When you decide to get a guinea pig, it is important to prepare and set up their habitat properly.
The next step is to find out what exact items does guinea pig need in its cage beside the cage itself and here is the list
- Bedding
- Water bottle
- Hay dispenser
- Guinea pig Hideouts
- Food bowl
- Toys
- Cosy items
Now when you know what items you need for your pet we can go in detail for each item, why do you need them and how to choose the right one. So let’s start.
Table of Contents
Bedding
When deciding what type of bedding to use you have to know that guinea pig is usually not litter box trained and their entire cage is used as a bathroom so it has to be absorbent but also comfortable and safe for Guinea pigs because they walk around it most of the day. Bedding has to be cleaned and changed regularly.
Type of Beddings
Shredded Paper (Bedding)
Is a great material for bedding. There is a variety of options on the market but you have to look for 3 things. You just have to make sure that bedding is absorbant and soft (comfortable), the second important thing is to have the ability to control the odor. Dust factor is also something you have to be aware of because some brands produce more dust than others.
It also important to check if your guinea pigs are eating the bedding becuse it can cause health issues and in that case you have to use alternative beddings
Wood Shavings Bedding
They are great as a bedding and it is used as a bedding for majority of ”pocket pets”.
Wood shavings absorb urine well and control the odor. Guinea pigs find this type of bedding very cozy. Easy to clean and less expensive than alternatives. It is a natural product that is biodegradable so it is environmentally safe.
Just be cautious and avoid pine and cedarwood shavings, they can cause health issues (skin, respiratory and liver conditions)
A lot of owners recommend Aspen shavings because they are safe and do not make to much dust but the downside is low odor control and it does not absorb as good as the alternatives.
Fleece Bedding
Fleece bedding is used in recent years as a bedding and Guinea pigs really like it because it is soft to walk and lay on it. For the fleece bedding, you have to have 3 layers. The first bottom layer should be waterproof, the next layer is absorbant layer like puppy pads or similar and on top, you put fleece.
This is important because urine does not stay in fleece it just goes trough so you need something to absorb it and that is why you have an absorbent second layer. Fleece bedding is easy to clean because you can put it in the washing machine and it has to be changed once a week.
You have on the market a lot of alternatives that are anti-bacterial, fungal, microbial like Guinea Pig Fleece Cage Liners that have 3 layers keeping the fleece dry, controlling the odor and preventing the bacteria to develop.
Hay Dispenser
Guinea pigs must have an unlimited amount of hay at all times. The best place to store the hay in the cage is Hay dispenser. There are many options on the market but there are some basic guidelines when deciding :
- hay dispenser has to keep the hay fresh and in one place
- choose the proper size to fit the cage.
- make sure that they are easy to clean.
- that it is safe for your pet
- and allows your cavy to get enough hay easily
I prefer Kaytee Hay and Food Bin Feeder because it is a perfect size and it 2 in 1 hay rack and pellet (food) bowl. You can, of course, choose any other you like
Food bowl
Piece of equipment you should have in your pet habitat. It is used for either fresh or dried food and my suggestion is not to mix it in one bowl so you should have at least 2 of them. Make sure they are shallow so your Cavy is able to reach food easily and the bowl should have a wide bottom to prevent accidental tipping over.
The most popular on the market is STAYbowl ensures pet health and wellness; reduces overfeeding, BPA-free, food-grade polypropylene injection-molded plastic.
Water Bottle
A vital water source for your pet and you have to make sure that there is enough water at all times. The trouble with water bottles is that they can leak so your furry friend can stay without a water source and the spill can make a mess in the cage. There are plastic and glass options and both options have pros and cons. I suggest Choco Nose H528 U.S Patented Leak-Proof nozzle/No Drip Water dispenser, it works well for my Cavies.
Guinea Pig Hideouts
They are very important for cage setup because guinea pigs are prey animals and they need a place to feel safe(hide).
If you do not provide places to hide your guinea pig will feel frustrated all the time and it will cause a number of health issues.
There are a variety of options on the market to choose from or even make one yourself :
Woodhouses
I must say I like them a lot because it is a natural product that comes in a variety of colors and sizes and looks great.
Just make sure that the house you choose has two entrances because if you have more then one guinea pig and two of them want to get in the house at the same time allow alternative exit for the less dominant one to back away.
Tunnels
Tunnels are generally designed to make the habitat interesting and for guinea pigs to run trough but a lot of them like to hide inside so make sure you have some tunnels that will allow one more hiding place.
There are plenty of options made from natural products like hay tunnel or crinkle tunnel that makes noise while guinea pigs run trough. There are also Cosy tunnels with fleece coating, great for a nap. They are also available in different sizes and lengths and some of them can bend them into U shape.
