How to choose a Guinea Pig’s House

It is important that you guinea pig’s housing gives plenty of room for their needs including eating, sleeping and space to play and exercise. We have put together this housing guide to help you work out the best housing for your guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs can be kept indoors or outdoors but you need to ensure you have the right environment for them whichever you choose. There may be certain aspects about your situation (such as your own home, garden area, existing pets or potential outdoor animal predators) that will decide this for you.

Guinea Pig Cage Size

If you are new to guinea pigs, you need to be sure that you are buying the right sized housing. Unfortunately there are many cages and hutches for sale in the shops and online that do not meet the minimum size requirements recommended by the RSPCA.

Often they are better in housing that is marketed for rabbits as they are much larger and far more suitable.

The RSPCA recommend housing of at least 120cm long x 60cm wide and with a height of 45cm (4ft x 2ft x 1.5ft) for 2 guinea pigs (you should always have a pair, never one on its own).

Generally, the larger the housing is, the better it is for your pets but it depends on how many guinea pigs you have as to how much space they need.

Guinea pig hutches and cages come in all shapes and sizes including single, 2 and 3 tier hutches and single and double storey cages. However, it is essential that at least one of the floors has lots of room to run and play. They will also need a run (either indoors or outdoors) so they can really stretch their legs and have a good play and run around on a regular basis.

Should My Guinea Pig be Housed Indoors or Outdoors?
Whether you need a hutch or a cage is dependent on where you are likely to keep your new pets. Will they be outdoors or would you prefer them in your home?

How to Set Up a Guinea Pig Cage
Once you’ve decided whether you’re going to buy a hutch or cage, you need to find out what to put in the cage and how to set it up. This will depend to a certain amount on whether your guinea pig is outside or inside.

The basics that you will need are:

Some kind of bedding
Lots of hay to keep your cavies warm
A pigloo or hidey hole so they have somewhere to feel safe
Food bowls for nuggets and fresh veg
Water bottle
Toys to prevent boredom