With so many cage options available, it’s no wonder that a piggy parent like you might have some burning questions about them. Here at Kavee, we’ve made it our mission to help parents and their pets learn more about cages and provide solutions that are designed to improve the lives of piggies everywhere.
From finding the right cage size for your furry family to uncovering the best way to keep these cages clean, here are some answers to the most common questions about indoor guinea pig cages.
Choosing an indoor guinea pig cage
Should I house my guinea pigs indoors or outdoors?
This is normally the first dilemma to come to mind when deciding to adopt some furry friends. While this decision relies heavily on your home situation and the space you have available, we generally recommend you house your guinea pigs indoors.
From improving the way you monitor their health to preventing significant risks in outdoor living, there are plenty of reasons why indoor is the kinder option. However, there are some situations in which housing them outdoors might be a better alternative. In this blog, we go more into detail on the differences between indoor and outdoor guinea pig cages.
How big should a guinea pig cage be?
At Kavee, we believe that the bigger the space, the happier the piggies. For example, while a cage for two guinea pigs has a minimum size recommendation of 120 x 60cm (47.2 x 23.6 in), a roomier cage of at least 150 x 60cm (59 x 23.6 in) will ensure that your piggies don’t get on top of each other. In fact, the right cage should be big enough for plenty of zoomies, popcorns, and play times to come!
In this blog about cage sizes, we go more in-depth into the different indoor guinea pig cage requirements based on your number of piggies. And if you’re ready to bring home one of our spacious cages but are still unsure of what size to pick, you can use our Cage Builder to find the best option for your piggies.
What is the best material for an indoor guinea pig cage?
Most guinea pig cages come in either wire grids, plastic-coated grids, or wood. Wire cages provide great ventilation and securely keep your piggies inside, but should always be combined with a comfortable floor as wire grid floors would hurt your piggies’ feet, increasing the risk of bumblefoot.
While plastic-coated grids are equally as well-ventilated, they pose a significant risk if your piggies were to ever nibble at them since plastic is toxic. Finally, wood is a sturdy material but one that’s tough to keep clean, and that could let cleaning products sink into the wood, posing another health hazard.
That’s why Kavee always combines our well-ventilated thin meshing grid design with a coroplast base and cosy fleece liner in every C&C cage. Learn more about the benefits of C&C cages for guinea pigs here.
Does the gender of my guinea pigs affect the cage size?
Yes, while all piggies deserve a spacious home, pairing male guinea pigs together will require a bigger cage. This is because boars are more likely to get into fights if they feel squeezed into a small space, and will require enough room to have a food bowl, water bottle, and any other essentials each. You can learn more about the differences between male and female guinea pigs here.
Setting up a guinea pig cage indoors
How do you set up a guinea pig cage?
Setting up your first indoor guinea pig cage might be a little confusing but it doesn’t have to be a challenging task! If you opt for a C&C guinea pig cage like the ones at Kavee, you only need to slot each grid into the provided connectors to get your cage ready. No DIY skills or tools required!
Plus, each C&C guinea pig cage comes with its set of instructions that are easy to follow, and we’ve provided plenty of how-to video tutorials here.
Where should I set up an indoor guinea pig cage?
Your guinea pig cage should be placed somewhere that’s away from direct sunlight or other sources of heat, isn’t drafty, and isn’t particularly noisy. This is because anywhere that’s too warm could increase the risk of heatstroke, and a noisy environment would stress your piggies out.
So keep all of those factors in mind when choosing where to locate your cage!
What type of bedding is best for a guinea pig cage?
What you add to your cage’s floor, also known as bedding, plays a significant role in the comfort of your piggy's cage. The most common types of bedding for guinea pig cages are wood shavings, paper, litter pellets, and fleece liners.
Wood and paper shavings need to be properly treated to be safely used with guinea pigs, as otherwise they could cause respiratory problems or contain toxic chemicals. And while litter pellets can be quite absorbent, they’re tough on guinea pigs’ delicate feet. Fleece liners, instead, offer a reusable alternative that’s comfy, safe, and super absorbent. You can learn more about the different types of guinea pig bedding here, and more about fleece liners specifically in our guide here.
What happens to my cage if I decide to adopt more guinea pigs?
Kavee C&C cages are designed to be customisable, so that if you decide to welcome a new member to your furry family, you can extend your set-up without having to replace your original cage.
Make sure that when you choose your guinea pig house, you select a cage that can be easily modified, so that if you want to change your set-up or add extras like a stand for storage, you’re free to do so!
Maintaining a guinea pig cage
How often should I clean a guinea pig cage?
You should deep clean your guinea pig cage once a week and spot clean it every day. By deep cleaning, we refer to changing their bedding, wiping clean any surface with white vinegar or a pet-safe cleaner, and thoroughly cleaning any other accessories, water bottles, food bowls, and so on. A spot clean, instead, is about removing loose hay & poop from the bedding, changing any particularly soiled bedding or pee pads, and topping-up their hay and water.
You can learn more about a guinea pig cage cleaning routine in this blog.
How can I keep my guinea pig cage clean for longer?
Guinea pigs are creatures of habit and will tend to carry out their business around the same areas. Once you notice where the fleece tends to get soaked the most, you can help delay the next laundry day by adding pee pads.
Those extra absorbent layers will reduce how soaked your liners get, and you can also add a litter tray filled with hay to contain some of the other mess. While your piggies can’t be trained to use a litter box, this accessory can provide a great place for burrowing fun, and also contain some of the pee & poop that would otherwise go on your liners as piggies love to do their business where they eat!
Guinea pig behaviour with cages
Why does my guinea pig chew their cage?
It’s normal for piggies to try and get a taste of their cage when they first get inside it, after all, they love to chew! However, persistent chewing can also point to stress, anxiety, boredom, or an underlying health issue.
If it’s behavioural, just make sure that you give your piggies plenty of toys and accessories to keep them entertained, and that they have another furry friend to spend time with. But if you’re unsure of the cause, always bring your piggies to the vet to rule out any health problems.
The good news is that Kavee’s indoor guinea pig cages are powder-coated with non-toxic paint and made from chew-resistant materials, so that even if your piggy takes a bite, their health won’t be affected. But what if they chew the coroplast base? Again, the reasons behind it might be the same, but this time, you can try adding a nibble guard to prevent this behaviour.
