Now, there are a variety of cages on the market that meet the appropriate size requirements for guinea pigs. As it can be daunting to search for the right cage for your beloved pets, we have curated a selection of the top cages for guinea pigs, so you don’t have to!
KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A CAGE FOR GUINEA PIGS
Choosing the right cage is the most important decision that you will make for your guinea pigs.
Space is paramount! Guinea pigs require a lot more space than other small pets such as hamsters or rats, and thus, will require you to dedicate a lot more room to their living space. We recommend a minimum of 10 square feet for two guinea pigs. This is in reference to the total floor space and does not take any second level or loft area into account. That’s because guinea pigs need plenty of floor space to run around in.
There can be very negative consequences for guinea pigs with limited floor space: they can become obese, with cardiovascular issues. They could also become very stressed, resulting in frequent fighting and injuries amongst cage mates. A lack of floor place can also cause depression in guinea pigs, as they have no motivation to explore their small environment. That’s why we advise you choose a cage with the maximum amount of space.
Check this article or the video below to know more about how much space is required for guinea pigs:
In addition to your considerations for cage size, here are a few other key points to consider when choosing a guinea pig cage.
Is the cage easy to clean?
Does it have a fixed lid with a small opening? Cages with limited access to the interior cause for difficult cage cleans. Difficult access to the cage interior can also result in frustrating interactions and an overall decrease in frequent cage cleanliness. Open cages or cages with stands can make cage cleans easier, especially if you have back problems. Also note that DIY cages made of material like wood are also harder to keep clean than plastic. Finally, some molded plastic cage bases have indented edges making it sometimes harder to clean. Maintaining a clean cage at all times is very important for your guinea pigs physical and mental wellbeing.Can the cage be easily modified?
It is likely that you may need to modify your set-up as your love story with guinea pigs evolve: you may have to keep more or less guinea pigs or find yourself wishing you had bought a bigger cage. You might also be able to move them to a bigger space. C&C cages are the only guinea pig cages that are fully modular and can be modified in a matter of minutes.Does the cage setup allow you to easily bond with your guinea pigs?
Cages with fixed lids or small cage openings create barriers for you and your guinea pigs. A cage with an open top concept or with large open lid access, or a cage with a stand, all add great benefits when interacting with your guinea pigs.Where will your guinea pigs be housed: indoors or outdoors?
Although the RSPCA advised against outside hutches, some people will decide on a hutch. If you house your guinea pigs outdoors, please consider a cage that ensures your guinea pigs are warm and protected from the elements (guinea pigs prefer temperatures in the range of 18 – 24°C/ 65-75 F).WHAT CAN MAKE A GUINEA PIG CAGE UNSUITABLE?
Unfortunately, there are cages out there marketed as suitable cages for guinea pigs when this is NOT the case. Traditional pet shop cages are often big culprits as they often stock cages unsuited for guinea pigs.Small cages
As stated above, a lot of cages marketed for guinea pigs are way too small for them. You will find on the market cages that are 100 x 50 cm or 120 x 50 cm and this is way too small! At minimum, get a 140 x 70cm or 10 square feet in total for a pair of guinea pigs.IMPORTANT: sometimes manufacturers also provide external dimensions only while it is internal dimensions that matters! Cage bases that slope inwards also need to be taken into account, as this will take away from the total floor space your piggies will have.
Multi-Platformed Cages, Ramps and Inclines
Hamsters, rats, and ferrets are all avid climbers and enjoy the excitement a multi-platformed environment can bring: Guinea pigs however, are not, and are often too scared of heights. Guinea pigs need open living spaces that are flat in order to run around in. The exception to this is a soft slope, which can enrich a guinea pig's living space. Some guinea pig cages with ramps provide loft areas that are created especially for guinea pigs. Guinea pig specific lofts are suitable for them as they are accessible by way of a gentle incline. These types of lofts are also not high off the base of the cage.
