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Blog Pet store cages are entirely too small

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spudsthepiget

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I still have the cage that Mable's previous owners kept her in and the cage that Chicken and Waffles' previous owners kept them in; I use them as temporary cages for when I do a full cage change. The pigs are only in them for 30 minutes while we change out the cages, but they manage to pee everywhere in them. Tonight, I was measuring those 2 cages to make a liner for them so the pigs wouldn't have to be on wet newspaper when I do a full cage change out.

I was shocked at how small they actually are! The one that used to be Mable's is only 16 inches wide and 28 inches long; by the time I made the liner for it with those dimensions, it looked like the liner should be in a cat carrier instead of an actual cage! The one that used to be Chicken and Waffles' cage was even smaller at 13 inches wide and 24 inches long.

I feel guilty my pigs even had to spend part of their lives in cages like that; I know that they were all housed like that before I got them. Those are just insanely small. Especially for Chicken and Waffles; the two of them lived in that cage together for 4 months before we got them.

I hate knowing that some animals have to spend their whole lives in those dinky, ridiculous little cages :sad:
 

richguinea

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wow...that is quite sad. I hope you moved them into a nice, big cage. Showing them the good life lol
 

spudsthepiget

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I'm proud to say my 6 live in three 2x5 cages. Hopefully the next place I live will be bigger so I can expand each cage to a 3x5. The pigs are always so glad to get out of those tiny cages after I've gotten their regular cages changed out.
 

richguinea

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im curious, what kind of pigs do you have? 6 is a lot lol
 

Kiyisha

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I agree that is really sad, when I got my boys (we got them from petsmart before i even KNEW about guinea pig mills!!!) We got them a store bought cage (we didn't know any better and the employees there were useless in the subject :( ) and they had to live in it for about a month and I felt just awful, I gave them lots of floor time in a puppy playpen we got that was maybe 8 square feet (small) we don't have a house with room for real floor time (though we're moving soon YAY ^_^) and I just felt terrible, finally we built a 2x4 C&C that will be a 2x6 with a 2x2 loft once we move out ;) but I can't IMAGINE putting them back in the cage we got them in, I had to put them in there for an hour and a half today because I had to wash the fleece and uhaul (we only have one blanket unfortunately can't afford to buy another yet money has been rough to say the least) I can't imagine leaving them in that tiny cage for more than just a transport or a cage cleaning! LOL But I don't regret the purchase I use it every time i clean their cage, or when we take them somewhere, it's their "carrier" so to speak lol
 

spudsthepiget

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@richguinea I have 2 neutered boys and 4 girls. Guinness and Trudy are a pair, Spuds and Mable are a pair, and Cherry and Marybell are a female pair. 6 is a lot, but they're definetly worth it. All of them are adopted or rescued, so I feel like I've made a difference in their lives. :)
[MENTION=31003]Kiyisha[/MENTION] That's about all those cages are really good for: carriers or temporary cages lol
 

richguinea

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I'm always a huge advocator of adopting or rescuing guinea pigs! Those guinea pigs need proper care as well! Great job! But, I was wondering what type of species they were. Here is a convenient list of (broken link removed)if you're not sure. I actually own a silkie and an abyssinian! If i had the time and money to raise 6 different guinea pigs, i'd probably get one of each breed haha lol
 

spudsthepiget

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I'm sorry, I misinterpreted your question lol 5 of them are American shorthairs, and 1 is an Abyssinian. :)
 

BaconAndEggs

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This post makes me want to cry, my poor piggies are in a Pet Store cage just like that! I feel like I'm abusing them... :'(
But hopefully my parents will get me a C&C cage for Christmas, I've been dropping hints like crazy. :) If I don't get one for Christmas, I'm going to be more forceful.
 

spudsthepiget

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@BaconAndEggs Having a small cage to start out with is a pretty common thing; I did the same thing when I got my first pigs. It's how we learn from our mistakes that counts :) Best of luck getting your C&C cage!
 

BaconAndEggs

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Thank you for your kind words.
 

GuineaPiggies7

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Your such a awesome piggie owner!:)
 

spudsthepiget

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Aww, thank you [MENTION=35439]GuineaPiggies7[/MENTION] :)
 
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