Guinea Pig Starter Kit: Our Rescue's Ultimate Shopping List for New ...

Welcoming a guinea pig into your home is exciting—but figuring out what you actually need can be stressful. With so many products out there, it’s tough to tell what’s safe, reliable, and worth your money. As a rescue, we’ve helped lots of piggies settle into happy new homes, and we’ve learned a thing or two about what works. This guide is our way of sharing that knowledge—so you can start your guinea pig journey with confidence and ease.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to get started—from the absolute essentials to our favorite small shops, affordable dupes, and a few high-end options if you’re ready to splurge. Whether you’re shopping on a budget or just want the best for your new piggy, there’s something here for everyone.

Guinea Pig Cages

Your guinea pig's cage is probably the most important essential for your new furry friend, this is where they will spend likely 90% of their time so you want to make sure they are comfortable & happy with your choice. With plenty of space to run around. 

Grid Safety

Pre-Built Cages

Midwest Homes for Pets, Guinea Pig Habitat Plus $78.99

At only 8 square feet of space this guinea pig cage isn't quite big enough for two guinea pigs to live comfortably, however it has earned a reputation for being one of the best pre-built guinea pig cages on the market! With this cage's double doors you can connect two or more cages together and create really fun setups that will fit your guinea pigs needs!

Pros Cons - Easy to connect to other Midwest Cages - PVC bottom needs to be washed when it gets dirty - Easy to assemble in minutes & Easy to put away - Difficult to attach water bottles at comfortable height - Comes with lid - PVC bottom is not chew proof - Easy to clean PVC bottom - Folds flat for easy storage - Very secure from large animals like dogs when lid is in place

MidWest Wabbitat Deluxe Rabbit Home  $236.24

Yet another cage from Midwest, this cage is intended for rabbits but is the perfect size for two guinea pigs. I had the opportunity to try this cage lately and was pleasantly surprised!

Pros Cons - Divided section perfect for hay area - Although its fully covered the locks come undone easily. This cage would not be safe from large animals like dogs - Hard base that is easy to clean by hand or with a hose  - Hard to open comfortably, the doors don't hold in place by themselves - Heavy and difficult to transport

MidWest Critter Nation Deluxe Small Animal Cage, Double Story $339.99

At a first glance this cage is entirely inappropriate for guinea pigs! However some creative owners have made a small modification to this cage that makes it perfect for our furry friends!

With its modular design you can easily remove the middle wall to attach the two levels together. making for a great one level cage or if you purchase an additional cage, an amazing double decker cage for two herds! 

PROS CONS - Large doors that make cleaning and accessing guinea pigs incredibly easy - You will have to secure the two pieces together with zip ties so they don't drift apart - Secured on all sides of the cage making it a very safe option for those with large animals like dogs - Ramps will have to be removed for safety - if you use the bottom level it can be transported with its wheels and have storage underneath 

C&C Cages

Over the years, C&C cages have become a golden standard for guinea pig care. With its modular grids you can easily change your cages layout, easily expand the cage if you want to add a new member to your herd and change grid colors and types to fit all your crazy ideas!

Kavee Guinea Pig Cages ( Starting at $127.20 & Up )

At just slightly below 14" grids, Kavee cages are known for their beautiful, easily customizable design. This cage is amazing for those wanting a guinea pig cage that doesn't stick out too much with your beautifully decorated home. 

PROS CONS - Small gaps between the grids makes it very safe for baby guinea pigs. - Grids are dainty and come apart easily. Zip tying grids required - Acrylic, White, Black & Colorful grid options available - takes over an hour to assemble (prepare all evening to put this together) - Chloroplast base is very easy to clean & lasts much longer than fabric bases. - Acrylic panels don't have a way to zip tie and can come undone - Grids are very slightly smaller compared to other C&C's allowing for the cage to sit at a very comfortable height when raised. - Chloroplast base is not very tall, allowing for hay to fall to the floor and pee can get on wall if you have a sprayer - Colorful Chloroplast & Accessories allow for an aesthetic look - So many options for one level & Raised Cages

Critter Colony Club ( $140)

Get 10% off with our code: PeanutButterPigs (the use of this code will go toward helping our rescue!)

Critter Colony Cage is the perfect cage for those who don't enjoy the standard look of C&C Cages. With its sleek and beautiful acrylic design it keeps the functionality of your typical C&C cage without the look of black bars. 

