Guinea pig toys

Speaking of toys for guinea pigs, one cannot help but emphasize that the most important thing in this business is safety. Safety first! Many of the toys on the market (such as cat balls with bells inside) are dangerous because of the small parts. Some can cause serious damage, some can be harmful due to the varnishes and paints used.

Invent, but remember: safety first! Some pigs like toys, while others may not notice them. Some pigs get bored with toys after a while. It’s good to experiment and let them choose.

Remember that many guinea pigs will ignore most toys, it’s best to use simpler toys. If the pig is indifferent to toys, then change toys and houses more often, and also rearrange them. If possible, do not put houses and bowls close to the walls and corners of the cage. Make sure the space in the cage is free for running. Bowls, toys and houses should be placed in the center of the cage with enough room to run around.

brown paper bags

For example, from McDonald’s fast food restaurants. Easy, inexpensive, can be thrown away when dirty. Try bending or trimming them to fit better in the cage. Lay them on their side. Cut off the handles! You can also put hay in bags. A toy and a feeder in one bottle! Accidentally eating paper is not dangerous for guinea pigs.

crumpled papers

Very simple, although the piglets will love it. Better to use plain white paper. Perhaps the pigs will gnaw or eat paper. Accidentally eating paper is not dangerous for guinea pigs.

Cardboard rolls from paper towels and toilet paper

You can make great treats by stuffing them with hay. Cut the spools lengthwise so the playful, curious pig doesn’t get stuck like the one in the picture.

Small cardboard boxes (from oatmeal, etc.)

Can be thrown away when dirty or gnawed. Should be large enough so that the pigs do not get stuck.

Bricks or rough stones Can help sharpen nails. Especially good in the summer, because the pigs can lie on cool stones. You can also put a piece of brick under the drinker, it will absorb water droplets falling from the drinker.

Or make a small, low pyramid of bricks (if you have a large cage, of course) and place food on top of the pyramid. When placing bricks and stones in the cage, make sure it is NOT HAZARDOUS for the guinea pigs, some of the stones may fall and injure the guinea pig. Try placing rocks next to or under the hay bales, especially if the hay bales are high up.

old socks You can put socks in a cage or stuff them with sawdust. This may become your pig’s favorite pillow. Tie or sew up the top of the sock. You can also put a tennis ball in your sock.

Cardboard boxes for shoes, napkins, etc. Turn the box over or lay it on its side for a cave. If the box is on its side, put some sawdust or hay on the bottom to make it more comfortable for the pig to lie down. If the box is upside down, cut one or two entrances and a few exit holes. Exit holes are good if you have more than one guinea pig. If you have a box with a top, you can lay it on its side so that the top is like a door that wobbles when you open it. Guinea pigs will love this hideout.

Old towels Some pigs will carry the towel around the cage or use it as a pillow. Hand towels and dish towels are best suited in size.

You can also cut the bath towel, but you need to cut off all the loops for hanging. From a towel you can make an awning, which will be a house for a pig. To do this, tie a towel to the corner bars of the cage and secure with safety pins. These covers are easy to wash and do not take up much space.

balls Tennis balls or ping pong balls are great. They are better than store-bought cat balls as they can be easily rolled over sawdust.

Plastic cups or containers Plastic cups or containers for margarine, melted cheese, etc. are also great as toys. They can be scattered around the cage or climb inside.

Pine cones They can become a favorite toy of pigs, but in the beginning they must be cleaned of resin. To do this, they need to be put on foil (so as not to stain the oven) in a 200 ° C oven for 20-30 minutes.

Mirrors Mirrors are best fixed on the outside of the cage. If you want to secure them inside, they must be unbreakable. You can use mirrors for birds.

fruit tree branches Good for chewing. Can be found in the country or in a country park. Trees must be NOT SPRAYED WITH CHEMICALS! Apple branches can be eaten fresh, straight from the tree. DO NOT GIVE branches: cherry, peach, apricot, plum and mahogany, they are poisonous.

Children’s wooden cubes For chewing and dragging around the cage. Cubes must be WITHOUT any coating (lacquer, paint).

Small soft toys Can be used in the same way as stuffed socks. Pigs can use them as sleeping pads. If your pig will gnaw on a toy, then it would be better to replace it with a sock stuffed with sawdust. If your pig liked a toy but chewed it up, try replacing the filler with sawdust and sewing it up again.

Tunnels for guinea pigs Guinea pigs just love tunnels! And they also like to lie in impromptu “minks”. Now many manufacturers offer ready-made tunnels – made of fabric, plastic, wicker, etc. But if you are resourceful and love to craft, then making a tunnel for a guinea pig will not be difficult for you.

The easiest option is a piece of ordinary sewer pipe, which is sold in every hardware store. Or a corner for sewer pipes.

You can also sew a tunnel, for example, from fleece or other soft fabric.

We believe that tunnels and minks should be in every cage!

Bird toys The ones you can hang up with a bell on the end. Try hanging from the corner of the cage using a different rope, or hook it to the top of the cage. You can secure it with large paper clips. Toys must be safe, without small parts that the pig can choke on.

Toys for cats Some pigs may like balls with bells inside. Be careful, they may not be safe enough for guinea pigs. Knitted balls with a bell are safer than plastic ones.

“Canape for pigs” You can not only buy, but make your own from vegetables! These are metal perches that you can add their favorite treats to. We do not recommend using small parts that could harm your guinea pig.

Rodent toys The assortment of pet shops in terms of toys for rodents is represented mainly by various tunnels and hammocks. Both of them can be made with your own hands, or you can buy. In any case, the pig is likely to be satisfied.

DO NOT USE:

• big balls, because guinea pigs can injure their backs and legs.
• running wheels are also very bad for guinea pigs and can damage the back and legs.

© Cavy Spirit, Inc.

© Translation by Anna Belkova and Elena Lyubimtseva