Housing your guinea pig is limited only by your imagination, ingenuity, and budget. Adequate housing is a major factor in the maintenance of a healthy pet. Important considerations include what it is constructed from, that it provides good ventilation, is easy to clean, and provides plenty of room. There is no single correct way to house your guinea pig as long as its well being is the most important criteria.
Enclosure can be made of wire, stainless steel, durable plastic, or glass; wood is not as good being more difficult to clean and guinea pigs may destroy it by chewing. The size of the enclosure needs to allow for normal guinea pig activity, the more room the better. Some authors and sites recommend a minimum size of approximately 2 square feet of space but the trend is going up to a larger cage, over 7 square feet. Ideally pet guinea pigs will appreciate lots of room, the bigger the space the better!
Use bedding materials that are clean, non-toxic, absorbent, relatively dust free, and easily replaced. Some available bedding's for the cage are wood shavings such as aspen and kiln-dried pine (not cedar), shredded paper or Carefresh (a recycled paper bedding), processed ground corn cob, and commercial pellets. Put in a cardboard house or logs for the guinea pig so that he has a place to go when he gets frightened or is tired.
Keep the guinea pig cage up on a sturdy stand or table away from cold damp areas, out of drafts, and away from direct sunlight. Guinea pigs have a sensitive nature and are more comfortable in a quiet spot away from noise and stress. Keep them in a place to keep where other animals can't get at them. Clean the cage thoroughly with hot water at least once a week.
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