Design: Bob's Guinea Condo (attactive, large, easy-to-clean cavy condo)
Price: $150 (the most expensive part were the legs, from Home Depot)
Name: Bob
Location: San Francisco, CA
Pet's Name: Munchkin, Piglet, Angel, and Babe
Size & Type: Guinea Pigs
Pitch:
"A housing solution that gives guinea pigs room to roam, exercise, and interact with the household -- is easy to clean -- and blends with antique furniture. Solution: a table-height stained plywood cage, legs, a ramp with a door, a cleaning sweep-door in front, glass windows, coroplast liner, and an optional "finished basement" below for extra room." [more pics below]
Oh, great. Now I see that my pigs are actually trashy rednecks in their large utilitarian plastic-and-grid cage. Your guinea pigs are classier than I am. Yay Wisconsin.
It took me a while to get this entry, partly because it looks at first glance like real furniture, and partly because I have no affinity for guinea pigs. But now I see that it's a marvel of ingenuity and engineering.
I am so happy to see someone keeping guinea pigs in a way that's actually NOT borderline abusive. I hate those horrible little cages they sell for them. And I see that you feed them hay and greens! You must have the happiest pigs on the planet, plus they're living in style. Good job.
What a clever and stylish alternative to the standard wire and plastic guinea pig cages. I like the ramp that allows the guinea pigs freedom to roam around and the attractive furniture-like design.
Out of curriosity - are they house broken? And if they have freedom to roam - how did you pig proof your house?
I've had pigs in the past, but we've only had them out of their cages (about once a day) under strick supervision to keep them away from electrical cords and out from under furniture. And only for short periods of time to keep them from leaving puddles on the carpet. These pigs look so much happier.
Hi, Monica.
The guinea pigs only roam 2 rooms with carpets -- they don't like walking on the hardwood floors in adjacent rooms. In fact, they tend to stay in their condo or in the area directly underneath the cage -- so we've put rubber-backed matts and towels underneath to catch their pee.
When we get go away on trips and want to confine them, we slip a coroplast "basement" underneath the condo. The pigs show no interest in climbing over short walls.
http://photos.imageevent.com/bats/pets/house%206.jpg
http://photos.imageevent.com/bats/pets/websize/Jim%20and%20the%20foursome%202.jpg
P.S. All electrical wires are tucked out of reach or wrapped in plastic tubing.
I think that there are some great ideas with this. I would like it even more if you had some more attractive fabric/paper, whatever that multi-colored item is, which could be a nice solid instead.
How about playing up the wood even more and adding some turrets or other fanciful thing on top of those wooden rooms?
How did u build that? do u have some ideas for me im 15 and my name is melissa and im looking to make my guinea pig a nice home instead of yes a krewl lil cage. emial me please if u have any ideas corvettez
_rock_55(at)msn(dot)com please do - sincerly melissa
You just keep teasing with that fancy set up you got. I'd still line it with a fancy blanket :P
You have the nicest cage I have ever seen. It is beautiful to look at and it would blend into my living room decor perfectly. Beautiful work and happy guinea pigs. I hope you win.
I just think this is so original and elegant at the same time. I wish I had the time, inclincation, and talent to pull something like that together. Not only is it a very practical housing arrangement in terms of what the guinea pigs need, but it would look lovely in a home, and not like an animal habitat. Nicely done!!
Spacious and classy guinea pig homes should not be such a rarity. This is beautiful and practical. Away with those cruel little cages.
That's a neat guinea pig condo and I love the ramp. I'm always looking for ways to make my cage blend in more with the decor and I think you have certainly accomplished that. My own furniture doens't even look that nice. Very creative and sleek design.
Did you also make the hidey houses?
Your cage is so beautiful! I wish mine was that nice. Instead of fancy stained wood and plexiglass, they have bright yellow coroplast, bright red cow-print fleece, and a homemade table made from cheapo wood. You have some very lucky pigs!