Thanks for the criticism. COMPLETELY unnecessary. - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

Crystal Lee · #1 04-22-09, 10:35 am

People need to understand that yes my cage is smaller than recommended and I am completely aware of that. I can't afford to get a bigger one at the moment. To make sure they have a good living environment I clean their cage at least 3 to 4 times a day. And also, I have a playpen for them that's 6 ft by 3 ft that I make sure to get them into a lot so they can get their exercise and all that. Their cage is pretty much just their sleep and eat area. It's not like I'm mistreating them in any way. I would never do that.
I would get a bigger cage for them if I had the money to. Understand that. At the moment things are a bit hard and money is tight. So please stop with the unnecessary comments.:ziplip:

**4piggers** · #2 04-22-09, 10:43 am

I was trying to be helpful. I figured if you had supplies for an upper level, then you could use that for the lower level instead.

Crystal Lee · #3 04-22-09, 11:02 am

Yes, I understand. This post wasn't directed at you. I know you where just trying to help. Thanks:)

**fieryone** · #4 04-22-09, 11:04 am

I know I just said this in another thread before I saw this one, but please don't take it as a personal criticism. Everyone here is dedicated to getting piggies out of pet store cages and everyone here is more than willing to help you come up with a low cost solution.

**lissie** · #5 04-22-09, 11:04 am

Is it possible to connect the cage to the play pen? Or move the pigs to the play pen permanently?

Crystal Lee · #6 04-22-09, 11:20 am

I would like to be able to move them to the playpen permanently but I have to keep in mind that I have a dog and 3 cats who are all so interested in the guineas and want to get to them. I could make a roof for the plapen possibly but I'm not sure exactly what I could make it out of. Possibly I could use those cubes that everyone's using to make their cages. Do you know where I can find the best deal on cubes?

**Paula** · #7 04-22-09, 11:21 am

Hello? This site is meant to help people provide the best care for guinea pigs. If you aren't doing that, people are going to tell you that and make suggestions for making it better.

If you have a problem with the criticism you're getting for not meeting the at least the minimum requirements for cage size, why don't you stop whining and make the cage the right size? It doesn't do your pigs any good to get huffy when people tell you that you need to make the cage bigger. And your pigs are completely oblivious to your money woes.

And frankly, while it's great that you can clean the cage several times a day, that doesn't change the fact that they still need more room for exercise, and for their well-being and health in general.

**Ly&Pigs** · #8 04-22-09, 11:28 am

If you are interested in finding out how to make a lid then make a new post in the "About Cages" section with a title of "How to make a lid". It does not belong here on this thread.

I have moved your thread because it's not About Cages.

Crystal Lee · #9 04-22-09, 11:32 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by paula.m.moore

Hello? This site is meant to help people provide the best care for guinea pigs. If you aren't doing that, people are going to tell you that and make suggestions for making it better.

If you have a problem with the criticism you're getting for not meeting the at least the minimum requirements for cage size, why don't you stop whining and make the cage the right size? It doesn't do your pigs any good to get huffy when people tell you that you need to make the cage bigger. And your pigs are completely oblivious to your money woes.

And frankly, while it's great that you can clean the cage several times a day, that doesn't change the fact that they still need more room for exercise, and for their well-being and health in general.

They're barely ever in their cage thank you very much. They're usually in their playpen. I'm not whining. I'm simply making a statement.

**Skeetersmom** · #10 04-22-09, 11:33 am

If you go to Home Depot or Lowes, you can get the Closet Maid Shelves and cut them to size. Put one on each side lenthwise and attach them in the middle with zipties. That way, both side lift up like a lid. That's what I did with my C&C cage. They are outrageously expensive either.

**s.edwards** · #11 04-22-09, 11:42 am

I had my 2 girls in a pet store cage for almost a year before I found this site. I felt truly horrible once I found out their space was too small. I was trying to find a way to make a bigger cage myself when my husband surprised me by ordering the 2x4 C&C off this site. My girls are different piggies now that they have more space. They are less timid, more vocal and more bold when I feed,water and give them veggies. They used to hide in their pigloo any time someone opened the cage, now they run up to check you out. I would highly encourage you to either make a C&C cage or buy one off the site. For a lid I used 2 pieces of 16 inch linen closet shelving and used zip ties to make a hinge. You can see the pictures of it in my gallery.

**Paula** · #12 04-22-09, 11:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crystal Lee

They're barely ever in their cage thank you very much. They're usually in their playpen. I'm not whining. I'm simply making a statement.

I disagree. You created a thread for the express purpose of whining about "unnecessary comments" on your cage size.

Making a larger cage is easy, get a box of grids from Bed Bath & Beyond and if you can't find an inexpensive source of coroplast, use a heavy duty shower curtain or tarp. It's very easy and quite cheap.

If that's still not an option and they are "barely" in their cage, why don't you just move them to the playpen permanently, or at least until you can make them an appropriately sized cage?

I'm sure you want to do what's best for your pigs, but there is a difference between wanting to do what's best and actually doing it. Telling us how much you "want" to and how you can't afford it serves no purpose that's beneficial to your pigs. Complaining about people telling you the size of your cage is inadequate is just as pointless.

