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