Cage OK for now ? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**jeananne** · #1 10-26-09, 10:53 am

Right now my piggie is in a medium sized (23 X 35 ). I know this is not big enough, especially as she grows, but will she be ok there for a couple more months while I save the money for a larger C & C cage. She has floor time and constant companionship of the family and her cage is as interesting as I can make it for right now. She seems very happy and content being there. I have a larger (24 x 47) cage I use on my kitchen table for play time as well, but it is not suitable for day in, day out living. I guess my main question is, will she be allright until I can afford the ( I know its low cost, but...) expense, sometime after Christmas. And yes, when I have the larger cage, she will have a friend. It's too small for two for right now. Thanks for input.

**1frankie7** · #2 10-26-09, 10:54 am

why dont you just put her in the larger cage you have?

**jeananne** · #3 10-26-09, 11:00 am

As I mentioned, it is unsuitable to leave it up on the kitchen table 24/7. It isn't as sturdy as I'd like it to be, and with family traffic, etc, I prefer to have her in that when I can supervise the situation-say at nights and weekends. We work during the day, so I don't want to leave her in that while we are gone. But will the other be OK until Christmas ?

**JD In Van** · #4 10-26-09, 11:02 am

When she has play time try and put her on the floor in the kitchen. Some place she has LOTS of room to roam. I've found that since I started letting the boys free range on the weekends in the kitchen they're slimming down a bit and getting more active. (If you use the kitchen just make sure you block off spaces like between the fridge and counter or stove and counter where the piggies could get stuck in)

I'm curious too what makes the other cage unsuitable.

**jeananne** · #5 10-26-09, 11:08 am

She does have floor time in the kitchen. And,as I mentioned before, it is unsuitable because it is on the kitchen table and obviously I can't leave it up there 24/7. Also, as I mentioned, it seems a little precarious to me and I'd like to be present to supervise situation. My question was: will she be alright just for a little while longer where she is. Thanks.

**JD In Van** · #6 10-26-09, 11:09 am

Could you put it on the floor some where? The larger cage?

She'll be "alright" but she'd be happier and healthier with more space if it can be managed in any way. If it can't she needs as much floor time as you can get her.

**jeananne** · #7 10-26-09, 11:23 am

Thought about the floor, but then again, all day, every day wouldn't work so well, with cats in the house too. She seems a happy little girl, and has as much play time as possible, and in fact, likes going back to her "studio apartment" compact cage. I know she will like the larger one as well, but it will have to wait till after Christmas, when expenses calm down a bit. I just wanted to make sure that she wouldn't be permanently traumatized by the smaller cage, but I think she should be just fine as long as I keep floor time a priority. It's not that far off, and maybe Santa will help a bit ! Just wanted to have some opinions from you guys in case there was another way. I think "for now" will just have to do a bit longer. Thanks.

**akstrohm** · #8 10-26-09, 11:28 am

The cage is definitely too small. You say she seems happy in it, but there's really nothing to compare it too. She would undoubtedly be happier in a larger cage. I agree that putting the larger cage on the floor for now would help.

Several people here have made C&C cages for free. You can use a shower curtain liner instead of coroplast. Check Craigslist and garage sales for cubes. There are other ways to save money--switch to fleece, get hay from a local farm, and use hideys and toys made from things you already have like cardboard boxes. And don't forget to have a vet fund in case of emergencies.

**JD In Van** · #9 10-26-09, 11:36 am

Can you put the larger cage in a room the cat can't get to when you're not at home?
You have it, its not costing you any money to use it and it really would go a long way to improving your piggies life to get her in more space.

**jeananne** · #10 10-26-09, 11:37 am

Yes, I know the cage is too small. This is a temporary situation that will continue only for a few more weeks. I already use fleece, use hideys and toys from things around the house, and I have a vet fund. My question was: will she be alright for a few more weeks in what she has now. I appreciate your input and ideas. Thanks all.

**Ash-Ro060708** · #11 10-26-09, 12:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeananne

I just wanted to make sure that she wouldn't be permanently traumatized by the smaller cage, but I think she should be just fine as long as I keep floor time a priority. It's not that far off, and maybe Santa will help a bit ! Just wanted to have some opinions from you guys in case there was another way. I think "for now" will just have to do a bit longer. Thanks.

She should be fine for a couple months in the cage you have now, I don't think she will be "permanently traumatized".

My story.
I "rescued" my 2 oldest boars from my sister, they were in a 2'x4' glass cage with pine bedding and a peg board top for a couple years. Then when the cage fell apart one too many times, and she was too "busy" to fix it, so she put them into a large plastic dog kennel that had about the floor space of a 1x2 C&C. They were in there for a couple months, I didn't take them because of the cage, I took them because she hadn't cleaned the cage in over 3 weeks, she had run out of bedding and kept "forgetting" to buy some, so the boys were just on newspaper. It was the last straw for me walking in and seeing the dirty cage for the third week in a row! It was loaded with fungus gnats(fruit flies) and the Abby mix was covered in mats.

After I took them home(I had to clean the cage outside with a hose it was so dirty) they were still in the kennel at night(I had 4 cats at the time) and I made a play pen area that they were in during the day. A week or so later I found this site, went out the next day and found and bought grids for the cage and built it that day. They were so happy!

They have been in a 2x4 with a 2x3 upper level cage for almost a year now and I don't think they even remember the life they had before I "saved" them.

**jeananne** · #12 10-26-09, 12:15 pm

Thanks Ash-Roo for you comment. That's a sad story. I'm glad your kids are so happy now and taken care of. I guess I'm a bit paranoid and just what to do the best I know how. This is a temporary situation for my little gal, so a new cage would be a great Christmas present. Extra bills right now prevent me from doing something about it this moment. Glad to know she won't be any the worse off for another month or so. Time will fly. Thanks to this site I have learned so much about taking care of my girl. Thanks everyone.

**javim121** · #13 10-26-09, 04:45 pm

If i could make a suggestion just start buying the stuff now. It is so much easier if you start building up what you need as you can, that way there is no huge lot to spend at once. It may even get the bigger cage made sooner. Also could you put the bigger cage that you have now where you plan to put c&c?