The Best Indoor Guinea Pig Cage

A proper guinea pig cage is your most important purchase, if you want to make sure your pets are happy and content with their living conditions.

You NEED to get the best cage on the market as it could mean the difference between happiness or sadness as well as friendship or fighting. In contrary to what most people think, guinea pigs don’t actually like to snuggle up against each other, and you need to consider this when you’re buying a new cage and laying it out for them.

As experienced guinea pig owner’s we’ve dealt with our fair share of bad cages, but we’ve also seen some horrible examples of makeshift cages online that could ultimately cause your vet bills to skyrocket.

Our top pick is the MidWest Guinea Habitat because it’s expandable, practical, and offers great comfort for two guinea pigs or more. If you want more options, read on below and see all our recommendations.

Best overall cage: MidWest Guinea Habitat

What we like: This is a complete guinea pig cage including a very clever thought out solution for its bottom base. The PVC-lined canvas bottom is both water proof and comfortable for your guinea pigs to walk on, but what’s even better is how practical it is to keep clean: simply detach it from the metal wire frames, and empty it over a trash bin. You can either use a fleece liner or wood shavings for this cage in order to make a more comfortable and welcoming environment that your guinea pigs would definitely appreciate. As such this is a great budget-friendly choice for those in need of a practical guinea pig cage 2 pigs or more, and with the option to expand with an extra cage you will never run out of space.

Another great detail is that you can get a folding top if you want to secure your guinea pigs against other pets in the house such as cats, small dogs, etc. The top also makes the cage suitable for outdoor use during the day, as long as you’re supervising the cage.

All you need to know: The MidWest Guinea Habitat is a clever guinea pig cage in a simple and lightweight construction, that is easy to set up and maintain. The cage is made from metal wire sheets that are easily detachable, and they sit on a bottom made from a water proof PVC-lined canvas. In other words, you don’t have to worry about anything leaking through to your floors, because this canvas bottom protects your floors and keep your guinea pigs comfortable as well.

You can get this guinea pig cage with a foldable top if needed. It secures the cage against other pets, and because the top is divided into two pieces it is easy to open and close.

One of the reasons why we think this deserves the spot as the best guinea pig cage, is because of the modular and expandable design. Simply attach two or more cages, and your guinea pigs get a large area to explore and live in.

Specifications:

• Foldable top keeps the guinea pigs safe (sold separately)
• Detachable PVC canvas bottom
• Expandable and modular design

Best value cage: SONGMICS Pet Playpen

What we like: The SONGMICS Pet Playpen ULPI02H is the best guinea pig cage in its price range. We wouldn’t recommend that you use it as a multi-level cage, but fortunately you can customize the layout any way you want. In this pack you’ll get 36 metal wire sheets, but although they look like C&C sheets they’re actually made for guinea pigs and other small pets.

In other words, the wire sheets are actually guinea pig safe because of the 1-inch distance between bars.

The SONGMICS guinea pig cage has no bottom, and you’ll have to make one yourself. This gives you plenty of options to choose from, such as corrugated plastic boards or a tarp. You can either use cage liners or bedding on top of these.

We also LOVE the white version of this C&C-type cage, so make sure you check it on Amazon.

All you need to know: The SONGMICS Pet Playpen is a metal wire cage suitable for guinea pigs. It comes pre-packaged with everything you need for assembly, including 36 metal wire sheets (13.8″ x 13.8″ each), 40 ABS connectors, 100 cable ties, 12 non-slip pads (you can buy more of these in most grocery stores), a rubber mallet and a manual.

Because of the sheer amount of metal wire sheets included, you can either set up two large cages or make one extremely large layout for a large guinea pig herd. They can easily connect exactly the way you want, in order to fit the designated area.

The company SONGMICS has been around since 2012, and serves the biggest markets across the world. The Pet Playpen-series feature multiple cages, but this one is the most suitable for guinea pigs in particular.

Specifications:

• Modular and customizable guinea pig cage
• 36 panels included, measuring 13.8 x 13.8 inches each
• Weighs only 19.1 lbs in total
• Up to 45 sq.ft.

Most luxurious cage: Kavee C&C Guinea Pig Cage

What we like: Kavee is well known for their amazing C&C cages for guinea pigs. The one shown above is just one out of many prepackaged cages that come with a fitted bottom of corrugated plastic in your choice of color.