Wire Meshed flooring
Cages that have wire meshing floors are NOT suitable for guinea pigs. Wire meshing is not safe for guinea pigs as they have delicate feet. The coarseness of this type of meshing can cause damage to their feet and could lead to health issues such as bumblefoot.
Glass Cages
Aquariums at one point were often thought to be good cages for guinea pigs, especially as they were commonly used in school settings. However, due to a better-informed guinea pig community, this is now known to be a poor cage choice. Aquariums chosen to be used as cages for guinea pigs are often too small and don’t adequately provide enough living space. Due to the solid glass walls and fully enclosed lid, they do not provide enough air flow for your pet and muffle the outside world, making guinea pigs even more skittish.Now that you are clear on the do’s and don’ts of guinea pig cages, let’s look at our top 10 guinea pig cages for 2022.
OUR TOP 10 CAGES FOR GUINEA PIGS
Please note that each cage listed will house a different number of guinea pigs. For help deciding on what the best cage size is for you and your guinea pigs, please refer to our article “How big should your guinea pig cage be?” for more information.
BEST CAGE FOR YOUNG GUINEA PIG OWNERS (KIDS) |
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BEST CAGE FOR BEGINNERS |
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BEST CAGE FOR 2 PAIRS OF GUINEA PIGS |
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BEST WOODEN CAGE FOR GUINEA PIGS |
Hamster Homes UK: Extra Large Indoor Guinea Pig Cage with Optional Roof |
BEST CAGE FOR ERGONOMY |
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BEST CAGE WITH FEEDING AREA |
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BEST CAGE FOR A PAIR OF MALE GUINEA PIGS |
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BEST CUSTOM WOODEN CAGE |
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LARGEST CAGE FOR GUINEA PIGS |
Kavee: White 6X2 Guinea Pig C&C Cage With Loft, Ramp, & Stand |
BEST OUTDOOR CAGE FOR GUINEA PIGS |
BEST CAGE FOR YOUNG GUINEA PIG OWNERS (KIDS)
Kavee 4x2 C&C cage with Loft and Ramp
Dimensions: 1.40 x 0.70 x 0.35 m
Kavee offers this great 4x2 C&C cage that is most ideal for two guinea pigs. With an open top concept, this cage allows you to easily interact with your guinea pigs and clean your cage with ease. This cage comes complete with everything you’ll need to set up in a matter of minutes. Easily snap the connectors into place and assemble your coroplast sheet with locking slots. Kids will spend hours watching their guinea pigs going up and down the safe ramp.
BEST CAGE FOR BEGINNERS
My Little Friends 160 Cage
Dimensions: 71cm, length 152cm (internal base measurement)
Although marketed primarily for rabbits, this cage boasts an impressive 11.6 square feet that can be used for guinea pigs. This cage arrives flat packed and only requires minimal assembly. The cage is enclosed with a wire canopy with a lid at the top. This cage is durable with a deep plastic base to avoid spillage of bedding or waste.
BEST CAGE FOR 2 PAIRS OF GUINEA PIGS
Kavee Two Tier 4x2 Stacked Double C&C Cage
Dimensions: 1.40 x 0.70 x 1.05 m (Overall) or 1.40 x 0.70 x 0.35 m (Each Floor)
This cage offers a unique opportunity to stack two cages on top of each other. Once assembled, this cage makes for a very sturdy structure and is suitable to house up to 4 guinea pigs (2 on each level). This 4x2 C&C stacked cage is a great option if you wish to conserve space and provides ample room for your piggies to run around in! Cute and practical!
BEST WOODEN CAGE FOR GUINEA PIGS
Don’t let the name fool you, as this seller creates handmade pet homes with guinea pigs and other small pets in mind. This cage is designed with a deep base that allows you to layer on your substrate of choice. It has been created to provide the minimum size requirements as advised by the RSPCA. The lid frame lifts off from the cage to allow easy cage cleans and access to your guinea pigs.
