How do I keep my Guinea Pigs away from my cat?

[QuineapiggirL]

Hello, I am getting two guinea pigs soon, but all the cages I see online don’t have tops. I have one cat and I don’t want him harming them. Thank you, Jules

 

[Betsy]

I don't have a cat but a lot of members do and I believe they have a c&c cage with a lid.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Open topped (c&c cages) can have lids fitted.
If you mean a Midwest cage rather than c&c, then it may be possible to make a lid for it also using c&c grids.

I assume you don’t have a room where you can put the piggies where the cat cannot have access?

Member Gallery: C&C cages/homemade cages

As an aside, a little off topic, but if you do mean a Midwest cage, then do be aware that they are only suitable as a minimum size cage for two sows (one Midwest cage is too small for a boar pair).

 

[VickiA]

If you are building your own C and C cage you can add grids to make a lid to make it cat proof.

 

[Black piggies]

If you're building your own c and c cage, say for a 2 x 4, use 3 grids for each section of the width of the lid, not 2.
This makes it solid enough for a cat sitting on the lid.
So a 2 x 4 c and c cage lid, will need 12 grids.
You can see lids for sale and copy them,. using grids and cable ties.

 

[Princess_Harriet]

The Midwest guinea habitat plus has a top. The regular one does not.

 

[HeatherW]

It's worth noting that cages are designed to keep pets in and not predators out, so I'd recommend a lid as an extra safety precaution rather than the whole solution. If possible, keep the guineas in a separate room which the cat can't access, especially if yours has a high prey drive and you're concerned it may terrorize them.

 

[Sue and Smartie]

This is what I do. I had one of those hutch/run outside combos and when I moved the pigs indoors, I used the run part with some marine plywood as a back and a base. The lid of the run is held down with bungee clips. We have never had a break-in by any cats, and the mesh of the wire is small enough so that paws can't be pushed through the gaps.
I make sure the cats are somewhere else when the lid is off for cleaning etc.