In contrary to other C&C cage look-a-likes, this is actually made for the purpose of keeping guinea pigs and other small pets, and we consider it the best guinea pig cage for beginners.

The cage shown above is a paradise for two guinea pigs, but it is actually big enough for 3-4 pigs. Great choice for first-time buyers who want a complete setup with as little work as possible.

All you need to know: Kavee is an international manufacturer of guinea pig cages, and they’ve been on the market since 2016.

Their social efforts are admirable, because in contrary to other manufacturers they focus on hiring and helping those with a disability or a mental health issue. According to their official website, this group now represents more than 50% of their workforce.

The Kavee C&C guinea pig cage is made from a set of metal wire panels, that are connected using ABS plastic connectors.

You can get the cage in many shapes and sizes, and they come with a fitted bottom made of corrugated plastic. The bottom is available in multiple colors, so this is your chance to personalize your cage exactly to your liking.

Specifications:

• Available in sizes from 4×2 to 6×2 metal grids
• Corrugated plastic bottom available in multiple colors
• Optional storage shelf beneath the cage
• Spare parts available if needed

Best plastic bottom cage: Ferplast Krolik

What we like: The Ferplast Krolik is a spacious guinea pig cage and one of the best options for those keeping other pets as well.

The cage is perfectly secure with a wire top that is locked to the bottom, granting your pigs a safe space in any location.

As you may notice on the picture, there’s a starter kit included as well. The starter kit comprises of a bowl, bottle, a platform, and a hay rack.

All you need to know: The Ferplast Krolik guinea pig cage comes with a starter kit, and it was a metal wire top attached to the red-white plastic bottom.

There’s also a separator included for the extension-area of the cage. This can be used to keep your guinea pigs to one side while cleaning the other, but you can also choose to get a wooden house instead of the open wire extension.

The cage measures 55.9 x 23.62 inches, and it is suitable for two guinea pigs.

You can open the cage fully to one side by detaching the front door and lifting it up.

Specifications:

• Water proof plastic bottom
• Metal wire separator splits the cage in two
• Starter kit included: Bowl, bottle, platform, hay rack
• L55.9 x D23.62 x H19.7 inches

Best wooden cage: ROCKEVER Wooden Guinea Pig Cage

What we like: With the ROCKEVER cage you’ll have an amazing home for your guinea pigs. It’s a wooden cage for indoor as well as outdoor use, and with the durable metal latch you don’t have to worry about any intruders.

You don’t get a bottom for this guinea pig cage, but this is easily solved by adding a plywood board, a tarp, a corrugated plastic sheet, or similar to the cage.

The cage comes with a house attached to one side that will make your guinea pigs feel safe and comfortable, and the tops flip open easily.

All you need to know: The ROCKEVER cage can be used inside or outside, depending on your needs. It is made from fir wood that has a treatment against mold, so you don’t have to worry about the cage wearing out over time.

You have the choice between a yellow design or a grey/white trim, and you can keep the top open or closed depending on your preferences.

The guinea pig cage measures 40×36 inches, with a grate space of just 3.3×1 inches.

The house has a water proof asphalt roof, whereas the rest of the cage has a metal wire top.

Specifications:

• Made from wood
• Available in yellow or grey/white
• Has a house attached to the side
• Measures 40×36 inches

Best extra large cage: Trixie Guinea Pig Cage With Mesh Cover

What we like: The Trixie guinea pig cage has no bottom, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it indoors. You’re granted plenty of space for your pigs with this cage, and they’ll love it.

We love it because of the beautiful wooden design as well as the metal wire panels, but mostly because it measures 69×43 inches.

It is made from glazed pine wood, making it able to withstand moisture as well as sun light.

All you need to know: This guinea pig cage is sold as an outdoor hutch, but with a quick modification you can use it inside as well.

Simply add a water proof bottom, and your guinea pigs get a large, stylish enclosure to live in.

The cage is available in a large and extra large layout, but with two different designs. We recommend going with the large design for 3-4 guinea pigs.

It comes with metal hinges as well as durable plastic latches, so all openings are secured properly.

You can attach two of these cages to each other if you like.

