds of bedding materials being made nowadays. One good bedding material made is called CareFRESH, and it is manufactured from 100% wood pulp fiber. It is a light weight and fluffy bedding that it is not too dusty (less so than original CareFresh) and it is very absorbent and soft.

Another option you may look into is called Eco straw. This one I have not tried but have heard good things about it. These pellets are made from wheat straw and are said to absorb 300% of their weight in moisture. The product is dust free and heat treated to eliminate mites and other pests and it is completely biodegradable and can be composted or flushed down the toilet. Since it is made entirely of natural fibers, it is also reasonably safe if ingested. Know more https://petsbonanza.com/buyers-guide-and-review-of-best-guinea-pig-cage/

Choosing the Best Guinea Pig Cage, Accessories, and Bedding

Guinea pigs make great pets for virtually anyone, from young children to adults. They are fun, loving, and relatively simple to look after, meaning they will fit in with almost any lifestyle.

But while it may be tempting to dash out and get your new pets, as well as a cage and all the associated accessories, it's important to take the time to learn about cavies' needs. By doing so you can ensure that you get items which will match their needs perfectly.

Cage Size and Type

Most people, especially first time owners, will tend to buy a traditional cage for their guinea pigs - these are the ones with the plastic base and wire walls which can be found in most pet shops.

However, these are nearly always too small. Guinea pigs require lots of space to sprint around in - you should try to provide at least one square metre (11 square feet) for a typical cage housing two or three animals.

To provide this extra room, you will either need to shop around for a much bigger cage, or construct one at home. This is much easier than it sounds - you can build a 'Cubes and Coroplast' cage with ease, and it will provide your animals with a much bigger place to live.

Bedding

Cavies have very delicate feet which can easily get injured from walking or running on hard surfaces for long periods of time. To prevent this happening, it's important to provide your pets with a layer of good-quality bedding.

Begin by covering the floor of the cage with paper, and on top of this use wood shavings or a similar bedding material. This will give your pets a comfortable surface, which will protect their feet.

Accessories

While it can be tempting to fill your pets' cage with toys and accessories, they really don't need them. In actual fact, the only thing they really do is take up space, making it harder for your pigs to run around.

The only accessories your pets really need are a decent water bottle and food bowl. Cavies are messy creatures so you'll need to clean and replenish them regularly

Good And Bad Guinea Pig Cages!