Today we’re talking about the best guinea pig cages. If you are planning to get a guinea pig you’ll need a home for it, these are some of the best options for your new furry friend!
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As always I have to preface this by saying that I’m not an expert. I’m sharing what I’ve learned over my 10+ years of rescuing and owning guinea pigs.
You have to do what you think is best for you and your pets. This is in no way intended to be a set of hard and fast rules for everyone to follow. Do what works for you and what you think is best.
What kind of cage do guinea pigs need?
Guinea pigs are kind of unique. They don’t actually need a cage with a roof! Guinea pigs can’t climb like hamsters or jump like rabbits. They’ll be perfectly secure in a cage that just has walls that are a bit taller than they are!
If you have other pets in the home it’s important to consider that when choosing your cage. Cats and dogs and other larger animals may be too rough with your guinea pigs or try to attack them.
Keep in mind that some animals have a prey drive and will likely see your guinea pigs as something they need to chase, catch, eat, etc. In that case I would fully recommend a cage with a roof if the guinea pigs will be left unattended with other large pets.
How much space do guinea pigs need?
Many guinea pigs like to be housed together. Same sex pairs or neutered male/female pairs are great!
For each guinea pig that you plan to house you should consider 7.5 square feet of floor space the minimum. It’s always better to give them the most space that you can though, so bigger is better in this case.
When choosing a guinea pig cage you’ll want to make sure you upgrade the space requirements when adding in additional piggies. I’ll include some more info on that below:
1 Guinea Pig = 7. 5 square feet
2 Guinea Pigs = 10.5 square feet
3 Guinea Pigs = 13 square feet
4 Guinea Pigs = 15 square feet
Remember, these cage sizes are a humane recommendation and should be considered the minimum amount of space that you provide for them to run around and move about their cage.
Add more space if your guinea pig cage has sections that are spaced out for litter boxes, sleeping, etc.
Why do guinea pigs need so much space?
Most people see these recommendations and they think “wow that’s a lot of space” but if you think about it in terms of their lifespan and how much time they spend in their cage it’s really the only humane thing to do!
If you had to spend all day cooped up in one small room you’d get bored, restless, and eventually become unhealthy. Giving your guinea pig as much space as possible will make their 5-7 year lifespan happier and more healthy.
Those of you who have multiple guinea pigs in one cage will also notice that they’re happier and less likely to get into squabbles when they have plenty of space to spread out and have some alone time!
The best guinea pig cages:
If you plan to make your own guinea pig cages you’ll need some supplies. I like to use the C&C grids and the corrugated plastic to make excellent and very large but affordable cages!
I love the Midwest cages…we use them and they’re super easy and quick. I like that I can add on sections, we have three set up all in a line for our females!
Learn more about setting up Midwest cages here! And if you like to use fleece for your cages you’ll see my tutorial on the subject features Midwest cages!
This Amazon version of the Midwest cages is nice as well. They’re sturdy and I love that you can order parts that you need to make the cage that you want!
If you want to build a cage but don’t know where to start, this is a great option! You can use corrugated plastic for the bottom and then line with fleece pads or blankets.
If you cut the corners and tape them on the outsides you can create a base that also holds paper bedding well!
This XXL rabbit cage is a great option for more than rabbits! I love that it’s got separated sections so you can easily work on litter training your guinea pigs in the feeding area.
If you have space in the yard this option is great for outdoor or indoor use with the right set up! You can add a plastic or canvas bottom but I’ve found that my guinea pigs really enjoy some time to graze in the yard so guinea pig cages like this are a hit for us!
If you have space for a large indoor enclosure I would recommend something like this for adventurous pigs. I’ve had piggies that love to explore and others who like to chill. If your cavy is one who likes to climb and explore, this cage would be great.
You can save an extra $20 with the coupon on this great house for rabbits that would work great for guinea pigs as well! It’s spacious and has lots of spaces for them explore, climb, and interact with their surroundings.
For those of you who have a flooring option that won’t be damaged by your guinea pigs this is a great choice when it comes to guinea pig cages.
You can put down fleece pads and absorbent liners and then use these play yards as a way to keep the piggies contained while giving them tons of space on a budget!
Looking for other posts about guinea pigs?
Here are some other posts that I’ve shared about my guinea pigs! If you are looking for care tips, feeding tips, or just more general info you can find it here!
- How To Make Easy Fleece Pads For Guinea Pigs
- How To Litter Train A Guinea Pig
- Quick Tips For Guinea Pig Care
- 5 Reasons To Rescue Guinea Pigs
- Tips For Setting Up Midwest Guinea Pig Cages
- How To Clean Rabbit Water Bottles | Try This Trick!
- Tips For Cleaning Fleece Bedding
- The Easiest Way To Do Fleece Bedding
