A cage made from sheets of corrugated
plastic and wire cubes

One of the most important factors in creating an appropriate habitat for your guinea pigs is space. The bigger cage you can provide the better! The minimum size requirement for one guinea pig is 7.5 square feet, with at least 1 extra square foot per additional guinea pig. Most pet store cages designed for rabbits and guinea pigs are terribly inadequate for these little creatures, and at the same time are very costly. Guinea pigs require good ventilation, so aquariums and plastic topped cages are not acceptable housing choices. Wire bottomed cages are also dangerous for guinea pigs, as they can cause serious injury to their delicate feet. Cages made from sheets of corrugated plastic and wire cubes (Creative Cubes or Neat Idea Cubes can be found at Walmart, Costco, Loblaws..) are highly recommended. This type of cage is very affordable, easy to assemble and offer your guinea pigs ample space to play and exercise. A bonus with a larger cage is that it is easier to keep clean! For more information on how to build a creative cube cage, as well as size recommendations, visit www.guineapigcages.com

Choosing the location of the guinea pig's cage is important. It should be in an area that is free of drafts, out of direct sunlight but still provides some indirect light, has a stable temperature range between 65 and 70 degrees F (18-24 C), and - while close to the family's everyday activities - is not in too noisy an area, i.e. next to a TV or stereo. It is not recommended that the pet's cage be located in the room of a child.

Suitable bedding will be required for the guinea pig's cage. Please see the list below. The bottom of the cage should be covered with 1 or 2 inches of one of the recommended beddings and will need to be cleaned every few days, depending on how many guinea pigs there are in the cage and how large the cage is.

Fleece bedding is another option for guinea pigs that they seem to enjoy very much. It is fairly easy to keep clean, as long as you have access to laundry facilities, and you avoid the mess and smell of shavings. We have some guinea pigs that must live on fleece bedding due to sensitive systems and feet (our skinny pigs all live on fleece bedding). One of our homes uses a layer or two of crib blankets as a base covered with multiple layers of fleece blankets. Another home prefers using puppy training pads as a base with the layers of fleeces on top, and yet another uses towels as a base. There are many variations to try, the success of each depending on the needs of each home. The bottom line is - fleece is great!