Many people are surprised when they hear that guinea pigs are best housed indoors but there are many advantages of having your pet indoors:

HEALTH BENEFITS

• The domestic guinea pig is not a hardy animal and can deteriorate rapidly once poorly, so it is better to prevent illness rather than treat whenever illness strikes.
• Housing a guinea pig outdoors in a wooden hutch or otherwise means that the guinea pig is unnecessarily exposed to all weather conditions.
• Cold, damp and windy conditions (which lets face it can be a typical English summer!) can result in a guinea pig developing a respiratory infection which if not treated rapidly and with suitable antibiotics can prove fatal.
• High temperatures and intense sunlight can result in heat exhaustion and severe dehydration even if you think there is sufficient water available. Again, the consequences can prove fatal if lost fluids and salts are not replenished immediately.
• Should your guinea pig become poorly for any reason, the chances are you'll notice and act quicker if the pig lives indoors with you.

courtesy of www.cavycages.com

SAFETY BENEFITS

• Too many times we hear stories from people whose guinea pigs have been attacked by foxes or other wild animals whilst housed outdoors - even in a seemingly secure back garden.
• Although the fox or wild animal may not always reach its intended prey, guinea pigs (and rabbits) have been known to die of fright - even days after the incident happened.
• If you house your guinea pig indoors, these unnecessary and stressful incidents can be avoided - why take the risk of housing outdoors?

courtesy of www.cavcages.com

BETTER RELATIONSHIPS AND BONDING

• We know from first hand experience that guinea pigs housed indoors develop more unique and entertaining personalities than those housed outdoors.
• Not only will your guinea pig get to know and trust you a lot quicker, but you too will learn a lot about your new pet and their likes and dislikes.
• A guinea pig housed outdoors and only handled for an hour or so a day will not bond as quickly nor as well with its owner.
• Guinea pigs are very sociable animals and their wild relatives live in herds. However, sometimes a guinea pig may be without cagemates for health or social reasons and in situations like these, human interaction is even more important.

courtesy of www.cavycages.com

No, not necessarily! You can build some really exciting cages that reflect your style and surroundings for less than the cost of your average (and too small) pet shop cage! A new style of cage is sweeping guinea pig lovers up and down the country and these cages are what's known as a "cubes and correx cage" or CC cage for short. Here is a picture of the CC cage we have set up in our lounge: