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Guinea Pig Cages - Where to Place Your Cavy's Home

By Bob Matthews


You have brought home your new guinea pig (s), selected a suitable and roomy cage - now, where do you put it? A) Garage, B) Closet C) In front of a window D) None of the above. The right answer is D) none of the above. Among other requirements, guinea pigs need to be housed in an area with a stable temperature - free of drafts and out of direct sunshine. Finding a suitable location for guinea pig cages is a job that requires careful dilligence and thought. When locating your pigs "new home" in your home, several factors should be considered.



Extreme Temperatures Must be Avoided.

Your pigs do not tolerate extreme heat or cold very well at all. They need to be be kept in a room-temperature environment - a relatively tight range of approximately 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius). This requirement immediately rules out quite a few areas in your home. Avoid placing the cage directly on or next to heat registers, directly in front of a window, next to a radiator or hearth or next to the stove. Also make sure you avoid locating your pigs anywhere where they could be subjected to cool drafts. The garage is out - too hot in summer too cold in winter. (The garage poses an additional hazard in that your pigs will be exposed to toxic carbon monoxide gas on a regular basis.) In terms of temperature: a rule of thumb is that your pigs are comfortable when you are. If you are too hot or too cold, the chances are your guinea pigs are too.

Avoid Wet Areas

Guinea pigs' respiratory systems are not the most robust. Cavies tend to be quite sensitive to upper respiratory diseases. As such, placement in high-humidity locations like your laundry room or near showers and baths also should be avoided. Also be cautious about placing your cavies in a basement area unless a dehumidifier has been installed and the area is well lit.

Avoid Isolation

Guinea pigs are social animals. As such, they usually like to be around activity. Place your pig in or close to a fairly high activity area. Great places are typically in the kitchen, living room, great room or family room - or wherever your family usually gathers together in your home. Avoid placing your pigs' home in locations where it'll endure lengthy periods of isolation and solitude or low traffic like a kid's room, in the basement or in a low-traffic hallway.

Selecting a quality guinea pig cage is only the beginning task in creating a safe and healthy environment for your pet. Choosing an appropriate location in your home is a similarly important task. Pick a location with a stable and moderate temperature and low humidity. Additionally, select a location in which your family can share their routine activities with your pigs. Remember - your guinea pigs are family members too.




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