How sturdy are C&C cages?

[Piggieluver8880]

I'm hoping to foster some guinea pigs soon and have begun to design the cage that I want for them, but am running into one major problem. The table where I was planning on building the cage is only 2x2.5. I'm not sure whether I'm going to get boars or sows, but there will most likely be two piggies living in the cage. My question is how do you build the base of the C&C cage stable enough to hang off the sides by up to a foot. I was reading that the recommended size should be 2x4 or 2x5. Space is not really an issue since my bedroom is large, but I would really like to keep the cage up off of the floor.
How have you built a very sturdy bottom which will withstand hanging off the sides?

I'm not planning on building a loft.....as I don't really see the need, and I'm just not a huge fan. My old piggie used to climb on her wood hut and make flying leaps off of it, and I am terrified the new piggies would leap off the higher loft.

[VoodooJoint]

A piece of plywood, cut a little bigger then the cage dimetions, will increase the table top in a sturdy and safe manner.

[Percy's Mom]

The plywood works really great. If you don't like the look of the plywood on top of your table, get a vinyl top/felt backed table cloth and cover the plywood before placing the cage. The vinyl top easily wipes clean if there are any spills or anything kicked from the cage.

[TheQueen]

Plywood works well, as VJ and PM said. Another option would be to build a base out of cubes themselves, if you don't want to use the table.

[tattooyu]

Another option would be to build a base out of cubes themselves, if you don't want to use the table.

That's what we do. The entire bottom of our cage is made of cubes and is very sturdy. We left out a couple of front grids on the bottom and use that space for storage underneath.

[Slave to the Wheek]

If you go into my photo gallery (the litter camera on the top of my post)
You notice that I put up extensive pictures showing how to use grids for your base. I've even entered close-ups along with text to explain the pictures. Cable (or zip) ties are not optional if you want a kid proof/pet proof/vacuum proof cage -- but they are cheap cheap cheap (in honor of Easter time) and they ridiculously easy to use.

I've shown how to use the ties to attach the grids for a base.

In my gallery are photos of my cage, in progress, and then completed which is so sturdy that I've laid down in the cage with the boys many times and I weigh more than 200Lbs! I've moved it from room to room about 10 times and the only problems are when a connector pops off occasionally, when I vaccum, but since they are zip tied it's no worries and I slide it back on. I simply lift off my upper level (which is a complete cage of it's own) and then lay the cage on it's side to slide it from room to room. It's about the size of a double bed mattress.

Recently hubby even added wheels but attaching the legs from two wheeled carts, kind of like this (old ones from Kmart that were super cheap and we were tossing) to the sides and I can roll it to clean under it. He zip tied the legs at the cross bars and put one of each side of the shelves on each corner of the cage. I need to add pictures of it for others...

[Ramon]

I use the grids as a base with a combo of the plastic connectors reinforced by zip-ties and it's pretty sturdy.

[CavyHubby]

I used straight zip ties with no connectors. The floor was then secured by using wire management loops and 1" drywall screws.

Yes....Yes I know I am a hardware store addict...sigh

[Lemonjello]

Originally Posted by CavyHubby

Yes....Yes I know I am a hardware store addict...sigh

No wonder you are having so much fun!

I tossed the connectors to the side also and am using only zip ties. Around here they are called cable ties in case you need to buy some, piggieluver.