Guinea Pig Run

Whether you love them or you hate them (how could anyone possibly hate these little furry critters), guinea pigs just continue to get more and more popular with every passing year. Maybe it's their cute little faces, maybe it's their furry little bodies, maybe it's the way they run around their guinea pig runs, popcorning all the time, who knows? The fact is that these little guys are fast becoming the pet of choice for many households, not only in this country, but around the world. The guinea pig (aka "Cavy") belongs to the rodent family, but are nowhere near as unsavoury as their rat and mice cousins. One look into the big brown eyes of one of these babies and you will be hooked for life. They have had a rough trot during their history, being the animal of choice for lots of scientific testing. At one stage they were even more widely used in the name of science than rats and mouse, giving rise to the derogative term of "guinea pig" as someone who is being used as a test subject. They are still used as test subjects to this day, but are much more popular as a family pet

There are many reasons why the guinea pig makes a great family pet, they are docile in nature, easy to care for, cheap to feed and easy to transport. In fact, the only real expense needed is a guinea pig run, and this is one of the most important considerations you can make for your new pets. As you research guinea pig runs, you will realise that there are many different types that you can choose from. For example, there are modular style runs that are made up of pieces of mesh, about a foot square, that clip together to form a guinea pig run of whatever shape you want. Kids love these types of cages, as they are almost like a giant Lego set, with the added bonus of cute little furry critters running around inside. Some guinea pig runs have no roof, which is fine because guinea pigs can't jump. Actually, just to sidetrack for a moment, that is not entirely true. One of a guinea pigs favorite pastimes is to "popcorn" this is really funny to watch, as they will jump about 6 inches in the air and spin around and then run off. Usually, if you see a guinea pig doing this it means that they are happy, so you must be doing something right. That said, 6 inches is about the limit of a guinea pigs jump, and as such, it is not necessary to have a roof on your guinea pig run. There are however exceptions to this rule. Just because your guinea pig cannot escape doesn't mean that predators cannot enter their run. If you own a cat, dog, or a small child, you will definitely need some extra protection for your guinea pig run to keep the nasties out.

What Size Guinea Pig Run?

Another consideration when choosing a guinea pig run is it's size. The first question you need to ask yourself is how many guinea pigs am I planning on getting? If your answer is one, then that's the wrong answer. Guinea pigs are social creatures and without the company of a fellow guinea pig they quickly become depressed and despondent, they thrive on the company of others. If the answer is more than one, then that brings up a whole other issue. I'm talking from personal experience when I tell you that guinea pigs breeding habits are worse than a rabbits. If you can manage to get two or more guinea pigs of the same sex, everything will be fine, but determining the sex of a baby guinea pig is no mean feat, and if you make the wrong choice, you could start with two and have twelve before you know it.

If your guinea pig run is going to be situated outside, you are going to need to make sure that they are well protected from the elements. This means that in the middle of summer they should have ample shade, in winter they need plenty of hay or blankest to cuddle up to, and in the rainy season you need to make sure that your guinea pig run is not situated in an area that could potentially flood. Once again, if the run is outside, you need to watch out for those predators. Outside you have the added worry of snakes, which would absolutely love to have guinea pig sandwiches for lunch. Be careful that the holes in your guinea pig run are small enough to keep these reptiles out. Also keep in mind that if you do end up with babies, these guys start off real small and can squeeze through just about any opening they want to.

Caring For Your Guinea Pig Run

Caring for your guinea pig run is a fairly easy chore, as long as you keep on top of it on a regular basis. Change their hay floor every week or so, freshen their water and food once every couple of days, and move them once a week (if the guinea pig cage allows for moving). Moving your cage helps to prevent diseases building from them being in the one place for too long, and it also makes for a more pleasurable experience for your pets; gives them a new view every now and then.

Guinea Pig Run Accessories

Once you have decided on your guinea pig run and put your little guys inside, it may look a little empty. This is because you have forgotten about all the accessories to go along with your guinea pig run. There are so many things that you can do to "deck out" their pad and make them the happiest little piggies alive. For example, get them a ramp or steps that they can run up and down. Or what about a nice warm teddy that they can snuggle up to on those cold winter nights? You can also look at getting toys for them to play with. Guinea pigs love to chew stuff (in fact, it is good for their teeth as well), so getting a wooden toy that they can munch on can be very beneficial. They also love to hide, so an empty toilet roll or two, or an old pipe, can be a real treat for them.