Plastic Igloos
They are also known as ”pigloos”. Great place for guinea pigs to hide. Plastic material makes them easy to wash and there are a lot of colors and patterns to choose from. Downside beside that they are made from plastic is that they have only one exit so you have to make an additional hole as an alternative exit and for the reason, I mentioned before to avoid two guinea pigs fighting over hideout.
Flexible Sticks
They are very popular and most of the guinea pig owner have at least one’
Sticks are flexible and u can make different shapes, they come in different colors and some have flavors for guinea pigs to chew on. Just check from time to time to change the stick when they ware off from chewing.
DIY Hiding Places
Easiest DIY hiding place you can make is a paper bag that you can just place anywhere in the cage and your furry pets will have fun with it. As soon as it tears up just pick up the peaces and recycle.
You can use a cardboard box (smaller size) as a hiding place or even a house. First, remove the tape and stickers (if there is any) after that fold the flaps of the box under each other to make it stable and this will be the rooftop. Cut out the box flaps that are on the other side so now you have a box with 5 walls (same as a house).
Decide how many doors/entrances you want to make I suggest at least 2 so guinea pigs can enter and exit easily. Cit out small windows if you want and place it in the cage.When it gets shredded just recycle it and make a new one.
If you have a spare cage grids you have 2 options either to make an A shape conecting 2 grid peaces and after placing them in the cage just cover it with fabric.
The second option is to bend a grid panel into a U shape and cover it with fleece and you will have a fleece tunnel for your pets to enjoy and hide inside.
Take the oats container (tube-shaped) and strip all labels and plastic parts. Then cut out the bottom and the tunnel is done. You can decorate it in several ways but the best one is to use pet-safe glue and natural hemp string. Cover the outside of the tube with pet-safe glue and coil the hemp string till the entire container is covered and voila you have a great tunnel that you made for your pet.
Toys for Guinea Pigs
Treat Ball
A fun toy that will keep your furry pet entertained for hours just add veggies and let your pet have fun with it. Besides the entertaining part it will make your Cavy exercise more so you are keeping him active.
The great thing about this toy is that it has an adjustable opening to put different size of treats inside and also it has interesting yellow color with decorative carrots that attracts attention.
Kaytee Crinkle Tunnel
It a great toy that Guinea pigs love to explore or rest inside and as a bonus it makes crinkling sounds. It is 23 inches long and it can be extended with other tunnels as much as you like. Kaytee Crinkle Tunnel is durable and easy to maintain just turn the washer on the gentle cycle.
Hanging Toys (for Chewing)
Most popular is Kaytee Perfect Chews for Guinea Pigs and it has several wood shapes (ball, orange slice, log or cube) with metal rod holding it in place. You can hang it any place you like that is reachable for your pet. Comes in different attractive colors and it is safe for chewing.It helps your guinea pigs to keep the teeth healthy and in proper length.
This is yet another great chewing toy from Kaytee, this time around, constructed around a metal rod. On it, you’ll find wood balls, orange slices, and other wooden logs and blocks.
Balls
You have several options and i will suggest only 2
Willow Branch Ball
It is 100 % natural product made out of willow branches.It is safe for your pet and it helps with dental hygiene and best of all your pet will love it.
Wooden ball with a bell inside
A very durable item that allows your pet to grind their teeth and also a fun toy for your Cavy to play with. It is a natural product that is safe for chewing and the bell inside will make it interesting to play.
Snak Shak Activity Log
It is 3 in 1 toy a hiding place, surface for chewing and a treat.They make this out of alfa alfa, wood shavings and honey so you can imagine how will this log make your guinea pigs happy.
Snuggle Hammock
Very cosy item that will make your guinea pig fell a sleep instantly.When they crawl inside they fell safe protected and comfortable so the best place ofr relaxation and nap.Small opening allows them to check out what is going on around them when they want go out or just observe.It is durable and easy to install and easy to maintain (machine washable)
Cosy Items
Guinea pigs like to cuddle up in cozy spots so the owners make or buy fleece tunes, cuddle cups, hanging beds or even cozy caves. There are plenty of options you can choose from just make sure they are safe for your pet
Tips on Cage Setup
Set up a cage before you bring guinea pigs at least a day or two before because you will need time to figure out how to set it up, where to put it etc. This way you avoid stress for you and your pet because if everything is prepared your pet can go strait into its cage to explore.
When it comes to the perfect place to set the cage up is to avoid direct sunlight and draft.
I suggest setting up one level cage but if you insist you can have an additional level to save space or to make an additional place for your guinea pigs to explore.
In case you want to know more on what to put in the cage check out our article ”What does my Ginea Pig need in its cage”
When setting up the cage make sure that the first/bottom layer is waterproof and the best is a chloroplast that can be used as a base it is easy to shape and available in all stores like Home Depot, Walmart…
I hope you find this article helpfull and that your guinea pig will have a great home to play in and enjoy.
