I am a pet animal lover, and I have two beautiful little guinea pigs. I always try to increase the aesthetics of guinea pig cages, making them more exciting and comfortable for my guinea pigs.
I have tried many different alternatives for coroplast to make guinea pig cages. These alternatives include tarps, mattress liner, curtains, tablecloths and some others. They all provide a comfortable and exciting experience for your guinea pigs.
I have tried several materials for making guinea pig cages, including coroplast and other alternatives. Changing the habitat every week or every month is my hobby. And, doing so, I try many different things to add comfort and entertainment for my little beautiful guinea pigs.
It is my hobby to try exciting things for making guinea pig cages. If you want to know how to use these alternatives for making a guinea pig cage, the following section is just according to your interest.
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How To Make a Guinea Pig Cage Without Coroplast?
Guinea pig cages that are available in the market are a good option. But if you want to make your furry friend’s cage as enjoyable as you want, you should make it yourself. We follow a simple and basic design to make a guinea pig cage. The cage consists of a floor and a surrounding boundary. The floor can be a tabletop on which comfortable bedding is arranged while the surrounding boundary is of the metallic grid. Furthermore, you can increase enrichment by providing different toys and tunnels. We will guide you step by step to make your guinea pig cage.
Step 1. Measure dimensions
You need to decide what size of cage you want for your guinea pig. Most of the time, people prefer a two by three feet cage for one piggie. This size is enough for your guinea pig. You should select a space in your room that can be a tabletop or the floor. If you select a tabletop, its size should be according to your measured dimensions.
You need to have absorbent clothes, and fleece bedding cut according to the dimensions of the cage. Your fleece bedding should be six inches more in length and width.
Step 2. Select an alternative for coroplast
Following are the alternatives for coroplast you can use for making guinea pig cages.
- Tarps
- Sheets of linoleum
- Mattress liners
- Drop cloth
- Thick table cloth
- Shower curtains
You can use either of these items to make bedding for your piggie. Cut the bedding according to the size of the cage. This cloth will serve as absorbent cloth; therefore, you need to have fleece bedding for a comfortable experience. First, you cut and place one of these alternatives on the floor. Then you put the fleece bedding over it (remember your fleece bedding should be six inches more than the measured dimensions).
Step 3. Connect the grids
Connect the square girds to making a wall to surround the cage. You should connect the square grids making a rectangular boundary or any other shape that resembles the tabletop. Now you need to attach the prolonged portion of fleece bedding with the square grids to make six inches high boundary line of fleece bedding. You can use clips to attach the cloth with square grids.
Step 4. Provide enrichment
You need to add a basket with added flooring and hay. For further enrichment, you should add guinea pig houses, tunnels and other toys to express their behaviour. These enrichments are necessary for their health and wellbeing.
Best Flooring for Guinea Pig Cage
Soft and non-irritating flooring material is vital for your piggie’s health. You should avoid cages with wire floors because they can cause severe damage. A soft bedding material that is good at absorbing smell is ideal. Following are different bedding materials you can use for your piggie.
Recycled Paper
It is an inexpensive, safe and better choice for the bedding of your guinea pig. You should make sure that the paper shouldn’t have any toxins. Different brands provide 100% recycled paper bedding that you can buy from a pet store.
Fleece Bedding
Some guinea pigs have respiratory issues, and fleece bedding is perfect for those piggies. Fleece bedding absorbs much of the dust and keeps the area moisture-free. Fleece bedding covers all the floor area and some of the surroundings. In addition, you should use other clothes under the fleece as absorbent.
Aspen Shaving
Some wood shavings are not safe to use as they contain aromatic oils and are not dust free. Aspen is an excellent choice for recycled wood shaving as it is scent-free and somehow dust free. It is another alternative for floor bedding.
How To Contain Hay in Guinea Pig Cage
I have had guinea pigs for more than a year, and I talked with everyone in my social circle to avoid spreading hay in the surrounding. Different people advised me of different techniques, but none of them worked. Well! It may be disappointing, but whatever you do to contain hay inside the cage, somehow it manages to come out of the cage. I always found hay spread over my pants, shirts, surrounding the cage and even on my bed.
You can increase the height of fleece to decrease its spread, by you can’t completely control it. The only way to avoid the hay is to clean it. You should clean your piggie’s cage regularly to provide them with a healthy and fresh environment.
You can use different cleaning equipment, including handheld vacuum cleaners, to completely clean and remove dirt and hay from the cage.
The activity of making your piggie’s home can be fun. You can add your friends and family members to help you make your piggie’s home. People usually use coroplast for making the guinea pig cage, but many other alternatives prove a good and comfortable choice for a guinea pig cage. Furthermore, you can select the alternative according to the ease of availability and useability.
