Are you struggling to search out house on your guinea pigs’ cage? Perhaps you’ve moved right into a smaller place, otherwise you’d prefer to undertake extra piggies if solely you had the room. Let’s go over some guinea pig cage concepts for small areas!
Lofts, completely different cage shapes, added cupboard space, and stacked cages all assist to suit a guinea pig cage into your small house. Elevating your cage utilizing sturdy furnishings can be a terrific thought! Keep in mind that guinea pig cages have to be a minimum of 7.5 square feet, and that 10.5 sq. ft or bigger is good.
On this article, we’ll focus on six methods to suit a guinea pig cage right into a small house with out sacrificing the minimal cage measurement.
1. Loft Areas
Some of the standard methods so as to add additional house to a guinea pig cage is by giving them a loft space, or a second flooring. That is most frequently completed with C&C cages.
Please do not forget that the loft house doesn’t rely towards your cage measurement as a result of guinea pigs want flat house to run round. For example, let’s say your cage was 6 sq. ft and also you added a loft that was 2 sq. ft. On this case your cage nonetheless wouldn’t meet the minimal necessities of seven.5 sq. ft as a result of solely the underside stage counts.
But when your cage already meets minimal necessities, the loft generally is a enjoyable additional house for them to hang around!
Some guinea pigs don’t use lofts in any respect, whereas others love them. They work particularly properly for younger piggies who get pleasure from climbing.
Lastly, please be certain that all your guinea pigs’ requirements are on the bottom flooring. They shouldn’t need to climb to get their hay or water, as an illustration, as this may result in them consuming or ingesting lower than they need to.
2. L-Formed Cages (And Different Shapes!)
L-shaped cages are nice for awkward or tight areas. You too can fiddle with different shapes reminiscent of a U-shape or bump-outs utilizing C&C grids. Keep in mind that your guinea pigs don’t care that their cage is social media excellent–simply that it meets their wants!
You do wish to be certain that the cage isn’t too slender in both course, and that there’s loads of open flooring house. However past that, be at liberty to go wild!
3. Triangular Guinea Pig Cages for Corners
One of many extra inventive makes use of of house I’ve personally seen was a triangular nook cage. As long as you’re certain your cage meets the minimal necessities (since triangles are a bit trickier to measure) these can work properly!
4. Including Storage Beneath Your Guinea Pig Cage
Guinea pig gadgets are by no means contained to their cage. I used to wrestle to search out locations to retailer my piggies’ hay, pellets, bedding, and different gadgets. Some folks have a ton of fleece to retailer, because it’s enjoyable to purchase completely different patterns to brighten the cage!
C&C cages might be lifted up by C&C grids, or you should utilize a desk so that you’ve cupboard space under. This house can maintain your guinea pigs’ issues, your individual stuff, or a mix of each.
Elevating the cage with C&C grids tends to provide somewhat little bit of house for a number of small storage bins, whereas elevating your cage on a desk offers way more room.
For those who do use C&C grids to raise your cage, please be certain that it’s sturdy–guinea pigs have died from unstable C&C cages collapsing. Use zip ties to attach the grids, not solely the connectors that include them, and take into account including wood dowels for added stability.
5. Inserting Your Cage on Sturdy Furnishings
I’ve nearly all the time saved my guinea pigs’ cages on sturdy furnishings, usually one thing that would double as storage. I’ve had them on tables and on a big dresser. I’ve even saved them on the counters of the bar within the basement because it was beforehand unused–and it meant we had a sink close by for water refills or wash ups.
In fact, you all the time wish to be certain that the furnishings is sturdy sufficient to carry your guinea pigs with out collapsing. Take into consideration different pets and youngsters as properly–can they knock down the cage whereas taking part in close by, or whereas attempting to get to the guinea pigs?
6. Stacked Cages
You probably have a couple of guinea pig cage, stacking them can actually assist save on house. I’ve by no means completed this myself, as cleansing appears a bit trickier, however some folks swear by them!
I’ve seen folks stack cages utilizing C&C grids, ensuring to zip tie every grid collectively and normally utilizing a wood dowel to additional maintain all the things in place. I’ve additionally seen folks use tables to carry the highest cage whereas retaining the underside one beneath.
Plenty of the gorgeous stacked cages you see on social media are excellent rectangles, however yours doesn’t need to be–you can also make a bigger cage on the underside for an even bigger herd, or make the most of completely different shapes like we talked about above.
I hope this text has helped to provide you some concepts about your subsequent guinea pig cage! Bear in mind that you could all the time mix the concepts above as properly–possibly your house would finest swimsuit an L-shaped cage with storage beneath, otherwise you wish to have stacked cages with a loft on the higher stage. Something goes as long as you’re pleased and your guinea pigs have the house they should thrive.