| The decision on where to place your guinea | | | | includes detailed instructions on how to |
| pig should be made before you choose a cage | | | | create a safe, roomy cage for your guinea |
| so you'll know exactly how much space you | | | | pigs relatively easily and inexpensively. All |
| will be working with, particularly if you | | | | of the pieces can be purchased in local |
| will be keeping your guinea pig indoors. | | | | stores and would cost anywhere from $60 to |
| Ideally, your guinea pig's cage should be at | | | | $90 to create, including the table to sit the |
| least 2 square feet per guinea pig, but the | | | | cage on. While that may not seem like much of |
| more area you provide for your pet, the | | | | a savings over the pet store variety, you |
| happier he or she will be. The height of the | | | | won't have to do any further modifications |
| cage is not as important. Guinea pigs don't | | | | and you will be giving your guinea pig more |
| really climb much because of their size so 18 | | | | than 10 square feet of room to enjoy. For |
| inch walls should be high enough to keep them | | | | those guinea pigs who will be staying |
| safely inside a cage. Many guinea pig owners | | | | outside, you will probably want to construct |
| prefer to have multi-level cages for their | | | | your own hutch as well. Most of the ones |
| pets. While the addition of ramps and other | | | | currently sold are either not of good |
| levels may be fun and interesting for the | | | | quality, have interior exposed wood, or both. |
| guinea pig, it isn't necessary. When most | | | | Another option is to purchase a metal |
| people purchase their guinea pig cages, they | | | | commerical cage, remove the wire bottom, and |
| usually go through a pet store. This can be a | | | | place it on a table that is high enough off |
| mistake for several reasons: 1. You will pay | | | | the ground to prevent other animals from |
| too much! A decent-size guinea pig cage in | | | | having easy access to the guinea pigs. If you |
| any pet store will run you around $75 to $100 | | | | do choose to build your own, avoid using |
| minimum, which is way too much to spend for | | | | chicken wire and instead opt for welded wire |
| what you are getting. 2. You will have to do | | | | because chicken wire can cause injuries to |
| additional modifications on the cage to make | | | | the animal's mouth if he or she chews on it. |
| it livable for your guinea pig. Your cage | | | | However, you do not need to worry about the |
| should never have an exposed wood interior | | | | guinea pig chewing its way through either |
| (it soaks up the smell of their urine) or an | | | | type of wire. One final word of caution on |
| exposed wire bottom (it can hurt their | | | | choosing a cage: Many pet stores sell |
| sensitive feet). Many of the cages you | | | | aquariums and fish tanks as ideal homes for |
| purchase in pet stores have these features. | | | | guinea pigs and other small pets, but this is |
| 3. You usually won't be able to find a large | | | | a definite no-no. Guinea pigs need a |
| enough cage. Remember that for one guinea | | | | well-ventilated cage because the ammonia |
| pig, you need at least 2 square feet of cage | | | | fumes from their urine can cause them to |
| space. Each additional guinea pig requires | | | | become ill. Obviously, an aquarium is not |
| between 2 to 4 extra square feet of space. | | | | well-ventilated and, therefore, should never |
| Also, you need to figure in the room for | | | | be used as a home for your guinea pig. |
| toys, hiding places, and food dishes. Many | | | | Regardless of the type of cage you buy or |
| cage manufactureres will try to fool you by | | | | make, you'll want to be sure that it is |
| quoting only the exterior size on the box | | | | fairly easy to clean. At least once every two |
| but, because of how it is measured, that can | | | | weeks, you need to remove everything from the |
| be a foot or more different from the actual | | | | cage and give it a thorough cleaning so be |
| amount of room your guinea pig would have | | | | sure you can do that as conveniently as |
| inside the cage. If you do decide to buy a | | | | possible. People, even loving pet owners, |
| pet store cage for the sake of convenience, | | | | tend not to do necessary things when they are |
| be sure to also figure on giving them lots of | | | | too much of an inconvenience. |
| time to run around on the floor. The best | | | | |
| option regarding guinea pig cages, | | | | Florian Ross developed comprehensive guides |
| particularly if you want to keep several | | | | to help people succeed with their guinea |
| together, is to build your own. This may | | | | pigs. Find out more about how to have your |
| sound difficult, but it truly isn't, | | | | guinea pig live 2 times longer with his |
| especially if you find some helpful | | | | popular free ecourse at => pets-lovers. |
| instructions to work with. for example, | | | | |