As part of the adoption process, OGPR wants to ensure that your new family member has the proper size habitat to thrive. This page will show the approved cages we can not accept.
The second most important diet for your guinea pig is their ability to have enough space to run and play. Habitats that are too small can significantly impact the pig's physical and mental health. Unfortunately, the pet stores do not know the space needed and sell cages that are not even close to the proper size. We have had many pigs surrendered in cages that were entirely too small and have seen significant health improvements in these pigs once introduced to an adequately sized habitat. This article will give recommendations and some tips we have learned here at the rescue over the years to help you create the perfect habitat for your piggy!
The pen is the first choice you must make, so we would like to present our favorite habitats and those we cannot accept.
Our size recommendations are for a pair of piggies since we do not discuss the size of a single pig, and they need to have a buddy to satisfy their social interaction requirements. We prefer the c&c 2x6 (30”x90”) or 2x4 (30”x60”) with a 2x2 (30”x30”) loft for our bonded pairs at the rescue. If you use a midwest habitat, we require TWO and attach them with one; once you put the piggloo in, there is very little room for them to run around. There are many pages on the web where you can learn to build your own, or you can go to these companies and purchase them as a kit, and the setup possibilities are endless!
Kavee provides high-quality C&C cages and fleece products, making it a one-stop shop for your habitat. Here, we suggest a 2x6 (30” x 90”) C&C or a 2X5 (30” x 75”) C&C with a 2x1 (30”x 15”) loft.
Guinea Pig Cage Store has every layout you can imagine, but again, we would require a 2x6 (30” x 90”)C&C, 2x4 (30”x 60”) C&C with a 2x2 (30” x 30”) loft, or a 2x5 (30 x 75”) C&C with a 2x1 (30” x 15”) loft.
Piggy Bed Spreads an excellent selection, but we would require a 2x6 (30” x 90”) C&C, 2x4 (30”x 60”) C&C with 2x2 (30” x 30”) loft, or a 2x5 (30 x 75”) C&C with 2x1 (30” x 15”) loft. We also love the fitted piggy bedspreads here at the rescue!
Not All C&C Grids Are Safe – Please Read Before Buying!
Over the years, OGPR has seen several incidents where guinea pigs were seriously injured after getting their heads stuck in grids that appeared to be standard C&C panels. While most people assume that all 14”x14” grids are the same, that’s not the case. To our surprise, these panels come in different configurations: 5x5, 7x7, 8x8, and 9x9 grids.
After careful research and measurement, we’ve found that only the 9x9 grids—with openings approximately 1.46” wide—are safe for adult guinea pigs. These are sold by Cagetopia and Piggy Bedspreads, and they are the only ones we recommend. Kavee grids are also acceptable, especially for homes with baby guinea pigs, as their openings are even smaller.
If you're building your own enclosure using parts from Amazon or elsewhere, we strongly encourage you to review our Grid Safety Alert first and make sure your 14”x14” panels have exactly 9 squares across and no fewer. Choosing the right grids can prevent serious injuries—and even save lives.
