C&C cages are becoming an increasingly popular option to keep guinea pigs. But what are they? And what makes them so great?
What are C&C Cages?
C&C cages are a type of cage designed for small pets - mostly guinea pigs and rabbits. They were invented in the 1980s in the United States and have since conquered the world! In fact, they’re regularly mentioned by experts as the best type of cage for guinea pigs.
What does C&C cage mean?
C&C refers to ‘cubes and coroplast’. The cubes are grid panels constructed from powder-coated steel, usually in black or white. These grids click together to form the frame of the cage. Coroplast is another name for corrugated plastic, which is used to form the base of the cage. It comes in a variety of colours.
What's so special about C&C cages?
It’s no surprise that C&C cages are becoming ever more popular with pets and their owners. Here are 8 of their fantastic features:
1. C&C cages are spacious.
This is the number one reason people love C&C cages. Guinea pigs need plenty of floor space to run around in - more than other rodents such as hamsters or rats. As you can see below, even a 'small' 4x2 C&C cage - recommended for two piggies - is way bigger than a conventional cage. It is also much bigger than EU or UK minimal recommendations, which we at Kavee actually consider too small to ensure the wellbeing of your guinea pigs. We’ve done our research and can confirm that C&C cages provide at least 8 square feet of living area - twice the space offered by traditional cages.
Image source: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/cage-size-guide.120795/
2. EXPERTS RECOMMEND C&C CAGES
You can rest assured that by choosing a C&C cage, you’re guaranteeing your piggies a real quality of life and the space they require, as recommended by vets and guinea pig rescues alike. In fact, Saskia from LA Guinea pig Rescue (the absolute guinea pig queen as far as we’re concerned!) recommends C&C set ups as being ‘GREAT’ guinea pig cages. It’s worth knowing that most traditional cage manufacturers don’t share the internal measurements of their cages and that many traditional cages consist of plastic base parts which slant inwards on all four sides, taking away your pigs’ much needed living space. A tad misleading to buyers, don’t you think? With C&C cages on the other hand, what you see is what you get - a roomy, humane space for your energetic fur babies.
3. C&C CAGES ARE FLEXIBLE
If you like building with Lego, you’ll love playing around with C&C grids! You can easily adjust your cage design by adding or removing single grid panels. There are no limits to what you can achieve - make your cavy’s space bigger, create compartments, add a lid or a stand or have it L-shaped to fit a certain space....the possibilities are endless. You can even use your C&C cage to create an outdoor pen without having to buy a separate one. In short, you’ll always be able to make your C&C cage adapt to your piggy’s needs - and yours too.
4. C&C CAGES ARE EASY TO CLEAN
Because most C&C cages are open, without a lid, they’re very simple to clean. Having an open set up also makes it easier to interact with your furry little pals, helping you bond. Choosing a C&C cage with a stand makes it even easier to clean as well as creating useful storage space under the cage. You can choose handy door-grids, which can rotate 180 degrees, and are ideal for creating doors, gates or lids for your C&C cages.
5. C&C CAGES ARE QUICK TO ASSEMBLE
Don’t worry - you don’t have to be a DIY expert to build your new C&C cage. In fact, it’s all pretty straightforward. Adding or removing grids is also easy peasy. When you order Coroplast sheets from Kavee, they’ll come cut to size with locking slots. No tools or connecting pieces are required for the setup and you’ll be finished in no time, leaving you with more time for cuddles with your piggies.
6. C&C CAGES OFFER CHOICE
Did you know that C&C cages are now available in a new cool white colourway as well as the classic black option originally offered by Kavee? It’s always good to have choices! You might decide that subtle white suits your space more or that striking black would make more of a statement. Each cage design comes with a choice of five coroplast colours including Grey, Blue, Pink, Pistachio, Lilac and Black so you can truly design the guinea pig cage of your dreams.
7. C&C CAGES ARE FUN AND CREATIVE
Say no to boring cages! With a C&C cage, your creativity can really flow. It’s time to think outside the box….Choose a super smart ramp and loft for your piggy to explore. Decorate your C&C cage to your taste with pet safe accessories and toys. Add gorgeous sleep sacks and pee pads to your cage and line it with beautiful, absorbent Kavee fleece liners and ramp covers.
8. C&C CAGES ARE FOLDABLE AND CAN BE STORED FLAT
Great news. You can entirely disassemble your C&C cage and store it completely flat when needed - very handy if you have a small living space. For this reason, C&C cages are also great for travelling with your piggies and for outdoor use in warmer months too.
9. GUINEA PIGS FEEL SAFER IN A C&C CAGE WITH A STAND
You might think your guinea pigs would prefer to be closer to the ground but actually the opposite is true. By having your guinea pigs up at the same level as you, they’ll be much less skittish and will adjust to you being around them, strengthening your bond. By choosing a C&C cage with stand, you’ll be helping your piggy adjust to their new living space more quickly.
A stand also creates storage space under the cage - ideal for storing your piggies' supplies, especially if you choose Kavee storage boxes to match your fleece liners.
10. C&C CAGES ARE BABY GUINEA PIG FRIENDLY
As our C&C grids are constructed from very thin meshing, they’re perfectly safe to use with baby guinea pigs older than 8 weeks. Do please always run a test with your own pets though - after all, guinea pigs come in a variety of sizes and shapes!
Need guidance in choosing the right C&C cage? Check our C&C cage guide size or our decision tree on picking the right C&C cage for your guinea pigs.
Check out our other useful posts:
Reducing your guinea pigs’ carbon footprint
The ultimate guide to using fleece liners for guinea pigs
6 ways in which C and C cages got better
Hinged doors, lids and gates on C&C cages: how does it work?
4 reasons to add a stand to your C&C cage
