Cage my guinea pig is acting very wierd again - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**vicky2** · #1 04-14-09, 10:37 pm

well Lucky (female) is in a pet store cage since i bought her a couple years ago. after doing my research, im in the process of begging my mom to let me expand her cage and get her a friend
today after floor time, she began to go under the plastic lining in her cage
she used to do this a couple years ago and nearly suffocated herself before i rescued her seemingly lifeless body and pulled her out
now shes worrying me again and starting to pull out the plastic lining and im worried sick that she'll go under again
any advice?

i know plastic lining is bad but not having it is currently not an option

**akstrohm** · #2 04-15-09, 03:04 pm

Why can't you get rid of it? It sounds like she could easily die if you leave it in. Why don't you use a shower curtain instead. Cut it bigger than the cage. Place it over the bottom of the cage and clip it to the sides of the cage so Lucky will not be able to get under it. If you're unwilling to do that, at least put something heavy down around the sides of the cage so she can't get under the lining, and make sure she has a hidey.

You really do need to get a C&C or C&C alternative cage. Your pig's well-being, and in this case her life, depend on it.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #3 04-15-09, 03:43 pm

Huh? Why don't you just get rid of the plastic lining? It's obviously unsafe.

**vicky2** · #4 04-15-09, 09:33 pm

not getting rid of the plastic lining isnt an option because then cleaning the cage would be impossible and im in the process of building a c&c cage
btw-she stopped so i wont have 2 worry anymore

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #5 04-15-09, 09:35 pm

Can you post a photo of this cage?

**vicky2** · #6 04-15-09, 10:32 pm

im estimating its 2x1 and theres a little pic in my gallery thingy

**vicky2** · #7 04-15-09, 10:32 pm

and i cant take a pic cause my camera is at my friends house and my mom took away my phone and i get it back tomorrow -___-

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #8 04-15-09, 10:42 pm

That's really unsafe (on top of tiny). Why can't you just put bedding in the bottom tray and dump it out as needed?

You can line the tray with newspaper if you need a liner.

**Ly&Pigs** · #9 04-15-09, 10:46 pm

That plastic liner is extremely dangerous.

**vicky2** · #10 04-15-09, 10:48 pm

There's newspaper under the plastic. But the thing is, these stupid petstore cages aren't cleanable! It won't come out and that's why I resulted in the plastic. She actually stopped so everything's fine now cause she rarely chews it or goes under it.

**Ly&Pigs** · #11 04-15-09, 10:50 pm

But what happens when you are asleep one night and she decides to either chew it and get under it or somehow gets trapped in it and she dies? Safety comes first and foremost. To clean cages, just use some vinegar. It cleans up pee pretty easily.

**vicky2** · #12 04-15-09, 10:52 pm

She doesn't chew on it at all. And she turns in when I do. And I tried the vinegar.
(the bars of the cage connect to the cage so I put the plastic outside of the cage and she can't pull it back in cause it's locked out)

**Ly&Pigs** · #13 04-15-09, 11:01 pm

Guinea pigs do not sleep at night. They sleep in short burst all throughout the day and night and only about 5-15 minutes at a time. They get about 4 hours sleep in a 24 hour period. It's too dangerous to leave that plastic lining in there and one day I hope you will realize this before it's too late.

**vicky2** · #14 04-15-09, 11:05 pm

the bars of the cage connect to the cage so I put the plastic outside of the cage and she can't pull it back in cause it's locked out
and Lucky can sleep for a good hour and will stay in her pigloo throughout the night

**lissie** · #15 04-15-09, 11:05 pm

How can you be sure she will not chew on it? You're not watching her 24/7. If you line your cage with newspaper and change out the newspaper and bedding everyday, it should be easy to clean. I say everyday because your cage is very small. It's even smaller than my pigs' kitchen and I clean their kitchen everyday.

**vicky2** · #16 04-15-09, 11:07 pm

I know because well, she's not a chewer. And I did ATTEMPT to clean it out everyday but I'm telling you it's not possible!

**Bdmellohead** · #17 04-15-09, 11:20 pm

It makes me sad that you put cleaning your cage a higher priority than your guinea pigs health and safety. Your guinea pig almost died and yet you still keep the plastic in there...

**vicky2** · #18 04-15-09, 11:23 pm

that was a LONG time ago
what actually happened was when i was ripping the plastic to fit, i ripped it a little too much and opened in the cage
but i changed it and shes fine now
btw-I LOVE Lucky no matter what you say
at least I dont leave her in a filthy cage

**lissie** · #19 04-16-09, 12:02 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicky2

that was a LONG time ago
what actually happened was when i was ripping the plastic to fit, i ripped it a little too much and opened in the cage
but i changed it and shes fine now
btw-I LOVE Lucky no matter what you say
at least I dont leave her in a filthy cage

How often do you clean her cage? I would think a cage that size need bedding replaced at least once a day.

**vicky2** · #20 04-16-09, 12:48 pm

Yaaa, I clean her once a day to make sure she doesn't walk around in her own poop. Also to make sure she's as comfortable as possible in that tiny cage while I'm planning out her C&C Cage.