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How To Care For Your Guinea Pig’s Cage
Posted on March 21st, 2013Tips on guinea pig housing from ASPCA.
Clear the Air’s all natural products can help eliminate odors from your small animal cages like your guinea pig. We would like to share some tips on making your guinea pig’s home the most comfortable and fresh smelling possible. Check out our tips:
Does A Guinea Pig Need A Friend? Guinea pigs are social animals who prefer to live in small groups. If you keep two or more females together, they will become great friends. If you want two males, it’s smart to choose two babies from the same litter. Since guinea pigs, like all rodents, multiply rapidly, keeping males and females together is not recommended.
How Big Should The Cage Be? As a rule of thumb, you’ll need to provide a minimum of four square feet of cage space per guinea pig—but please try to get as large a cage as possible. You’ll need a solid-bottom cage—no wire floors, please, as they can irritate your pets’ feet. Plastic-bottom “tub cages” with wire tops also make great guinea pig homes. Never use a glass aquarium, due to the poor ventilation that it provides.
Where Should The Cage Be? Always keep the cage indoors away from drafts and extreme temperatures, as guinea pigs are very susceptible to heatstroke. They’ll prefer an environment kept at 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Place one of our Clear The Air Odor Remover Bags around the cage to help absorb any odors.
What Should I Line The Cage With? Line the bottom of the cage with aspen or hardwood shavings or some other form of safe bedding, such as grass hay. Do not use cedar or pine chips—the oils they contain can be dangerous to your pets. Most importantly, sprinkle our Clear The Air Pet Odor Eliminator at the bottom of your cage to eliminate odors your pet may cause. Don’t worry, it is completely non-toxic and all natural and is even safe if consumed.
Does My Guinea Pig Need Toys? Guinea pigs love to hide when they play, so be sure to place cardboard tubes and/or empty coffee cans with smoothed edges in the enclosure for this purpose. Plastic pipes and flower pots are good, too, and bricks and rocks for climbing will be much appreciated. All guinea pigs need a cave for sleeping and resting, so provide a medium-sized flower pot or covered sleeping box, readily available at pet supply stores.