For the optimal performance of the guinea pig (the cavy), owner is encouraged to provide beyond the bare minimum housing accommodations.




It is recommended to provide as large a living area as owner can manage.

Guinea pig needs a plenty of room to run around, stretch, play and express its personality than the average owner presumes.

1. Guinea pig cage

• Recommended MINIMAL cage or hutch size for a single guinea pig (cavy) is about 75 cm by 90 cm (about 7.5 sq feet or 0.7m²)
• Recommended hutch size for 2 cavies is about 75cm by 130cm (about 10.5 sq feet or 1 m²)
• If the owner can’t find a cage this large in a local pet store, owner should consider building his/hers own cage
• Larger cages need less frequent cleaning
• Larger cages can provide space for exercise and play (on animal’s own internal clock)
• Larger cages prevent odor accumulation
• Enclosed cages like aquariums are not recommended (low air circulation could led to a build up of ammonia. Risk of mold formation and bacterial growth is increased.) If you already have one, poke some holes in the transparent plastic area to enable better air circulation.
• It is recommended to provide a hiding place inside the cage (for example, small wooden house) for the animal to have a sense of security, protection, place to sleep and run away to if feeling threatened 

2. Cavy Cage Accessories

1. Water drip bottle
2. Bowl for pellets (heavy, to prevent tipping)
3. Hiding place (like a small wooden house)
4. Optional: cage hayrack, hammock, various non toxic toys
5. Optional: Small carrier cage is recommended for transporting your pet

3. Guinea Pig Toys

Guinea Pig Manual recommends creating your own home-made toys. They are cheap, available, and usually most fun for your pets.

1. Most important toy: Second guinea pig. No toy can replace the live company of the same species.
2. Simplest and cheapest toy to make: crumpled piece of clean white paper. Cavies love that stuff, jostling it around, chewing on it, tearing it apart.
3. Various non-toxic toys (each cavy reacts differently on various objects). For example, naturally-wooden toys with chimes inside usually gets them interested. Plus, it will last long and they can safely chew on it.
4. PVC tubes for sneaking around. NOTE: Make sure they are wide enough, and airy. Keep them under observation to avoid mishaps.
5. Something to cuddle to (for example old socks filled with shavings).
6. A mirror. Just be careful with it – the safest way is to install it on the outside of the cage.
7. Hidden treats within the cage. Just don’t hide it from yourself as well, because it may rot for decades there somewhere.
8. Toilet paper rolls, stuffed with hay.
9. New hideouts, for example made from boxes, with cut-out windows, doors and alternative passages. They love to explore around.

4. Cleaning the Cage

• Regular cage (hutch) cleaning will keep your cavy healthier
• If not cleaning the cage frequently, urine can break down into ammonia which could be harmful to your pet’s respiratory system
• If not cleaning the cage frequently, your pet can contract urinary tract infections (URI) because of the harmful bacterial growth
• Healthy guinea pig has minerals like calcium compounds in the urine. These compounds are deposited on the cage floor and are difficult to remove (see 4.1 Cage Cleaning Instructions for info about removing them).

4.1 Guinea Pig Cage Cleaning Instructions

1. Remove guinea pig(s) from cage (hutch)
2. Remove bedding materials
3. Rinse the cage with warm water and soap
4. Scrub the cage floor
5. IF THERE ARE HARD CALCIUM DEPOSITS: Pour vinegar or citric acid on the calcium deposits. Leave it for several minutes. This will cause a release of gas as the acid dissolves mineral deposits through a chemical reaction. Repeat if necessary, but deposits should come off easily
6. Rinse thoroughly with clean warm water to remove all remaining soap/vinegar/acids
7. Dry the guinea pig cage (hutch)