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Original poster

Bringing guinea pigs indoors.

51 replies

FlyingFig · 01/12/2012 18:20

We have two GPs that we bought in July and so far they've been OK outside, but last night I brought them in (making a makeshift home from the cat's carry box!). We've bought an indoor cage, which will have to stay in the DD's room as there's nowhere else for it to go, this should be OK I think?

I've gone from worrying about them being too cold, to stressing that they'll be too warm in the house! Any tips for keeping piggies indoors and making sure they're happy?

Also going to have to make sure the DD's bedroom door is shut when they're not in it as I'm worried the cat will pester them, he doesn't bother them outside but I wouldn't trust him, he's a cat after all

OP posts:
Meglet · 01/12/2012 18:23

yes, bring them in. Mine have always been inside in winter. My houses have always been hot and they were quite happy snuffling about.

They would often still have a play in their garden run during the day, the change from warm to cold never killed them (this is 30yrs of owning guinea pigs).

goralka · 01/12/2012 18:23

they will make your house stink.
could you not put them back outside in a sheltered corner, perhaps with an old folded blanket tucked around the cage and lots of bedding for them to snuggle into?

Pochemuchka · 01/12/2012 18:32

Goralka is right.
We've brought ours inside and they make the whole house smell even when they've just been cleaned.
If you have somewhere you can put them that they'll get attention but not make the place stink fair enough, otherwise my vet recommended warm bedding and in the garage.

RooneyMara · 01/12/2012 18:36

I don't mind a piggy smell. Just brought in our lass as she is alone this year, her friend died in the summer, and I think she'd be cold out there - but she is in the conservatory with blankets over the cage.

I worry more that she is really bored Sad

I am sure yours will be fine if the cage is secure.

Original poster
FlyingFig · 01/12/2012 18:47

Argh, never considered the smell!

There's really no other place to put them (shed has no windows), we had an insulated hutch cover, put a blanket over the top, moved hutch to a more sheltered place, but the hutch still felt damp with cold these past few mornings?

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/12/2012 18:58

My two boars are out at the moment (they have my DC old wooden Playhouse which is 5'5" x 5'7" floorspace) They've got a haybox that is 3' square (carpet on the lid and a ramp leading up which the blighters never use)

Their haybox has rubber matting to insulate (car boot liner from Costco, heavy rubber- brilliant) Cat litter wooden pellets, cardboard ,newspaper, soft straw and hay.(deep filled)
I've got hotwater bottles (in waterproof pillowcovers) and a Snugglepd in there.
And a radiator (and a wall thermometer).
I did pop out last night and put the radiator up to medium as it was 0c or -1c.

Mine were not happy boys over Guy Fawkes (they were in for 2 nights and fought because of the lack of space)

If it gets too bad they'll need their indoor cages divided for night time. But at the moment if they are warm, dry (hay and newspaper changed every 1-2 days) then I'll see how we get on.
A bit more work from me and if they are happy with the space (they've got three little Hog Houses in their Pighouse) then I'm happy too.

They come in for a cuddle (twice a day weekends when the heating is off) and in the evening.

And goralka -it's the hay I find that stinks rather than the GPs - and I've got a real 'marker' boar Grin

Original poster
FlyingFig · 01/12/2012 19:21

Will cat litter wooden pellets help with the potential whiff? Not that they seem smelly girls, although time will tell...

70 your piggies sound like they live in a mansion, I hope they appreciate all you do for them! Grin

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mercibucket · 01/12/2012 19:28

They'll be happy inside and the smell is only hay!! I quite like it. Don't keep them near radiators and enjoy the snuggles

mercibucket · 01/12/2012 19:28

They'll be happy inside and the smell is only hay!! I quite like it. Don't keep them near radiators and enjoy the snuggles

Original poster
FlyingFig · 01/12/2012 19:53

Hay I can cope with! Definitely looking forward to the extra snuggles (and not raking about in the dark getting them extra hay late at night!).

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SantaKissedBonkeyMollocks · 01/12/2012 19:58

Firstly - they don't smell if you keep them clean. the only smell you will get is the hay smell!

I have my two in 24/7 , they get spot cleaned every day and do not smell! If they did then dh would cook um!

SantaKissedBonkeyMollocks · 01/12/2012 20:00

Secondly, make sure they get a run about everyday to stop them getting bored. Mine romp round the kitchen everyday. Just make sure you block up all gaps!

i love having them with us! They are lovely creatures to have around! :)

bluebump · 01/12/2012 20:04

Mine are indoors for the winter and they don't smell that much, it's just a hay smell which is fine, they get cleaned out at least twice a week. Mine are in a dog pen type thing in the lounge with some snuggly warm beds for sleeping in so they get plenty of room to run around and are also on hand for a cuddle every day.

