Pet Store Cages

These typical pet store cages are being provided for information and to make this site as complete as possible. If you must buy a cage, buy the biggest cage possible. NO aquariums and NO wire bottom cages and NO exposed wood cages. If you have a wire bottom cage, cut the clips with wire cutters and remove it or cover it with a plastic insert (newspaper, towels, and bedding are not good enough). Below are some typical cages found in pet stores. None of these cages meet the minimum cage size recommended. Don't be fooled by the dimensions printed on the box. The manufacturers measure the very outer lip of the plastic from end to end to come up with the so-called cage size. You measure the inner dimensions -- the actual viable room the guinea pig has available after the cage is assembled.

Marchioro Cage (Tommy 120)

Outer dimensions: 46 1/4 " x 22 3/4" = 7.4 sq feet
Inner dimensions: 44" x 20" = 6.1 sq feet
If applicable, removable hay racks should be permanently removed or rearranged as they take away from cage floor space. The new version of the cage comes with a single plastic attachable hay rack rather than the removable wire racks.
Bigger than most commercially available cages
Easy to clean design
Online sources:
Pets Warehouse (search on "Marchioro")
Price: approximately $85 + shipping = $115
(from NY, e.g. to CA approx $30-35)
Leith Petwerks $105 + $25 shipping = $130
(from Indiana to CA, shipping to east coast is cheaper)
TKS Pets, $124 + $25 shipping = $149
(from San Diego)
Pet store prices are usually well over $100. They are a hard to find item. Not many pet stores carry them. The cages are imported from Italy.
There are actually two versions of the Marchioro cages. The traditional version shown and priced above is with the wire top welded together as all one piece. There is another, less expensive version where the sides are in separate sections. They are shipped three to a box and the pet stores usually put them together using the included clips before putting them for sale on the shelves. The retail price of that version should be between $50 and $100, depending on the store's markup.

Marchioro Cage version with
assembled sides:

Super Pet Deluxe 2-Level Rabbitrail Home with Stand

Outer dimensions: 32" x 32" = 7.1 sq feet
Inner dimensions: 29" x 29" = 5.8 sq feet
You MUST remove the plastic-grid floor on the bottom of this cage!
The sides (20") are very high (25" when on the stand) making it awkward to pet and retrieve your guinea pigs.
Very hard to find in pet stores.
Online sources:
Pets Prefer Us ($180 + approx $17 shipping, $197 total; be sure to order the right model)
The Ferret Store* ($241 includes shipping)
Typical price: approximately $185

Hagen Rabbit/Guinea Pig Cage (425)

Outer dimensions: 39" x 21" = 5.6 sq feet
Inner dimensions: approx 5 sq feet
Removable hay guard should be permanently removed or rearranged as it takes away from cage floor space.
Easy to clean design
Typical price: approximately $90

Hagen Zoo Zone

Outer dimensions: 39" x 20" = 5.4 sq feet
Inner dimensions: 36" x 17" = 4.25 sq feet
May as well be an aquarium. Too much plastic, does not provide enough ventilation.
Typical price: approximately $65

Super Pet Deluxe 3-Level Home or
Deluxe 3-Story Rabbit/Chinchilla Home

Outer dimensions: 32" x 20" = 4.4 sq feet
Inner dimensions: 29" x 17" = 3.4 sq feet
The wire sits inside the plastic, making it difficult to clean thoroughly.
The additional ramps and shelves make cleaning that much more complicated, not to mention trying to retrieve your cavy!
Another problem with this design is that while the ramps look cool, and some piggies will use them, the ramps take away from the real requirement of unencumbered floor space.
The height of these cage walls and complexity of the ramps and shelves makes it difficult to reach in and retrieve or pet your cavy.
Typical price: approximately $85-90

Deluxe 2-Story Guinea Pig/Dwarf Rabbit Home

Outer dimensions: 32" x 20" = 4.4 sq feet
Inner dimensions: 29" x 17" = 3.4 sq feet
The wire sits inside the plastic, making it difficult to clean thoroughly.
Some models of this cage come with plastic ramps and shelves, while others come with wire ramps and shelves. The wire ramps and shelves MUST be covered with something to protect the cavy's feet. It is better to find a version with the plastic ramps and shelves.
Typical price: approximately $75 - 80

Martin's Cages

Outer dimensions: 30" x 18" = 3.75 sq feet
Inner dimensions: approx 3 sq feet
The pan is too shallow (only 2 1/2") to keep bedding from being kicked out. Will require modification to prevent it.
Martin's is also listed on the commercial cage page. They have a larger cage size available directly (see the Commercial Cages page).
Typical price: $70

Prevue 2-Story Ferret/Guinea Pig Home

Outer dimensions: 24" x 18" = 3 sq feet
Inner dimensions: approx 2.8 sq feet
Tall sides--awkward to interact with cavies.
5" base, will get some bedding kick out.
Wire ramp and shelf unsafe, needs to be covered.
Typical price: $63-66

Hagen Critter Cage

Outer dimensions: 25" x 17" = 2.9 sq feet
Inner dimensions: approx 2.5 sq feet
Online sources:
Pet-Expo
Typical price: approximately $45

NOT RECOMMENDED without MODIFICATION

Ware Guinea Pig/Rabbit Cage and Hutch in One

Outer dimensions: 36" x 29" = 7.25 sq feet
Inner dimensions: approx 6.8 sq feet
Despite appearances and previous ads, this hutch is not made from cedar (except for the strip of molding at the top).
The problem with this cage is the exposed wood interior. (See this note on exposed wood cages.) By nature, the guinea pigs will spend a good portion of their time in the hutch and that is where they will potty. Feedback from someone who has used this cage was that it was urine-soaked and smelly and impossible to properly clean after a month. To use this cage, you should create an additional custom plastic insert to fit inside the wooden hutch.
The ventilation inside the hutch appears questionable. Significant additional ventilation holes should be drilled in the walls.
Another downside to the cage design is the difficulty of accessing the guinea pigs for casual contact.
The permanent hutch design takes away from the unencumbered exercise area. While the cage size seems decent, it's too broken up to provide proper lap-running space.
The white pan is too shallow to keep bedding from being kicked out. Will require modification to prevent it.
Typical price: approximately $90

DO NOT USE THE CAGE BELOW

Deluxe 1-Story Guinea Pig/Dwarf Rabbit Home

Outer dimensions: 26" x 14" = 2.5 sq feet
Inner dimensions: approx 23" x 11" = 1.75 sq feet!
ABUSIVELY TOO SMALL, nothing Deluxe about it!
Typical price: approximately $50

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