Suitable Houses For Guinea Pigs

Cedric James

Building an appropriate house is a step to creating a home for your guinea pigs. Always remember, your pets should not only be caged and displayed, they should be cared for and made comfortable.

Living in a house that emulates the natural niche of a cavy not only looks splendid but is essential if you want to keep your pet healthy and bursting with energy. Choosing the best house for your cavy should therefore be done with care, preempting any danger and considering the animal's behavior as it grows.

Contrary to what most people believe, there are no wild guinea pigs out there. Guinea pigs are rather denatured considering the time they are being kept by humans. Nevertheless, they still show signs of wanting to forage and hunt.

A large enough area will be suitable for your cavy. The cage's base should be somewhere between four and six square feet for a single guinea pig. You can increase this by two square feet for each of the next three animals. They are social and they like company. If you are planning to adopt a guinea pig, consider buying three.

For the height of the cage, pick a cage tall enough to discourage the cavy from climbing. You should also be able to reach the bottom of the cage easily for cleaning. A height of two feet is favored by most.

Cages usually come with plain wire mesh floor. This will injure your guinea pig's feet and may cause bumblefoot. To avoid this, you should line the floor, preferably with hay. You can also use hypoallergenic wood shavings or even unprinted paper shreds.

Next, you should then put ornaments and toys inside the cage. Placing a pot inside will give your pet something to climb and hide in. Putting a plastic tube will give your pet a hiding place when threatened. Put logs, sticks and small blocks of wood to satisfy your pet's need to chew. Add some exercise paraphernalia to the cage, like the wheel. Try some rocks to give the cage some terrain for your pet to tackle.

Then place utensils for eating and drinking. For the food, pick a heavy dish, preferably made of ceramic or clay. Your pets can be quite playful even when eating. Sometimes, they may tip the feeding dish and spill the contents wasting the food and spoiling the cage. Also, pick a feeding dish that you can easily transfer from one spot in the cage to another. Guinea pigs like to forage. Give him this challenge to keep him from getting bored.

For drinking, get a drinking dish that is also heavy and not too high. It should be easily accessed by your cavy. You should also be able to remove it easily as you will need to wash the dish and replace the water every day.

Better yet, buy a guinea pig feeder and waterer that fits your cage. This will ensure freshness of the water and the food.