**Ly&Pigs** · #13 04-22-09, 11:53 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeetersmom

If you go to Home Depot or Lowes, you can get the Closet Maid Shelves and cut them to size. Put one on each side lenthwise and attach them in the middle with zipties. That way, both side lift up like a lid. That's what I did with my C&C cage. They are outrageously expensive either.

Did you not read? I told the Original Poster to make a new thread if she wanted to ask about lids because this thread is NOT about lids. That also means do not answer the question on this thread. We are trying to keep threads on topic. This topic is a complaint thread, not a "how do I make a lid" thread. Please in the future follow the moderators directives.

I know you were only trying to help, but this thread is not the place to do it.

**Pulsepoint129** · #14 04-22-09, 01:03 pm

Meh. My Home Depot sucks as far as Closet Maid shelving goes. They have all the ginormous shelving by Closet Maid and enough to make lids/tops for cages, but definitely not the grids. No matter, Wal-Mart, Target, and (I think it was Sears) has them and they're all nearby.

**dra&pigs** · #15 04-22-09, 02:38 pm

I'll admit it-I haven't read any of your previous posts that would lead you to make this...but I've heard enough of these types of posts to get where it came from.
This site is dedicated to improving the lives of cavies, not comforting people who don't. I am not going to tell you its all right, because its not. Pure and simple. I don't care how little amount of time they spend in their pet store cage. They need to be able to exercise on their own time, not whenever its convenient for you.
If you really want to, you could make a cage for free. Tons of members have. I guess its up to your level of dedication.

**fridzalone** · #16 10-20-09, 06:27 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paula

Making a larger cage is easy, get a box of grids from Bed Bath & Beyond and if you can't find an inexpensive source of coroplast, use a heavy duty shower curtain or tarp. It's very easy and quite cheap.

I'm sorry Paula, but I disagree about this one.
There are some cases where people don't have enough space or enough money to make the right size of cage. It really happens in my country. Just picture this, to make my 180x60cm cage which is i think the right size for 3 piggies, I need to spent 1/2 of my weekly cost (coroplasts and 2 sheets of fleece), and my weekly budget is higher than my friends. Not included the grids, I use playpen which the price is about 1 1/2 of my weekly cost, while the grids are much more expensive than the playpen. And Indonesian people don't use bathtub or shower. So its useless to tell the people to buy shower curtain because it's also pricey.

And some of my friends are don't have enough room to place the cage. Some of Indonesian people live in a type 21 or 24 house which is small (there are lots people who lived in the smaller house). And some other friends who also rent a room like me only gets 2mx3m or 3mx3m room. So it's very small. I'm pretty lucky to get huge room so I can made enough cage for my piggies (my room is about 3x5).

So I think it's not wise to force people to get the right size cage while the problem is space or money. I think it's fine as long as the piggies gets lots playtime (i really means lots) to let them exercise and the owners are able to clean it properly.

**blackarrow** · #17 10-20-09, 06:34 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridzalone

So I think it's not wise to force people to get the right size cage while the problem is space or money. I think it's fine as long as the piggies gets lots playtime (i really means lots) to let them exercise and the owners are able to clean it properly.

I think it's not wise for people to get guinea pigs if they have too little space or money to be able to take care of them properly.

**vicky2** · #18 10-20-09, 06:36 pm

I agree with blackarrow.
Also, did anyone else notice how old this thread is?

**VoodooJoint** · #19 10-20-09, 06:39 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridzalone

There are some cases where people don't have enough space or enough money to make the right size of cage.

If people were completely honest you would realize that this rarely happens. Space is not usually an issue as the cages can easily fit on top of a dresser with a little creative support. That leaves plenty of space underneath for the needed storage. Most people who say space is an issue are using it as an excuse. IF space really is that tight then they are unlikely to get a pet and if they do they will usually banish the poor thing outside.

Money is not really a problem either. I made my cage for under $7. I used recycled materials that are easily available just about anywhere and if not then there are easy substitutes that can be used. If I really tried I'm positive that I could have made my cage for under $1 or possibly even free. I am continually amazed at what people throw out. A lot of trash you see on the side of the road can be repurposed and kept out of a landfill.

I also have to wonder why you decided to open a long dead thread just to make a comment like this? We frown on dead threads being reopened unless the poster has something brilliantly pertinent to add. Please restrain yourself in the future.

**Ly&Pigs** · #20 10-20-09, 06:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridzalone

So I think it's not wise to force people to get the right size cage while the problem is space or money. I think it's fine as long as the piggies gets lots playtime (i really means lots) to let them exercise and the owners are able to clean it properly.

Have you not learned in the time you've been a member here that this site is all about appropriate sized caging? That's what the primary focus of this site is all about. Of course we are going to encourage anyone not having a large enough cage to get materials to build a proper sized cage.

Have you read our homepage: Guinea Pig Cages, Your Cavy At Home, it's all about why you need larger cages. Not everyone can free range their pigs or leave them out for many hours at a time.

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