Best way to keep cats from coming near outdoor hutch?

machuandpicchumummy

machuandpicchumummy

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We have got 2 outdoor guinea pigs yesterday. They're 7 week old males. Our neighbourhood is absolutely rammed with cats. This morning I was dismayed to find a cat sat upon the top of the hutch. I have since seen the same one sitting outside the hutch. GPs seem fine and are still coming out to us and eating from our hand and acting normally but I'm worried about this. We are tenants so not meant to keep them inside. We have a car port we could possibly move them to but it does get hot in there.

The hutch is a hutch/run combo and we have a hutch cover that's made for the hutch model so unless the cats are able to unzip/velcro the cover I'm sure they won't be able to get in but this is stressing me.

Best way to keep them out of the vicinity of the hutch/ garden or would you recommend moving them to the car port or shed?
 
:wel:

As an owner of outside piggies, I ensure mine are locked away somewhere safe all the time and they are only allowed grass time in their run when I am there to supervise. They live in a shed and the shed also has internal mesh doors for during the day so nothing can get in to them at all.

If you can move the hutch somewhere secure, then I would advise you to do so. The cats may not be able to get to them but its a a risk that they might plus seeing the cats prowling around them may upset the piggies. Perhaps putting a walk in run around the hutch to give another layer of security is possible?

If you are going to move them to a carport or shed, being mindful of the temperatures is essential. I find it very hard to keep mine in the shed during the summer - they usually move into the house for a lot of the summer due to the fact the shed gets dangerously hot very quickly.
 
Have you spoken to your landlord? There's new legislation to make it easier for law abiding tenants to have pets. The landlord has to have a good reason to say no. I rent and offered my landlord a pet deposit and he agreed. I have my piggies in a good size c and c and they have no chance to damage anything, I explained this to the letting agency and landlord and said there wouldn't be any damage but if there was, I'd be liable.

Love your piggies names by the way!
 
I'd also second that about temperature being a more difficult danger to manage for piggies than cats, if the enclosure is cat secure.
 
Thanks everyone! We will ask the landlord about having an indoor cage for night time as that's the time I worry about them most! Do you think a mesh structure over the hutch would keep the cats at bay? Like chicken wire with large holes so it would be hard for them to walk on? We're also thinking fence spikes on the hutch roof and around the perimeter
 
I'm just thinking that as guinea pigs are active at dawn and dusk, and boars need a lot of space not to fall out, especially as they go through puberty, it won't really work having a small cage indoors for night-time, unless it's midnight till 5am for example. Would it not be easier to have a normal size cage indoors and keep them there? Just thinking aloud..
Sorry not sure about hutch cat-proofing.
 
machuandpicchumummy said:
Thanks everyone! We will ask the landlord about having an indoor cage for night time as that's the time I worry about them most! Do you think a mesh structure over the hutch would keep the cats at bay? Like chicken wire with large holes so it would be hard for them to walk on? We're also thinking fence spikes on the hutch roof and around the perimeter
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I personally wouldn't use chicken wire (welded mesh is best) but another enclosure over the hutch might give you peace of mind.

An indoor cage is a good idea if your landlord will let you. It would be very useful for dealing with extremes of temperature - keeping piggies outside in the depths of winter and the height of summer has its challenges as piggies aren't hardy.

You would want to be a little bit careful with boars about changing their territories and location along with cage size - some boars are fine with it (mine move seamlessly from their shed, run and indoor cage but mine also are well past their teens) but some can get a bit upset particularly once they are teenagers if they are moved to different locations. Boars will reestablish their relationship and territories in a new environment so you would need to make sure each cage always smells of them so they still recognise it as their own space.
Ensure each cage is big enough - boars need a 180x60cm (6ft x 2ft) hutch or cage on a single level (its only the bottom level of a cage which counts), so for indoors a c&c (5 grids by 2 grids) is best as there aren't any commercial cages which quite meet that (the biggest is a ferplast plaza 160 (160x60cm)).
 
Black piggies said:
Have you spoken to your landlord? There's new legislation to make it easier for law abiding tenants to have pets. The landlord has to have a good reason to say no. I rent and offered my landlord a pet deposit and he agreed. I have my piggies in a good size c and c and they have no chance to damage anything, I explained this to the letting agency and landlord and said there wouldn't be any damage but if there was, I'd be liable.