PROS CONS - Beautiful Design - Acrylic may need to be cleaned more often than typical C&C cage bars. - Easy and fast to set up! Our typical cages take 3-6 hours to assemble while critter colony's cage only took 1. (No special tools! you only need a quarter) - Slightly less durable than metal bars - Keeps your area cleaner than typical C&C. You don't get hay spilling out the sides due to the unique pattern of the cutouts in the acrylic.  - Comes with disposable paper bottoms for cage instead of chloroplast base (However the grid size is the safe to be able to add cagetopia chloroplast bases if you have that preference)  - 14 inch bars so liners and chloroplast bases from other brands like cagetopia and kavee will fit

Cagetopia ( Starter kits $145.99)

Cagetopia was the creator of the C&C Cage for guinea pigs! With years of experience you can never go wrong with their cages & their many designs!

PROS CONS - Sturdy grids that can hold a lot of weight - Very hard to take apart once you've put it together - Tall chloroplast base that keeps area around the cage clean! - Should still zip tie the grids for extra security  - Starter kit comes with a kitchenette area for hay to lessen mess in other areas of the cage - takes over an hour to assemble (prepare all evening to put this together) - Brand has so many accessories to make the cage more fun! Such as scalloped grids, heart designs, guinea pig safe ramps and more!

Budget-Friendly Alternatives 

Amazon Basics Guinea Pig Cage $51.29

This cage I have not personally tried, however I have seen it in person and the owners love this as an alternative to the standard Midwest cage, if you are looking for a cheaper option.

Songmics Pet Playpen $57.99

PROS CONS - Cheaper alternative to other C&C Cages - You will need to make or buy your own base - Comes in white & Black - Not on Amazon Prime so it may take a while to deliver - Same cons as kavee

Hay Holders

For a guinea pig, their tummy's are the way to their heart! Providing a comfortable place for your piggy to eat is a great way to get a happy one. Here is our Hay holder reccomendations.

Cagetopia Cavy Cafe $26.99

Tater Pets Hayzee- Hay Holder $17.95

Tater Pets Hayzee Solid- Hay Holder $35.95

ThePigRoom Piggy Litterbox $34.99

Kavee Litter Tray $16.80

Dollar Store Litter Box $1.29

Oxbow Enriched Life Rectangle Litter Pan with Removable Shield $19.99

Hidey Houses

Here are our favorite houses, hammocks & beds for guinea pigs! 

Guinea Pig Houses

GuineaDad Crunchy Condo Cardboard Hideout (3 Pack) $14.99

GuineaDad Wooden Castle Hidey For Guinea Pigs $34.99

Niteangel Wood House with Window $26.99

Hammocks & Bunk Beds

ThePigRoom Jumbo Piggy Bunk Bed $19.99

ThePigRoom Piggy Canopy $39.99

BlackPawWhitePaw The Original - Small Single Hammock with Stand $30

Happy Henry Homes Double Hammock Stand with Ramp $140

Fabric Beds

NormyLand Pet Beds $24.99

Kavee Guinea Pig Bed accessories

JanYoo Animal Bed Guinea Pig Accessories $23.99

PamperedPigBoutique Fleece Accessories 

CritterHangouts Fleece Accessories 

SqueekyFleece Fleece Accessories 

Food

Oxbow Essentials Guinea Pig Food $10.39-$36.59

Sheerwood Adult Guinea Pig Food $27.95

Small Pet Select Guinea Pig Pellets $19.99

Small Pet Select Orchard Hay $16.99 (Other Hay also Available)

Oxbow Orchard Hay $23.78  (Other Hay also Available)

Vitamin Supplements 

Oxbow Natural Science Vitamin C Supplement $7.99

Oxbow Natural Science Joint Support Hay Tabs $9.99

Science Selective Vitamin C Care $9.99

Treats

Small Pet Select Pea Flakes $11.99

GuineaDad Pea Flakes Treat Cups $17.99

GuineaDad Yummy Treat Sampler (6 Flavors / 100% All Natural) $19.99

Small Pet Select Healthy Snacker Sampler $49.95

Timothy Kabobs $13.99

Timothy Straws $14.99

Toys

Baby Stacking Cups $7.49

Fleece Forage Balls $11.99

Timothy Hoops $4.99

Oxbow Enriched Life Timbells Chew for Rabbits, Count of 2 $5.09

Oxbow Timothy Club Timothy Twists, 0.8 oz. $3.29

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Lonsin.

Pet Bowls

Full Cheeks™ Small Pet Cream Ceramic Bowl $8.99

Tip-Proof Bowl for Guinea Pigs and Other Small Pets $14.95

Kaytee Vege-T-Bowl Cabbage Small Pet Bowl, 16-oz $9.99

Water Bottle

Choco Nose Patented No-Drip Water Bottle $11.99

Kaytee Clear Water Bottle 16oz $15.43

Lixit Weather Resistant Cage Water Bottles for Rabbits, Ferrets, Guinea Pigs Hamsters and Other Small Animals. (16-Ounce) $4.78

Health

(For Winter) K&H Pet Products Thermo-Peep Heated Chicken Pad $52.14

Davis Miconazole Pet Shampoo, 12 Oz Antifungal $17.15 

Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale $13.99

Oxbow Critical Care Herbivore $14.49

1ml Oral Syringe - 100 Pack $12.99

Digital Small Animals Scales for Weighing $22.98

Sherwood Pet Health Guinea Pig Emergency Kit (Small) with Timothy Recovery Food and Appetite Restore in Stay-Fresh Packets $28.95

Science Selective Recovery Plus Liquid Syringe Small Pet Food, 0.71-oz pouch, 10 count $35.51

Bedding 

Carefresh® Small Pet Bedding - Natural $19.39

GuineaDad Original Liner $54.99

Kavee Fleece Liners

Full Cheeks Pet Liner (Pets Smart)

ThePigRoom Pig Mats $6 & Up

Thank you for reading!

We hope these items help you get started on preparing for your new fuzzy friend! 

Don't see an item category you'd like recommendations for? Feel free to contact us and we are happy to help any time of the wheek! 

It’s essential to have everything ready before you bring your new pet home. You do not want to be moving and changing things when your pigs are trying to settle in.

Personally, from our own experience, we believe that pigs should be kept outside in an adequate sized space. It makes their care a lot easier.

One pig should have access to at least thirty square feet of space, where they can play and move around. Two pigs ideally would need around sixty square feet of space.

A small, secondary pen should also be provided for your pet pig. Ideally this should surround their home or shed. The purpose of the smaller pen is to allow you to confine the pig when needed. A pen like this is handy if you need to get hold of your pet, when you need to separate them, or so you can place them inside it when they misbehave.

The optimum size for this smaller pen is around fifteen square feet. Good quality fencing should be used in the construction of any pigpen. Even a pet pig, especially when fully grown, has enough strength and power to break through weak or poor fencing.

The more space your pig has the better, as this will help prevent your pet from becoming bored. A bored pig is a problem pig.

Wallows and Shade

A wallow should also be provided during the summer and hot months. This is essential; it will allow your pet to cool off during hot days. Pigs do not sweat so they use a wallow as a way to cool down. A wallow can be a muddy pool of water, or a child’s paddling pool with a few inches of water added.

If you do use a paddling pool as a wallow, don’t fill it too deep, and make sure your pig can get in and out of it easily. Your pig will want to be able to lay down in it, so an inch or two of water should be sufficient. Some pigs hate paddling pools, others love them.

Alternatively you can make a more traditional muddy wallow. We usually dig a hole a few inches deep and a few feet wide. We place plastic sheeting in the hole and fill it back in with earth. We then add water to make the hole muddy. On hot days the pigs usually can’t wait to get in and cool off.

Also, make sure that you provide some shade for your pig. They can suffer from heatstroke and sunburn if they cannot cool down or find a place out of direct sunlight.

Steep & Slippery Surfaces

Pigs are not the most sure-footed animals; they struggle on very steep surfaces or slippery ground. Be careful when the ground is slippery, icy or snow covered – your pig could easily slip and injure themselves.

Pigs naturally try to avoid slippery areas. Sometimes when conditions are slippery you might need to provide your pig with a path, so they can move about safely. You might need to remove any snow, place grit over ice, or cover slippery mud with bark chippings before they are happy moving around.

Slippery wooden panels, flooring and decking can also be a problem. A few old, rubber car mats will also help their grip on such surfaces.

Very steep surfaces should be physically altered or fenced off. Although a pig will naturally avoid surfaces like these, they can sometimes trip and fall down them. I’ve also known pigs to be knocked down steep hills when they’ve been fighting, so take this into consideration when planning your pig pen.

Toilet

A small part of their outdoor space will be used as a toilet. Although pigs themselves do not smell their poo does. You’ll need to dispose of it as you see fit. Pig poo does make excellent compost though, so will come in handy for fertilising your plants. Alternatively you could always throw it in the bin. Flushing their poo down the toilet could be quite hard as their stools are long and hard – they may get jammed.

Pigs tend to pick a potty spot, and then stick to it. This makes cleaning up their mess very easy, when compared with other animals. We found it helpful to place a large, flat board down (where the pig has chosen its potty spot), after the pig goes to the toilet simply lift the board and throw the pig poo on the compost heap, or in the bin.