Specifications:

• Wooden guinea pig cage
• Two doors (one on each side)
• Roof can open up as well

Identifying the best guinea pig cages for two guinea pigs or more

Because guinea pigs shouldn’t be kept alone, we recommend getting a cage big enough for at least two guinea pigs.

For this buying guide we researched and reviewed multiple options in order to find the best guinea pig cages on the market.

We asked ourselves one simple question: “Would I keep my own guinea pigs in this cage, and are they going to be happy?”.

Of course there are other important factors that you need to consider as well, such as practicality and safety.

These factors were considered during our review process:

• Build quality
• Safety
• Versatility
• Ease of use

All cages in this buying guide are big enough for two guinea pigs, and most of them are expandable as well.

Things you NEED to know about guinea pig cages

It is super important to get your guinea pigs the biggest cage possible. That way they will feel better, and they will get the workout they need to keep their adorable little bodies in shape.

Here’s a bit of common knowledge about guinea pig cages and their habitats in general:

Most guinea pig cages are too small.

Yep, that’s true. With the exception of modular cages, most plastic-bottom cages are too small for two or more guinea pigs. They may get along just fine in one of these cages, but you have to keep an eye on their weight and general wellbeing to ensure that they are thriving.

One thing you can do, is to buy one of these super cheap snapset pools, and use them as a playpen for your piggies.

Guinea pigs need places to hide.

Your guinea pigs are prey animals, and therefore they need somewhere to hide if they get scared. If they don’t have anywhere to hide properly, they may get stressed and uncomfortable.

One great idea to keep in mind, is to only get hideaways with more than one entrance. That way your guinea pigs are always able to escape, if their cage buddy decides to invade their private space.

Guinea pigs need access to unlimited amounts of hay

Hay is a stable, and as such is needs to be accessible for your guinea pigs 24/7/365. You cannot, I repeat, cannot keep guinea pigs without having a sufficient supply of hay.

Guinea pigs use hay as a source of fiber, but they also chew on hay to keep their teeth from growing too big. They are rodents after all, and they need to chew on things to keep their teeth in proper shape.

One way to make sure you don’t waste large amounts of hay, is to get a hanging dispenser and fill it up with hay from time to time. That way your piggies have access to hay all the time, and you won’t have to waste too much of it.

Choose a well ventilated cage and reduce smell

Guinea pigs are messy animals. They poop and pee everywhere, especially in the corners where they usually spend most of their time hanging around.

If you want to keep your cage nice and odorless for the longest time possible, it needs to be well ventilated. C&C-type cages will usually have proper ventilation, but for other cage types you may want to switch their hideaways around to keep the air flowing throughout the cage.

Be aware of distance between bars

Since a lot of pet owners opt for makeshift C&C cages made by metal wire sheet storage shelves, the distance between metal bars should never be more than 1.5 inches.

If grids or bars have a distance bigger than 1.5 inches, your guinea pig’s head could get stuck and cause a fatal accident to happen while you’re not around.

For actual guinea pig cages, safety requirements are both met and closely monitored for the products to even be legal.

Unfortunately, the super-popular C&C cages operate in a grey area because they’re usually supposed to be a storage shelf rather than a guinea pig habitat.

Choosing the right cage size for your guinea pig herd

Depending on how many guinea pigs you have, you need to consider getting a cage that suit them.

Each guinea pig needs its own personal space, so you’ll have to consider getting a cage big enough to add at least one house per pig.

Below is a guinea pig cage size chart that you may find useful:

• 1 guinea pig // 10.5 sq.ft.
• 2 guinea pigs // 10.5 sq.ft.
• 3 guinea pigs // 13.5 sq.ft.
• +1 guinea pig // Add 3 sq.ft. per pig

Can guinea pigs be happy in a small cage?

The cage shown above was supposed to be large enough for two guinea pigs when we got them. However, they quickly outgrew the cage and needed something bigger.

Many new guinea pig parents are surprised by how big their guinea pigs grow and how fast they grow, so although a cage bought from your local pet store seems big enough, it will eventually become too small.

If you want happy guinea pigs, you need to invest in a big guinea pig cage upfront. The difference in price isn’t significant either, and some of the large C&C or MidWest cages are actually surprisingly cheap.