BEST CAGE FOR ERGONOMY
Dimensions: 1.40 x 1.40 x 0.70 m
This double stand C&C cage provides not only a spacious cage for your piggies but also ample storage space and an excellent height for easier cleaning and bonding. This cage gets top marks for easy cleaning as it is also an ideal cage if you experience back problems or difficulty bending. A loft and ramp adds for additional enrichment for you little ones to eagerly run up and down: the loft is created with guinea pigs in mind so it is nice and gentle. This cage also has the option to add a lid and exists in white and black C&C grids.
BEST CAGE WITH FEEDING AREA
Midwest Cage: Guinea Pig Habitat Plus
Dimensions: 119.4 x 61 x 35.6 cm
Despite it’s marketed dimensions, this popular cage earns a spot on this list due to its potential to add on an additional cage for a larger living space. This cage has a canvas bottom so it is water resistant but not 100% waterproof. Some have reported that it can hold onto odours if not carefully/regularly cleaned. This cage also offers a divider that can be used to separate a feeding area from the play area, though many opt to remove this feature entirely. The midwest cage also includes a gentle ramp for enrichment.
BEST CAGE FOR AN ILL OR PREGNANT GUINEA PIG
Kavee 3x2 C&C Cage with Stand
Dimensions: 1.75 x 0.70 x 0.70 m
For guinea pigs that are ill or pregnant, there may be times when it is recommended that they housed in a separate cage away from the rest of the herd. That's why the Kavee 3x2 C&C cage with a stand earns a spot on this list! With quick and easy assembly, this cage can be setup at a moments notice in your piggy's time of need. The stand helps aid in easy cleaning and also makes for great storage to keep everything you need for your piggies in one place.
BEST CUSTOM WOODEN CAGE
Wooden World, Large indoor Guinea Pig Hutch
Dimensions: 120cm x 60cm x 36cm
A great hutch alternative, this spacious wooden enclosure provides a large living space for guinea pigs. This cage has a deep bottom tray for thick layers of substrate and has perspex sides for windows. Features an open top but can also be customized to have a lid if you wish. Wooden World will also accept custom orders so you can choose the dimensions you need for your guinea pigs’ new home!
LARGEST CAGE FOR GUINEA PIGS
Dimensions: 210 x 70 x 35 cm
Kavee’s ultimate guinea pig cage! This cage offers plenty of space for your guinea pigs and is fully kitted out with a loft and ramp, and also a stand! Just as the other great Kavee cages listed here, this cage allows for easier bonding with your guinea pigs with it’s stand. This helps to keep your guinea pigs at a comfortable height so they do not mistake you for a predator. Simply put, it’s a piggie paradise!
BEST OUTDOOR CAGE FOR GUINEA PIGS
Dimensions: 1804 x 650 x 1300 cm
For those that decide to house their guinea pigs in a hutch, we have selected this 6ft hutch for a variety of reasons! With it’s impressive dimensions, your guinea pigs will love the amount of space they will have compared to other hutches on the market. This cage has been treated with pet friendly varnish to make it water resistant, so keep in mind it is not completely waterproof. For added safety, it is made with fox proof wire meshing to keep your guinea pigs protected. Cleaning has also been made easier, compared to most hutches, with a cleaning bar: simply unlock and remove the bar stopper for easy removal of substrate.
CONCLUSION
We hope you enjoyed our top picks for the best guinea pig cages! As mentioned earlier, it is important to consider a few key points before choosing a cage for your piggies, such as cage size, accessibility, and ease of cleaning. Remember to choose a cage with the most amount of space that you can accommodate! Bigger is always better when it comes to your guinea pig’s living space.
Check out our other useful posts:
-Reducing your guinea pigs’ carbon footprint
-What are C&C cages for guinea pigs?
-The ultimate guide to using fleece liners for guinea pigs
-6 ways in which C and C cages got better
-Which C&C cage is right for my guinea pigs?
-What does C&C cage stand for?
-Hinged doors, lids and gates on C&C cages: how does it work?
-10 ideas to decorate your C&C cage with everyday items
