Cold Piggies!

[SpritzPigs]

Hi!
I’m relatively new to owning guinea pigs and this is our first winter with Hugo and Aperol, I’m a bit concerned that they’re cold. They’re kept indoors but our insulation seems to be very poor (we are students in a house) so it gets very cold when the heating isn’t on.
I’m going to get one of the snugglesafe heating pads but I wanted to get more cozy beds for them, however I’m struggling to find any high quality ones which are more insulated,
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated thank you!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Welcome to the forum

Do you have a thermometer on the cage to see what temperature the room is?
Generally speaking, if you feel warm enough then they also will.

Make sure you get two snugglesafes - the ‘rule’ is that you always need one of everything for each piggy!

Lots of hay to snuggle into and blanket over the cage can also help reduce any draughts

These threads below may also help you

Members recommended UK and US sites for fleece cage liners and accessories
Cold Weather Care for Indoor and Outdoor Guinea Pigs

 

[LucyP]

This cold snap is quite severe in parts of the UK! I’ve been adding loads of extra hay and the other tips mentioned.

Re thicker fleeces, we bought this one from piggiepaws on Etsy as few years ago and Dottie our older sow absolutely loves it. Not sure they still have it but it’s a nice thick one. We wash it in the machine with other bedding, not that it looks very clean it in the first picture! Because she spends a lot of time in it (she is older an has health issues), we’ve also added a small piece of vet bed in the bottom of it to help keep her dry. And spot clean and change it regularly.


There are lots of people selling similar items including some members of this forum I believe?

 

[Truffolo]

A box or two full of soft meadow haw (available from P@H) is one of the best insulators as piggies love making cosy nests if they have enough hay You can put woodshavings in the bottom to keep it dry.

 

[Merab]

I have old towels pegged around the back and sides of the cage to keep out drafts plus mountains of hay to keep mine warm

 

[Truffolo]

Amazon.co.uk
I have these and they work well. There is room in them for the snuggle safe and a pee pad too

 

[piggieminder]

I've got off cuts of Corex or cardboard around the backs and sides of my cages that are near doorways or windows. We don't have carpets so the cages I have on the floor have got temporary sheets of cardboard on top of the Corex but under the fleece liner. They have off cuts of the reflective silver sheets you can get for behind radiators in their main sitting areas, again tucked well under the fleece liner so they can't chew it. I'm finding the silver stuff (don't know what it's called!) is keeping the Snuggle Safes warmer for longer.
I like the Fuzzbutt Cubes as hideys.

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

If your floor isn't carpetted (or even if it is), you can help keep the cage / c&c or whatever you have a little warmer from underneath by placing old rugs under it. I've been able to get old rugs free-of-charge from something similar to what I think is called Gumtree in the UK. I used to put old woollies that were past darning, e.g. old woollen socks, in with my guineas in cold spells, partially under their shavings. They always sat on the wool, which retains warmth even when wet. Probably not indefinitely, but I would switch them out and put dry ones down. I realise not everybody has a collection of old woollen socks or old woollen sweaters, but if you do... or if you can get them from Gumtree or even your local Oxfam, that could help your piggies.