I didn't realise they are so noisy though, if I even try and sneak a bag of crips on the sofa they hear the noise of the bag and think it's a treat for themselves and squeak so loudly!! Grin

Original poster
FlyingFig · 01/12/2012 20:08

We've laid an old blanket out in the front room and set out some cardboard boxes with doors cut in and their tunnels, what a hoot they're having, it's most amusing!

Will make sure they get this sort of playtime every day; the cat's sulking in the kitchen though as we've shut the door but I've lobbed him a small piece of gammon so all is well!

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/12/2012 20:38

They need a constant ,even temperature (no hot-to-cold or cold-to-hot).
I put mine in my DD room for Guy Fawkes (it was the coolest room in the house) so she heard the little toads bellyaching all night Hmm

And if they are in, prepare to never be able to open the fridge, chop some food or eat a bag of crisps without being harassed by a chorus of "We're here. We have mouths too y'know"

Ours were in for a cuddle and GP1 (with DDs help of course) hijacked me when the fridge door was open. Of course I wasn't really getting milk for coffee, I was in there for parsley.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/12/2012 20:41

Flying my bpys are very spoiled and don't appreciate me. GP1 is very judgey Grin

Original poster
FlyingFig · 01/12/2012 21:00

Ah well they usually start shouting when I open the back door, so I imagine now they're inside we're going to be hearing a lot more of their food shout-outs!

They are amazing pets - we did initially have 3 girls (one for each of the DC) but after a month we noticed DS's GP had a penis! Sadly we had no choice but to take her/him back to the incompetent pet shop, poor DS was heartbroken (he has ASD) but these two remaining sisters have been so loving that he's over it now Smile

OP posts:
MagicHouse · 02/12/2012 22:26

I'm so torn about getting an indoor cage! Mine are currently in their hutch in the shed. It does have a window, but it's probably fairly gloomy. They have their insulating and rain covers over the main bit of the hutch, but I find myself worrying about them lots of the time! Especially as it's been so cold here lately. We don't really have much room in the house really though. Could probably fit in our upstairs landing which is pretty big. Or else upstairs again with me! Not relishing the smell, even if it's just hay, I don't particularly like it.
Decisions, decisions.

Original poster
FlyingFig · 03/12/2012 09:26

Magic I was torn too, but it got to cold and I was the same, worrying about them all the time!

Can honestly say I haven't noticed a smell in the house, the DDs were away at their dad's this weekend and I got them to sniff up when they came home, they couldn't smell anything either so I'm hopeful if we keep on top of cleaning them out regularly there will be no whiff.

Also ordered a play pen from Amazon so that they can have a good run around indoors, it's got a cover on the top so they'll be safe from the cat.

OP posts:
Original poster
FlyingFig · 03/12/2012 09:26

*too cold

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/12/2012 19:17

I had our boys move into the box-room last night. They have a 4'x2' cage (they are very judgey about it, in their opinion it's just not them )
I kept waking up thinking "I hope they are okay, not squabbling".
DD says she heard them bicker (she was under strict instructions not to lift them up. If they were narky I'd go to them. They kept her awake at Guy Fawkes. I bet they loved all the attention Hmm ).

I put a duvet over them to keep them quiet and keep their smell ininsulate them.

MagicHouse · 03/12/2012 22:29

:-) Can anyone recommend an indoor hutch? I was looking at the ferplast 120/ 140 ones. So expensive though :-$

SantaKissedBonkeyMollocks · 03/12/2012 22:32

C&C

Pictures , you can make a massive one quite cheaply

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/12/2012 10:59

Cor, I'd forgotten bleached it out of my brain how much they pooh Shock

My fellas are in at night and I gave them newspaper + fleece + boxes. I had to throw the boxes out after 2 nights (peed despite shredded paper)

I think last night GP1 didn't let GP2 in the box- there was a pile of pooh in the corner of GP2s petbed.

Worse Than Children Hmm Xmas Hmm

treedelivery · 05/12/2012 19:57

We have 2 who live inside, in the playroom. One is grumpy and the other needy, but since needy got her own bed, so grumpy can sleep alone, there seems to be less trouble in the mill.

They are in a 120 ferplast cage, although the door is open most of the day and they shuffle about and sit in the tiny gap between the cage and the wall.

No smell that I have noticed - unless I haven't washed out the plastic base in a while. Other than that, it's fine. I keep the hay in a large plastic box with a good lid, and they get through it quickly so no trouble with mould etc.

Seriously tempted to get some of that c&c stuff and build up. That would be cooool.

Do gp enjoy climbing or being at height?