Insulating your guinea pig cage

[monica1607]

Hi I have been saying to people on here a really good way to insulate theyre piggy cages, and so now I have photos! Just to show you all what I mean.

If you wanna keep your piggies extra cosy in the sleeping area then this is my tip (and it works as I am currently using it and everytime I put my had in the sleeping area its always nice and warm!)
I use polystyrene sheeting, and cut it to fit the walls and ceiling of the sleeping area (I tend to use polystyren boxes that are used to transport such things as veg or polystyren used as paddin in boxes, as its free!). I then use multipurpose glue to stick wood sheeting to the polystyren, again cut to size over the polystyren before glueing (so piggys cant chew the stuff!) just make sure you leave a gap at the top on each of you sides so that the roof has some where to rest, also when doing the side make sure they are nice and snug (so they dont fall over) and also make a removable wall that goes against the door. you can then hang fleece blankets over the wood for more insulation. Also another good tip, which has really worked for me is putting a piece of lino on the floor through out the cage as its much easier to clean and the wood wont absorb and 'liquids', which can cause it too smell!
I hope you find my tips useful!

Insulating wall which is removable and goes where the door is:

The inside of the cage, where the polystyrene is behind the wood and the the wood covered in a fleece blanket, as well as my piggys bottom! (fleece blanket is cut so not to touch the ground to avoid absorbing the pee and my piggys love hiding under it):

Another angle of the sleeping area:

Hope it inspires you and also before anyone says that the cage is too small for 2 piggies I know, and I am currently doing them a new one up, I have made the sleeping area into a 2 floor area and made them a ramp going up to it. Ive just got to finish insulating it out, heres a pic of the cage and my beginings of insulating it out

 

[monica1607]

Oh yeah and I forgot to say that if you look on the second photo in the top left corner you will see a plastic thing used to hold wires to wall I use one on each side to stop the removable door falling onto the piggys.

 

[Shelley]

Do the pigs not eat the polystyrene? My two eat EVERYTHING.

 

[piggyfan]

This is really dangerous! Your guinea pigs will eat that! Take it out right away.

 

[Connie]

If you carefully read the OP post you will see the polysyrene is actually covered by wood, stopping them being able to eat it. However i do think the ceiling should also be wood covered as there is exposed sytrene up there.

Otherwise i think its a good idea.

 

[lilmisscavy]

If you carefully read the OP post you will see the polysyrene is actually covered by wood, stopping them being able to eat it. However i do think the ceiling should also be wood covered as there is exposed sytrene up there.

Otherwise i think its a good idea.

It does look quite low, unless it's just the photo making it seem that way.

 

[Connie]

I think the side the photo is taken from usualy has a door there, so they wouldnt usualy be the exposed edge. but as i said i think its a great idea provided ALL the polystyrene is covered up

 

[monica1607]

Hi I know this is old but thought as the cold weathers coming it would be a good idea to bump it up and to answer your questions YES ALL POLYSTYRENE IS COVERED! I'm not daft! I know that guinea pigs chew that is why it is all covered in plywood so that they cant actually get to it, I wouldnt put my guinea pigs at risk like that! Plus once a month I remove it all to do a good proper clean and check it over to make sure no corners have been chewed too badly if it has, its replaced (but so far havnt needed to). I dont actually use that cage now but have used the same insulation system in my new cage and have actually just finished doing 1 for my friend who says the diffrence is amazing!

 

[Shaz]

Ooo snug piggles