How to choose the right size cage for your Guinea Pig | Ozzy Cages
"Guinea Pigs are small - they don't need a lot of space!" - FALSE
One of the first and most important parts of guinea pig ownership, is providing them with an appropriate cage or housing option. The average lifespan of indoor guinea pigs is also about 5-7 years, so it is important they have an enriching and stimulating environment as over this time they can easily become bored in a small space!
Unfortunately many of the commercial cages marketed for guinea pigs, for example many of those found in pet stores, are not actually suitable to house our piggies and keep them happy and healthy. Guinea pigs may be small animals, however they need a LOT more space than people realise to zoom, popcorn and stretch their legs - and providing them with ample space to move also helps to avoid a tonne of serious health issues!
History of Guinea Pig Housing:
Going back 20, or even 10 years ago, we didn’t understand the full animal welfare needs of guinea pigs and the requirements needed for them to express their natural behaviours like they would in the wild. Thankfully animal welfare has come a long way since then, and guinea pigs have now become valued members of the family, with a lot more research into adequate welfare standards!
Previously, it was very common for guinea pigs to be housed full time in outdoor hutches, where they were susceptible to unpredictable environmental changes including both heat stress and cold stress, as well as predators such as dogs, cats, snakes and birds. Living outdoors generally means they had a lot less interaction with family members.
A lot of the older cages, and even many still on the market today, have wire bottom flooring, which we now know is very irritating to their little paws and predisposes to the development of foot ulcers and bumblefoot - which can in the severe cases be life threatening!
Even now a lot of cages available in pet shops do not meet the minimum size requirements for guinea pigs, hence why today I’m going to be focusing on choosing the right Ozzy Cage for your family and piggies.
Cage Setup Considerations
So firstly, you need to know how many guinea pigs you are going to house, and what sex they are. As guinea pigs are such social animals it is always recommended to house a minimum of 2 together so they have a friend. FUN FACT: Switzerland has passed legislation making it illegal to only own 1 guinea pig, in order to fulfill their requirements for social interactions.
Generally, if you are going to house two or more male guinea pigs together your cage size should be a touch larger to give them some more space. Boars especially can be extremely territorial and for the safety of your guinea pigs should have enough space to have “time out” from each other to prevent fighting and injuries. The great thing however about Ozzy cages, is that if you ever get more guinea pigs or change combinations, it’s easy to expand your cage either in length or by adding multiple levels.
Minimum Cage Size: The area for our critters must be as spacious as possible. Cavies need at least 70 square centimetres of cage space each to be happy and healthy. Male guinea pigs need even MORE room - at least 1 square metre of cage space each, to prevent fights over territory. See our chart below for ideal cage size vs. how many piggies you have.
Multi-Level Cages: Cages with multiple levels can be beneficial as long as they provide safe, easy access between levels with ample floor space. These cages should still meet the minimum floor space requirements, but the extra levels can provide additional enrichment and exploration opportunities. ⚠️ WARNING: A lot of 'vertical style' cages are marketed for guinea pigs but they are not suitable! They often have steep, short ramps and very limited area for your piggies to move around. The height of these levels are also dangerous for guinea pigs if they fall. While these cages are great for mice and rats that can climb, they are unsafe and unsuitable for guinea pigs. Ozzy cages have developed safe ramps specifically designed for the body shape and mobility of guinea pigs in mind - these ramps are not excessively steep, are safe and sturdy, have carpet grip and have a cover add on to prevent the risk of any accidents. Shop our Ozzy Ramps here.
Benefits of large cages and floor space:
Ability to express natural behaviours: Guinea pigs need a large area to explore, popcorn, rumblestrutt, and run laps, and this requires a certain degree of space. They should be able to exhibit and effectively communicate with one another without having objects or walls preventing this or getting in the way.
Exercise: Larger cages allow your pets to move around freely, promoting exercise, preventing obesity, and improving overall health.
Mental Stimulation: A larger cage provides more opportunities for mental stimulation through exploration, hiding spots, and different areas to investigate, reducing boredom and encouraging natural behaviors!
Social Interaction: Larger enclosures can accommodate critters social nature, allowing for more harmonious interactions and reducing fights.
Improved Health: Critters who receive regular exercise are less prone to obesity related issues such as liver, heart and respiratory distress and disease. Boars will also be less prone to developing impaction problems.
Enrichment: You can add various toys, tunnels, platforms, and hideouts in a larger space, enhancing the environment and encouraging natural behaviors like foraging and exploring. Check out our store for lots of playtime goodies!
Easier Maintenance: Believe it or not, a larger cage often means easier and less frequent cleaning as poops are more dispersed! It can also be easier to spot clean and maintain hygiene in a larger space. Guinea pigs will commonly poop in the corners of the cage, which means they aren't left to sit in their faeces and can move away to different areas for living and napping.
Companionship: Guinea pigs are social animals and should ideally be kept in pairs or small groups. Having more than one guinea pig means they’ll need more space to interact and play, which is a consideration when setting up their living area. Read more on piggy companionship here.
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Watch here to find out all you need to know about selecting the right OZZY CAGE for you and your piggies!