Things To Consider
Size
Yes gents, unfortunately, size really does matter when it comes to guinea pig cages, as it is as often seen as a cruel and poor treatment to keep guinea pigs in an area that is too confined or cramped for them to live comfortably inside.
Despite being one of the largest rodents in the animal kingdom, their cages are often structured not too much bigger than that of rats or very lucky hamsters, which isn’t ideal given how much floor space they need to thrive.
Most people also keep their guinea pigs in at least a pair so they are not lonely, meaning even more room is required.
The RSPCA states that the minimum cage size for two piggy pets is 120 x 60 x 45 cm.
If you cannot accommodate a size this big in your home, you will, unfortunately, have to keep the cage outside and even then we would still suggest adding a run to supplement their experience with an area to exercise and play in!
As always the general rule here is always to purchase the absolute biggest space you can afford and accommodate on your premises to ensure the optimum comfort and happiness of your guineas.
Security
The whole point of a guinea pig cage is to ensure that one, nothing can get at your guinea pig and two, it can’t escape and get itself into serious trouble! Making sure your intended cage boasts a good locking system for its doors and special clippings to keep the mesh in place could end up being paramount to the welfare of your pet!
Easy Access & Cleaning
While we all love guinea pigs very dearly, it’s no secret that they’re not so good at looking after their mess and cages can become seriously smelly places without regular and committed upkeep. A cage you can easily get into and has an open design is not only more fun when it comes to interacting with your pet but it also helps get in all those nooks and crannies when cleaning, making your piggy chores a little bit easier to bear!
Easy Assembly & Accessories Included
Not many people want to go out and build their own guinea pig cage, but unfortunately, barely any come fully built and furnished as it’s much easier for companies to instead sell them as flat packs and have you assemble them yourself. Try and look for models which describe themselves as being tool-free, which will usually mean you can quickly put them together by hand.
It’s also not a bad idea to purchase one which already includes important accessories like feeding bowls and bottles, as this means you’ll see yourself money and that your guinea pigs will be ready to move into their new home immediately after it’s built!
Private Areas
Guinea pigs are notoriously shy sometimes and can often be easily spooked or upset without you quite knowing why. To prevent them from becoming very distressed in these moments, they need to have areas inside their cage which are completely quiet, where not even you, their adoring owner can see them! This is often best done in the form of a den, cave, compartment or hidey-hole with plenty of bedding they can retreat to when upset.
Every guinea pig has the right to their privacy!
Ventilation
Although it’s rarely a problem for cage structures, it’s always good for a guinea pig’s home to have good access to ventilation, which helps reduce the amount of bacteria build-up in a more closed-off environment. Try and avoid designs with boxed off areas or fancy panels and stick to large structures with lots of wire mesh to provide sufficient airflow.
Price
Guinea Pig cages can end up costing a serious amount of money the larger and more complicated their structures are and many cost around £100 or more. However C & C cages can be bought and made for much cheaper at around £50 to £60 and provide much more space for a guinea pig.
Types of Cage
There are two main types of cage structure you will see when it comes to housing guinea pigs:
Standard
Similar to most rodent cage designs, a standard indoor guinea pig cage will usually consist of a plastic base for placing bedding and a clip-on wire mesh for securing your pet inside and protecting them from outside threats. Over the years, the inside of these cages has also become much more accommodating, with extra tiers, platforms, hidey homes and more helping to make them feel as comfy as possible
C & C
An increasingly popular style of cage, C & C’s excel in indoor environments as they are essentially glorified play-pens. Standing for cubes and correx, these cages combine wire grid, cube-like meshes with correx plastic lining to create a pen structure with soft spongy flooring.
They offer a more open and interactive style of cage but do take up a lot of space in your home! But if you can accommodate it, they’re easily one of the best choices for your guinea!