To be happy and healthy, guinea pigs need a big case.

      The recommended roam-room for a single guinea pig is now a minimum of 7.5 to 8 square feet (2.3–2.4 sq m). Two cavies need at least 10.5 square feet (3.2 sq m), three guinea pigs need a minimum of 13.5 square feet (4.1 sq m), and four piggies need around 16 square feet (4.9 sq m). But remember, these are only the minimum requirements. It’s always better to provide the biggest cage you can afford and have space for in your home.

      Whether you’re looking at a store-bought cage, a cage from a kit, or a homemade habitat, price is probably going to be a factor. A good-sized cage might cost more than you’re expecting, so look into all of your options. If you can’t afford something suitable, put off your pet purchase until you’ve saved enough for a cavy-friendly cage.

Commercial cages

      If you take a list of the recommended cage sizes along with you to the pet store, you’re soon going to realize that it’s difficult to find a cage big enough for one cavy, let alone for several. Even if you look at all the possibilities available online, you won’t find many suitably sized cages.

      There are a few commercially available cages in the 7.5 to 8 square feet (2.3–2.4 sq m) range, approximately 30 × 36 in. (75 × 90 cm) or 24 × 48 in. (60 × 120 cm). But these are about the largest guinea pig cages you’ll find on the market right now, though larger sizes might become available in the future.

      What if you’ve already bought a cage and now realize it’s too small? You could always keep it as a “quarantine cage” for any of your guinea pigs that get sick. You could also use it as temporary housing for your piggies when cleaning out their new, larger cage, or make it part of an expanded cage system by linking it to a larger living area (see Multi-level cages and extensions).

Build-it-yourself cages

      If you’re having trouble finding a large enough store-bought cage, don’t worry. It doesn’t take much skill to make a cage yourself. And you’ll be happy to know that some of the very best guinea pig cages are owner-designed and built. Fortunately, you don’t have to start completely from scratch when making a do-it-yourself cage; you can make a first-rate cavy habitat by putting together a combination of store-bought items.

      The first item you’ll need is corrugated plastic, better known as coroplast, which is used to make an easy-clean floor for the cage. Coroplast sheets come in a variety of colors, so you can match the cage to your décor or make it a distinct conversation piece. The second item you’ll need is wire-cube shelving, which is used to make the walls of the enclosure. This shelving comes in black, white, and a limited number of colors. With these two products, it’s fairly cheap to build what’s known as a C&C (cubes and coroplast) cage for your cavies.

      The wire-cube shelving is sold under several brand names. It comes in packages containing anywhere from 16 to 40-plus wire-grid panels, along with plastic connectors for joining the panels together. When you go shelf shopping, look for the 14-inch (35 cm) square panels rather than the 15-inch (38 cm) square panels because the spaces in the 15-inch (38 cm) panels are larger, and small-sized guinea pigs could escape through them. Packages of wire-cube shelving are pretty easy to find; department stores, bed-and-bath stores, discount warehouses, and office supply stores all carry them. They’re also widely available on the Internet—just google “wire cube shelving.” However, if you order from the Internet, the delivery costs could be expensive unless your order qualifies for free shipping.

      The coroplast might be harder to find. Your best bet is to look for it in sign shops. You could also look for it in hobby/craft stores or in some home improvement stores. None in stock? Ask if it can be ordered for you.