Love your piggies names by the way!
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Why do you have to pay more to your landlord for guinea pigs if they stay contained in their c&c and cause no damage to the surroundings at all? I just don't understand it. Is it really that people don't understand at all how guinea pigs are kept and it's just easier to give them a little extra money than argue about it? I haven't informed my landlords because I think if it's a caged animal, you don't have to inform them here. I think in the US there are also laws in certain states that allow you to have pets under a certain size rent free. I just don't understand how anyone could legally compare a dog or indoor cat to a keeping caged guinea pigs.
 
h.h.lovecraft said:
Why do you have to pay more to your landlord for guinea pigs if they stay contained in their c&c and cause no damage to the surroundings at all? I just don't understand it. Is it really that people don't understand at all how guinea pigs are kept and it's just easier to give them a little extra money than argue about it? I haven't informed my landlords because I think if it's a caged animal, you don't have to inform them here. I think in the US there are also laws in certain states that allow you to have pets under a certain size rent free. I just don't understand how anyone could legally compare a dog or indoor cat to a keeping caged guinea pigs.
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Absolutely agree. The standard lease here is agreeing not to have any pets and I wanted everything up front. I felt it would help to offer extra deposit, give the landlord peace of mind, and I'll get the money back.
 
With my landlord hat on - we dont want our property and investment being damaged by pets and we expect tenants to treat us and our property with care and respect. All that takes is a quick conversation about the pets and how they are going to live. We dont mind our tenants having pets (or moving in without pets and subsequently wanting them - we've never said no to a tenant or prospective tenant with or wanting pets) but we do ask for a pet deposit, which they will get back as long as the house is not damaged by the pet. Having had a tenant not be completely honest with us about a pet was unpleasant - they told us they were going to get a small house-trained rescue dog...we actually discovered a very excitable, and of course not house trained, puppy which was going to grow to be a decent sized dog.
We haven't had a tenant have other animals yet (they've all been cats and dogs so far) but we'd be quite happy for them to have such animals in the house but also would want to know that they were going to use a playpen or that the carpets/skirting is going to be protected if they intended to allow any free roaming. As a rabbit and piggy owner myself, I know how much damage a free roaming piggy or bunny can do - more so than a house trained dog! If they had rabbits for example, we'd also want to know our garden was fixed if the bunnies had dug holes in the lawn!
 
I’ve used chicken wire before as an extra precaution on the areas that a cat could get it’s paw in to the piggies. Worked out fine.
 
weepweeps said:
I’ve used chicken wire before as an extra precaution on the areas that a cat could get it’s paw in to the piggies. Worked out fine.
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That sounds great! We're purchasing some today and fully cat proofing the hutch. Our piggies had a great night and are super confident this morning tucking into their breakfast.
 
Hi again! Unfortunately we are still experiencing the problem. We have put plastic spikes on the roof of our hutch which seems to have kept them off that but this morning a cat was sat on the extending run looking in. As I say, not clawing or any signs it had been and we have a tight shower cover on at all times so no chance it could claw through mesh. GPs seem fine, no signs of stress in their behaviour or body in home health checks and they were out and about eating their breakfast as soon as we put it in. However, I am definitely showing signs of stress and really want this problem to go away as its worrying me a lot. We've thought of a mesh walk in run with timber frames around the hutch or even a kids wooden wendy house to stop them being able to come near. Which would you recommend? We are concerned about the temperature with the wendy house and the ability for cats to climb on the mesh walk in.
 
I’ve used both a Wendy house and a shed and both were fine. It’s better than them being outside as you keep all their supplies in there too and you’re dry when cleaning them out in bad weather. 👍🏻
 
machuandpicchumummy said:
Hi again! Unfortunately we are still experiencing the problem. We have put plastic spikes on the roof of our hutch which seems to have kept them off that but this morning a cat was sat on the extending run looking in. As I say, not clawing or any signs it had been and we have a tight shower cover on at all times so no chance it could claw through mesh. GPs seem fine, no signs of stress in their behaviour or body in home health checks and they were out and about eating their breakfast as soon as we put it in. However, I am definitely showing signs of stress and really want this problem to go away as its worrying me a lot. We've thought of a mesh walk in run with timber frames around the hutch or even a kids wooden wendy house to stop them being able to come near. Which would you recommend? We are concerned about the temperature with the wendy house and the ability for cats to climb on the mesh walk in.
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I have experience of both

My rabbits live in a large timber framed and mesh, walk in run (with hutch inside) year round. It was fully mesh (including on the roof) for the last 8.5 years but a few months ago I put a proper wood and felted roof on it because the plastic sheeting I was throwing over during rain was getting so tedious and causing the mesh to sag when we experience heavier rain.

My piggies live in a shed (with a hutch inside) with internal mesh doors and they have a separate run for lawn time on dry days.

I can absolutely confirm that sheds/Wendy houses get hot. My own piggies move into the house during heatwaves in summer. Even a warm day (not even a particularly hot one) can mean the shed becomes dangerously hot Inside so they go onto the lawn. A 20 degree overcast day and the shed will be 25 degrees (They come onto the lawn when I’m there to supervise them or temporarily into the house if I’m out for the day but it’s too hot for them to stay in the shed). A 28 degree sunny heatwave day and my shed gets closer 40 degrees (they move into the house for the duration of the heatwave).
However, in winter, the shed is a life saver. Given piggies aren’t hardy and need protection from the elements, the shed is perfect and gives them all the protection they need.

It’s recommended to use proper, strong, welded mesh (not chicken wire), then that is predator proof
So - there is an argument for having both - walk in run in summer and shed in winter.
 
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If the cat somehow got to them, they would bite and the cat would leave.
 
We called Pets At Home for advice and they did not seem worried about it at all and said the same that guinea pigs are confident and would not be bothered by it. However, it's really stressing me out and affecting my work and sleep etc. This morning at 4 am it was sitting on the plastic spikes we'd put over the run staring in again and I've been on guard duty ever since. It just worries me as this is in front of their water so they could be going a while without a drink. So a walk in chicken coop has been ordered to put over the hutch to stop the issue once and for all and give me peace of mind. Thanks for all the help and advice.
 
machuandpicchumummy said:
We called Pets At Home for advice and they did not seem worried about it at all and said the same that guinea pigs are confident and would not be bothered by it. However, it's really stressing me out and affecting my work and sleep etc. This morning at 4 am it was sitting on the plastic spikes we'd put over the run staring in again and I've been on guard duty ever since. It just worries me as this is in front of their water so they could be going a while without a drink. So a walk in chicken coop has been ordered to put over the hutch to stop the issue once and for all and give me peace of mind. Thanks for all the help and advice.
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Your piggies may not be bothered by seeing a cat and you are lucky in that respect as piggies can die from fright so its not worth the risk. A cat, knowing they are there, is going to keep coming back and it would be awful if one day the cat figured out how to get in. They may not be scared of the cat which means they may not try to run and hide and it would just make things even easier for the cat. You've done the right thing in ensuring they are covered by the coop.
 
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Chaz said:
If the cat somehow got to them, they would bite and the cat would leave.
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That's not what would happen. Most piggies would be terrified, they have no way of defending themselves, they would not try to bite a cat, they can die from fright alone from just seeing a cat (even if the cat never actually got to them), and a cat could very easily kill piggies.
 
Chaz said:
If the cat somehow got to them, they would bite and the cat would leave.
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Sadly no. I lost all my 6 guinea pigs as a young child, to a cat or fox getting into them. They were strewn around bitten into, no survivors. A guinea pig can't defend itself from a larger predator, by biting it.
Obviously their enclosure wasn't secure, and all the responsible owners on here with outdoor piggies do keep them safe, but I'd only have indoor piggies after that.
 
Black piggies said:
Sadly no. I lost all my 6 guinea pigs as a young child, to a cat or fox getting into them. They were strewn around bitten into, no survivors. A guinea pig can't defend itself from a larger predator, by biting it.
Obviously their enclosure wasn't secure, and all the responsible owners on here with outdoor piggies do keep them safe, but I'd only have indoor piggies after that.
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That's so sad I'm sorry that happened to you. That's my worst fear so I will feel much calmer with the metal chicken coop around them!
 
machuandpicchumummy said:
That's so sad I'm sorry that happened to you. That's my worst fear so I will feel much calmer with the metal chicken coop around them!
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You have done exactly the right thing.
Guinea pigs can't defend themselves, and a cat is a predator who is capable of injuring or killing them.

