Buying a new indoor guinea pig cage can seem like a simple task, until you start looking! And I’m sure you already know that there are a fantastic range of custom style cage options out there. However, in this post, we look at pre-made cages, available from pet shops or to order online. Perfect for if you cannot assemble, get the materials, or are not simply ready for a C&C or DIY cage yet!

MINIMUM SIZE REQUIREMENTS

Out of all the things to consider when getting a new indoor guinea pig cage, size is the most important. More space equals happier and healthier guinea pigs, as we learnt in my previous video and post (check these out by clicking here)! Cage size for guinea pigs is worked out by the maximum area of flat horizontal and continuous floor space that you can give them. So adding dividers or levels to the cage doesn’t actually add to the overall size rating. Why is this? Well:

• Guinea pigs only have little legs!
• To elaborate on that – guinea pigs are not agile, some may simply not use ramps to get to other levels.
• Young piggies get most exercise and enjoyment out of running laps of the available space on one level. It’s hilarious to watch them do zoomies! 

This actually makes it easier for us to calculate the right size cage size for our guinea pigs.

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WHAT IS THE MINIMUM RECOMMENDED CAGE SIZE?

The RSPCA in the UK states that two piggies need 60 x 120 cm, which equals 7.75 square feet. And the Humane Society in the US says 7.5 square feet of space, or 30 by 36 inches, which also equals a 2 x 3 C&C cage. See below or click to watch the video above (at 2:50) for what this MINIMUM requirement looks like, and you’ll see it’s not actually all that big!

RSPCA LINK: https://rspca-bedfordshiresouth.org.uk/faqs/guinea-pigs/guinea-pig-accommodation/

HUMANE SOCIETY LINK: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/guinea-pig-housing

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STILL TOO SMALL?

Whilst the above is the absolute minimum, both the RSPCA, the Humane Society and many other sources state that larger is better. They usually recommend 10.5 square feet for two guinea pigs (10.5 square feet = 30 x 50 inches = 60 x 162 cm = 2 by 4 grids C&C cage). You’ll see in the below picture that this now looks much more roomy. I can picture guinea pig zoomies happening there for sure!

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WHAT PRE-MADE CAGES ARE AVAILABLE?

Just a reminder that this post is about pre-made, pet store bought cages. I asked: How many of these cages actually meet or exceed the minimum and recommended size requirements? It may not be surprising to learn that many pre-made cages are TOO SMALL! I searched some popular online sites where you can order cages for guinea pigs (researched April 2020):

• Pets at Home: 1 out of 7 cages met and exceeded the minimum. This was the Ferplast 140, which was advertised as a large rabbit cage (10.7 square feet).
• Petco (for the US): 22 results gave 3 cages meeting the minimum requirements. The Hagen XL, the Midwest Guinea Pig Habitat and the largest of the Prevue cages. Most of the others were under 5 square feet.
• And then the biggy! On Amazon, there were over 1000 results from “large guinea pig cage”. However, only the same handful of cages met or exceeded the minimum requirements, including specific Ferplast cages and the Midwest Guinea Pig Habitat.

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THE ANSWER?

So far we know that bigger cages are better for our guinea pigs, and that finding cages large enough can be a struggle! So to help you I have picked out the following three cages:

• Three different brands: Midwest, Ferplast and Little Friends.
• They all meet or exceed the minimum size requirements.
• Each have their own pros and cons.

The other solution is to go for a C&C Cage and DIY cage! Learn more about C&C and DIY cages HERE.

THE FERPLAST 160

There are various Ferplast 160 models, including the “Rabbit” and “Krolik” designs. These cages have a 40 cm extension part on one side, which means they exceed the minimum requirements and provide 10.5 square feet.

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THE PROS:

1. A large cage! Some models are even larger and extendable.
2. The extension area can be used as a hay room/toilet zone to help keep things nice and tidy.
3. No spillage of hay/bedding outside the cage due to high sides.

THE CONS:

1. Reviews state it takes a long time to assemble, however is sturdy once put together.
2. Comes with extras, however these are poor quality, many state the water bottle failed.
3. Some models only have small openings and it can be difficult to access the guinea pigs or clean without detaching the entire top part.

The Ferplast Rabbit Cage Krolik 160 on Amazon for £109: https://amzn.to/2EaJxH7

THE MIDWEST GUINEA PIG HABITAT

The Midwest is a popular cage brand, particularly in the US. One single cage provides 7.5 to 8 square feet (depending on who has measured it!), and so meets the minimum requirements. The cage is available in the UK, note that the “Plus” version is the same size, it just features a top panel, divider and ramp cover.

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THE PROS:

1. Open top (top panels available in the Plus cage), simple design that is EXTENDABLE! Buy 2 Midwest cages and get up to 16 square feet!
2. Reasonably priced compared to other large cages on the market.
3. Easy to assemble and flexible in how cages can be attached together.

THE CONS:

1. The base of the cage is a “leak-proof” canvas material, which can be a nightmare to clean with traditional bedding. Owners recommend fleece liners!
2. Reviews remarked that the cage is not that study, wobbles about during cleaning.
3. The cage cannot be mounted at table height.

Midwest Guinea Pig Habitat on Amazon for £51: https://amzn.to/3eTvan2

LITTLE FRIENDS

Little Friends is a less well-known UK brand, which unfortunately mainly does smaller cages. However, it’s Rabbit 160 cage (11.6 square feet) and the Square cage (10.75 square feet) both exceed the minimum requirements for guinea pigs!

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THE PROS:

1. Simple, sturdy cage design.
2. Reasonably priced compared to other large cages on the market.
3. As a standalone cage, one of the largest available for under £160.

THE CONS:

1. Not adaptable or extendable.
2. Fewer reviews to gauge how highly people would recommend.
3. No extras come with the cage (but you would probably end up using your own anyway!).

Little Friends Square Cage for £113 on the Little Pet Warehouse: https://www.littlepetwarehouse.co.uk/indoor-square-cage-rabbit-guinea-pig-by-little-friends/

Little Friends Rabbit 160 Cage for £158 on the Little Pet Warehouse: https://www.littlepetwarehouse.co.uk/rabbit-160cm-large-indoor-rabbit-guinea-pig-cage/

Check out the video above for a super-cute montage of the piggies showing what to consider when buying a new cage! Also, I share my top quick-fire tips for purchasing a cage at the end of the video.

We’d love to know what you think of this post! Let us know in the comments!

Thank you from Sarah! Piggie kisses from Lyra and Willow! <3