Large Guinea Pig Cages
If you’re thinking of buying guinea pigs, you should remember that large guinea pig cages make the best homes. Before you make your purchase, consider whether you have the room to house one of these sweet critters, because even though they’re little they do have important space requirements.
The right sizes for small, medium, or large guinea pig cages depends on how many guinea pigs you are getting. Just one guinea pig alone needs a minimum of 7.5 square feet. This is a home measuring 2.5 by 3 feet. If you’re going by grids, you need to build the home two grids wide and three grids long. Remember, too, when calculating your square footage using grids-the grids are 14 inches square. And that is the minimum recommended space!
Years ago, experts said that these pets did not need large guinea pig cages. People bought small cages with a total space of no more than two or four square feet. With a cage this small, the animal is forced to live in its own waste. Plus, these little animals need room to run around in. They love to repeat laps back and forth throughout the cage. This is their exercise!
When they have insufficient running space, guinea pigs can develop several medical conditions:
- The adult male can actually become constipated because he loses the muscular tone that he needs in the anal area.
- A female as she ages has the potential to develop cysts, and they might go undiagnosed if she carries too much weight in her belly.
- Just like people, guinea pigs are prone to weight-related ailments-diabetes, heart disease, problems with the bladder, and a tendency toward respiratory infection.
Besides the cleanliness that’s easier to maintain in large guinea pig cages, there is also the danger of bumblefoot. This is a staph infection of the ball of the foot that occurs when they live in unsanitary conditions.
Guinea pigs are social creatures that are happiest when they have a playmate, so while you’re at it you’ve got to consider obtaining two or more. Two guinea pigs need 10.5 square feet, which works out to two grids wide and four grids long. For each additional guinea pig, add another grid in length.
Now that you understand the importance of large guinea pig cages, let’s look at some popular cage styles and configurations. One of the nicest things that people can do for their guinea pigs is create a two-story cage for them. These little critters love to run up and down between the two levels! Unfortunately, most people make the mistake of assuming that this extra level replaces necessary square footage on the first level, which is simply untrue. Do not count the square footage of the upper level when you’re calculating the dimensions of your guinea pig’s living space.
You can take a look at some of the large guinea pig cages available on Amazon to get an idea of what you need. You’ll find cages that come complete with built-in ramps and lofts. There are also styles that allow you to add on space-which is ideal in case you decide to buy an extra pet. Most of them snap together with no tools necessary, and the cage wires are coated so they cannot be chewed. Ultimately, you’ll find the style that works best for you-and your pets.
GuineaPigCages.com.au