Our neighbour had outdoor rabbits and they weren't scared of the local cats, and one managed to swipe at the rabbit while it was out in it's run.
It didin't die but developed an awful access and blood infection and despite proper treatment later had to be put to sleep.

Your solution sounds perfect and i hope it will finally give you peace of mind.
Your guinea pigs are very lucky.
 
Swissgreys said:
You have done exactly the right thing.
Guinea pigs can't defend themselves, and a cat is a predator who is capable of injuring or killing them.

Our neighbour had outdoor rabbits and they weren't scared of the local cats, and one managed to swipe at the rabbit while it was out in it's run.
It didin't die but developed an awful access and blood infection and despite proper treatment later had to be put to sleep.

Your solution sounds perfect and i hope it will finally give you peace of mind.
Your guinea pigs are very lucky.
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I've barely slept since adopting them out of worry so hopefully both my piggies and myself will be a lot calmer once the run arrives!
 
In case this helps, cats hate the smell of citrus and it's non-toxic to them. I've found that clementine peels work particularly well, but to avoid being accused of littering, perhaps you could put some citronella around/nearby the hutch? It's the same stuff you use to keep flies at bay in the summer. :)
 
HeatherW said:
In case this helps, cats hate the smell of citrus and it's non-toxic to them. I've found that clementine peels work particularly well, but to avoid being accused of littering, perhaps you could put some citronella around/nearby the hutch? It's the same stuff you use to keep flies at bay in the summer. :)
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That sounds good! Thanks for the tip! I'll put that round the chicken coop to ensure we definitely get rid of it!
 
I like the chicken coop surround idea, it sounds perfect.
When I had my first pigs I kept them out in the garden in a similar hutch/run combo. There are many cats around here too and they often had a good look at each other. One day I was in my kitchen, the piggies were just outside so I could see them, when I noticed one of the cats stalking through the plants , approaching the run. I knew he couldn't get in as I had proper weld-mesh and many bungee clips holding the lid down securely, so I wasn't worried. Pickle Pig also saw the cat and took himself into the tunnel and I thought he was sensible for hiding away.
The cat came around the run, until he was level with the end of the tunnel at which point Pickle shot out towards the edge of the run where the cat was, squeaking as loud as he could. The cat scarpered and I never saw that one near them again.

I have cats and guinea pigs, indoors, and they do get used to each other as long as there is never a point at which the pigs can be got at. I am VERY careful about that and never trust to luck! I still use weld mesh with a small hole so no paws can get through.
 
They're back fully outside tonight! They're in their hutch which has a cover on within the chicken coop which is surrounded by concrete paving slabs to stop potential digging. I'm still mega stressed though 😂😂
 
machuandpicchumummy said:
We have got 2 outdoor guinea pigs yesterday. They're 7 week old males. Our neighbourhood is absolutely rammed with cats. This morning I was dismayed to find a cat sat upon the top of the hutch. I have since seen the same one sitting outside the hutch. GPs seem fine and are still coming out to us and eating from our hand and acting normally but I'm worried about this. We are tenants so not meant to keep them inside. We have a car port we could possibly move them to but it does get hot in there.

The hutch is a hutch/run combo and we have a hutch cover that's made for the hutch model so unless the cats are able to unzip/velcro the cover I'm sure they won't be able to get in but this is stressing me.

Best way to keep them out of the vicinity of the hutch/ garden or would you recommend moving them to the car port or shed?
Click to expand...
My dad used to put large bottles of water round the garden to stop cats pooing in the garden. Something about them being scared of the reflection or something. I found a cat sniffing round my hutch within. 20 mins of putting the pigs in first so put two bottles in front and one on top and not seen the cat since
 
maharvey83 said:
My dad used to put large bottles of water round the garden to stop cats pooing in the garden. Something about them being scared of the reflection or something. I found a cat sniffing round my hutch within. 20 mins of putting the pigs in first so put two bottles in front and one on top and not seen the cat since
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How weird! I'll give that a go as they're always pooing in my front garden! The walk in run has completely worked to keep cats away from my pigs in the back garden and I haven't even seen one in the back garden since!
 
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