C&C Safety, do I need a top?

You only need a lid if you have other animals, such as cats or dogs. Guinea pigs can't jump out.

When I only had my original two boys, I would not have worried about this. However, once I got my third pig I had to make adjustments to my cage because he could have jumped out. He would hop ontop of a hidey and could easily put his front feet ontop of the grid from there, it would have been easy for him to make one more hop and have a fall.

How I fixed this (as I did not want to put a top to the cage) is moved the houses away from the edge and along the back wall. Then I secured them there with sticky velcro, since they can move the houses around. The ones on the end I removed and replaced with a fleece curtain.

You could also just leave cubes on top of where the houses are, if that would be easier.

Rnd210 said:

You only need a lid if you have other animals, such as cats or dogs. Guinea pigs can't jump out.

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Oooh yes they can. But they only will if they jump out onto something of equal height. For example I had a box next to my cage when it was on the floor and Cinnamon jumped right up on it!! Now the cage is two grids high and I leave the doors open all the time they dont even put their paws up lol.

So unless you have any other animals that could get in there it is really not necessary to have a top on it

I never really thought about making it two grids high. I like that idea! Thanks kimberly713. I could have the doors swing open on the side to access the kitchen part and for cleaning. I can't wait to get started! Oh, I don't have any other pets so I don't have to worry about that part.

cetd27 said:

I never really thought about making it two grids high. I like that idea! Thanks kimberly713. I could have the doors swing open on the side to access the kitchen part and for cleaning. I can't wait to get started! Oh, I don't have any other pets so I don't have to worry about that part.

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Your cage is already 2 grids high, so you really don't need a top on it.

Can they jump out, yes. Do they jump out, rarely. Occasionally, you will find an odd pig who will try to jump out. Generally it's only if you have two attached cages with boars on one side and sows on the other that you'd need a lid or at least a partial lid on the boar side to prevent them from going up and over when the sows go into heat. The other time you need a lid is if you have cats or dogs.

You don't need to make your cage 2 grids high. One grid high is sufficient.

If you have a pig that likes to jump on top of the houses, I would maybe think about putting a grip over where the houses are places. Other than that, piggies don't really have any inclination to jump out of their cage, especially if it is raised.

Great cage! I have a raised cage too, with an open top. As others have said, they CAN jump/climb out - I made the mistake of underestimating my 3.5 year-old pig and found him on top of his wooden hidey one day! Now the squares where his hideys and raised bed are have grids over the top of them, as Idramaxx suggests.

Thanks guys, I'm still sitting on the floor in front of the cage thinking about what to do. I have another sheet of coro and before I cut, I want a plan. I just don't know yet.

Ly&Pigs said:

Can they jump out, yes. Do they jump out, rarely. Occasionally, you will find an odd pig who will try to jump out. Generally it's only if you have two attached cages with boars on one side and sows on the other that you'd need a lid or at least a partial lid on the boar side to prevent them from going up and over when the sows go into heat. The other time you need a lid is if you have cats or dogs.

You don't need to make your cage 2 grids high. One grid high is sufficient.

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Oh boy ! I just got my C&C cage yesterday..it's an OPEN, 2ft by 6ft with a 2ft by 2ft loft... I sure hope they can't jump out ! I have 2 baby girls..named Cuddles ( the boss), and Buttercup. They are only 2 weeks apart..but Buttercup is definately the "athletic" one...she is quite strong and I could totally seeing her trying. Cuddles is MUCH more mellow, and honestly, though she popcorns a lot, somehow, I am not really worried about her jumping. But Buttercup could be an olympian ! They were having a coroplast 50% off sale so I suppose I could use that for a cover...if I need it....or do you think I should use something else ? I was also planning on setting up the cage in our living room, ( now that I have FINALLY quit smoking) and up off the floor, probably waist high...is that ok ? K