Cage & Cavy FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Guinea pigs are not climbers, so you typically need a cover to keep kids, cats or dogs out.

There are two other instances that we recommend a covered cage. If you are housing two or more males in a cage smaller than what is recommended, or females are kept adjoining or near males.

Keep in mind that babies up to a few weeks old can easily get through the recommended 1.5 inch spacing of the safe grid. Guinea pigs with thinner, pointier-shaped heads can get their heads stuck in the grid hole, too. Please note that some grids are manufactured with fewer inner wires leaving an opening larger than 1.5 inches. Never use these as they are unsafe.

NEVER use grids internally in a cage with babies. This includes interior grid walls, grid or wire hay racks, ramps fashioned from grids, etc.

ALWAYS pay attention to the SHAPE and SIZE of your guinea pigs' head. If it's very thin and pointy, you should take the necessary precautions.

Most people who use C&C Cage have no issues because the 6-inch walls prevent incidents from occurring. However, we ALWAYS recommend baby proofing. There are several quick and temporary solutions since babies grow fast.

Baby-Proofing your C&C Cage

The three approaches to Baby-Proofing are

#1) EXTEND the internal Coroplast Walls

#2) REDUCE the inner grid-hole openings

#3) BLOCK access to the grid-walls

How to:

• Attach scrap Coroplast or Cardboard inbetween the walls and grids with tape or binder-clips. Adding just a few inches in height is fine. Pay attention to the items in the cage to ensure they cannot reach the top of the extension.
• Overlap grids. If you have extra grids, then use them to overlap the perimeter grids to reduce the inner grid-hole opening in half or quarters. Cable-ties can be used to secure them in place and removed when no longer necessary. You can use full grids, or half grids can be placed just above the top of the Coroplast wall.
• Use our half-height, Pig-a-Boo acrylic windows with pre-drilled holes by attaching them directly to the grid walls above the Coroplast wall.

Yes. A Jumbo (2x6 grids) Covered C&C Cage built up with 1.5 or 2 grid high walls and a loft or patio is preferable for a rabbit, but a Large (2x4 grids) multi-level, covered cage will do. Extra grids and connectors will need to be purchased to build the wall up to the recommended height, and it is best to create this as a swing or dropdown for easier access.

We highly recommend using edgers around the coroplast walls to prevent chewing. Also, potty and bedding accommodations differ from guinea pigs to rabbits.

Please visit our forum on our DIY site about C&C cages for rabbits, as well as perusing our gallery of C&C cages for other pets.

Yes. A Small (2x3 grids) or Large (2x4 grids) Covered C&C Cage is recommended since they are typically climbers. We also have a 10" wall option, explicitly for heggies. This is a slight upcharge since it uses more material but makes it much harder for heggies to escape.

Keep in mind that you will need to measure the size of your wheel. The Carolina Storm wheel is over 17" tall and will bypass the 14” standard height of the grids. You can use our specialty grids to build up the grid walls and accommodate larger size wheels. If you need assistance, please contact us.

Second levels are never recommended since hedgehogs have poor eyesight and depth perception. However, if you choose to add one than a Deluxe Covered C&C Cage would be the better option.

No. This style cage is not recommended for small animals such as rats, hamsters, gerbils, etc. They will easily escape because the grid holes are too large.

No. Guinea pigs should NEVER be kept outdoors. They are domesticated, indoor pets.

Unless you have a feral cat situation, guinea pigs are not prey to cats and there should be no concerns. Cats are typically curious, but tend to avoid guinea pigs. You should add a cover to keep the cat(s) out because they tend to hang out in the cage or play with the guinea pigs. Extra hideys are recommended. However please err on the side of caution, and slowly introduce your cat(s) to the guinea pigs to make sure they know the pigs are a part of the family.

Most dogs are the same, but some will consider guinea pigs prey. You must have a cover for your cage if you have dogs, especially if it's on the floor. The only exception is if you have a tiny dog and the cage is off of the floor. Also, secure the cage with cable-ties just above the bottom connectors of the cage and just below the top connectors of a cage to protect against all but very aggressive dogs.

We do not recommend keeping guinea pigs in a school classroom environment. A school classroom cage should at least have the optional 12 inch-high back wall to help with drafts and a secure cover. Contact us for more information.

Coroplast® is the trademark name for a popular manufacturer of this plastic material. It is also referred to as Corr-x, Plasticor, Hi Cor, Correx, Corriflute, Corflute, Coroflute, Cadflute, Fluteboard, Polionda (Portuguese), Twinplast, Kanalplast (Swedish), Corlite and numerous others.

Although it's appearance is similar to cardboard, it is made from plastic, not paper. It is a polypropylene copolymer most commonly found in 4x8 ft² sheets throughout the US. While difficult to find, it comes in a variety of colors, and also, thicknesses. We use the most common 4mm thickness for our products.

The material stands up so well to harsh elements that its primary use is in outdoor signage. The lightweight material can be cut with a razor blade, box cutter or sharp scissors. Coroplast is waterproof, inert, reusable and recyclable. These characteristics make it an optimal choice for use in guinea pig cages!

Coroplast CANNOT be found online in a single sheet large enough to ship that would make a cage. Online plastics vendors sell smaller pieces that will fit in standard shipping boxes. These pieces would have to be cut and taped perfectly to work in a cage. We know because we created C&C cages so we have mastered the art of cutting, scoring and folding Coroplast for shipping.

Coroplast has been in use for over 20 years in guinea pig, rabbit and small pet cages. It is recommended worldwide by rescues, veterinarians, pet experts and animal welfarists, including the HSUS and ASPCA.

The natural polymer is chemically inert and considered non-toxic. There have been no reports to-date of guinea pig illnesses or injuries attributed to Coroplast, even if the material is chewed and ingested.

Coroplast is most commonly used for outdoor signage because it's stiff, resilient, weatherproof and resistant to UV rays and harsh chemicals (although chemicals should not be used in conjunction with small animals).

These characteristics make it great for guinea pig cages, too. With proper care, a Coroplast cage base can last a life-time. You should not have to replace it.

We designed edgers to go over the top 1/2" of Coroplast and prevent guinea pigs from chewing.

For additional protection, you can also use our Pig-a-Boo windows. These are designed to prevent chewing on the grids, but can also be cable tied to the grids by the top corners and hang over the coroplast walls.

Chewing the coroplast or grids is typically a sign of boredom, wanting attention or needing something to chew. Verify that your cage is big enough and provides a variety of items and structure for enrichment. Provide an ample supply of grass hay, Timothy Hay is recommended. All of these can go a long way to prevent chewing.