A pig can be potty trained, but you must be prepared to put the time in to achieve this.

Grazing

Ideally, part of their space should contain grass so they can graze. Grass provides them with extra nutrition; it also gives their mouth something to do and prevents them becoming bored. If your pig does not have access to any grass, try to provide them with a bit of hay, haylage or silage for them to munch on: make sure it isn’t mouldy as it could make them ill.

Watering

Your pet pig must have access to clean water at all times. Pig can suffer from salt poisoning so a constant supply of water is essential.

Rooting

Rooting is a perfectly natural piggy behaviour and has to be accepted. In the wild they use this behaviour to find food, like acorns and truffles. A ring placed in the nose is the usual solution to unwanted rooting, but this can cause the pig pain and discomfort.

Whether your pig will root depends on a lot of factors. Potbellies and Kune Kune are less prone to rooting due to their small snouts.

Some Micro Pigs are more prone to rooting than others, as the shape of their heads can vary. The rule of thumb is this – the longer the snout the greater the tendency to root.

But the type of ground the pig is kept on plays a role as well. If the ground is very hard then the pigs will root less, if it’s soft you’ll find they will root more.

Only you can decide whether or not the rooting is acceptable. If this behaviour is unacceptable you may have to isolate your pet to a particular spot to minimise the damage. We’ll cover some possible solutions to minimise rooting later in this book.

A word of warning, pigs and landscaped gardens are usually a bad mix.

Sleeping Areas

A pig needs a place to sleep. This area needs to be dry and a place they can escape from bad weather. Also, the sleeping area needs to be cool during warm days and provide shade during hot weather.

A sleeping area can take many forms – it can be a shed, sty, stable, garage, etc. – as long it keeps the bad weather out, and provides shade when it’s hot, it will be sufficient.

If you need to buy a pig home, get (or build) a standard garden shed. A 6ft x4ft shed is plenty big enough for a pair of pigs, and with a few easy modifications it can be a perfect pig home.

I find sheds to be better suited for pet pigs than your average pig sty/igloo. Sheds are easier to clean than sties as you can stand up in them, making them easier to clean out.

Usually you have to bend over to get inside a pigsty/igloo, this makes cleaning them a back-breaking chore. Also a shed with a door can be shut at night which is great for when the weather’s really bad.

When using a shed for a pig house I’d recommend blocking out any windows. This will help reduce the temperature, inside the shed, during the summer months. Shed windows can act like a greenhouse during sunny days, they can also help lose heat during the winter months. Personally, I like to remove, or cover the windows up if possible.

Your local weather and climate will determine the properties your pig shed should have. If you suffer from very cold and severe winters you may need to insulate the sides and roof. If you do insulate your pig’s home make sure you keep an eye on the temperature during the summer months, the extra insulation could make it too warm for your pet during the hotter months.

I also find that splitting the door into two is a good idea. This creates something which resembles a stable door, with a top and a bottom half. Doing this will allow you to shut the top during bad weather which will help keep your pet warm, and their straw dry. The door can be fully open during the hot months for added ventilation.

Sometimes fitting flaps to a door is a great way to help keep bad weather out. Rubber car mats are great for this job, and they’re cheap.

When building your pig shed try to take into account the average direction of the wind in your area and home. Placing the shed’s entrance downwind will help to keep their home warm and dry.

Provide your pig with plenty of barley for bedding. They love to immerse themselves in it and make a nest. This is how your piggy keeps warm. Barley straw is preferred over wheat straw as it tends to last longer and doesn’t break down into dust as quickly. Give them plenty of extra straw in winter as this will help them keep warm.

Feeding Area

A feeding area and provisions should also be provided. A dog dish or a small trough should suffice. Feeding pet pigs from a trough or bowl means they waste less food.

During the wetter parts of the year you may want to try and feed your pigs on hard or well-drained ground (i.e. patio, concrete floor, etc.). Daily feeding in the same area, on soft wet ground, will result in the ground becoming muddy and messy.

Plants Bad for Pigs

The following plants are poisonous to pigs: –

1. Foxglove
2. Rhododendron
3. Hemlock
4. Laburnum
5. Yew
6. St. John’s Wort

Usually pigs have a natural instinct to avoid eating things which are harmful to them. As far as I’m aware they do have to eat a rather large quantity of the above before it has a bad effect on them. However, if you have any of the above plants in your garden, it might be worth keeping your pig away from them (fencing them off) or removing them altogether.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website PVC panel for pig house.