Why this basket
- Built from RSPCA, PDSA, Wood Green and Rabbit Welfare Association advice on housing and feeding guinea pigs. Everything is sized for a pair, as the RSPCA advises.
- Space comes first, then hiding places. Guinea pigs feel exposed in open space, the RSPCA says, and need one more refuge than there are guinea pigs.
- Food is mostly hay. PDSA says hay should be 85 to 90% of the diet, plus a tablespoon of guinea pig nuggets each a day for vitamin C, which guinea pigs cannot make themselves.
- It is an indoor setup because it is autumn: the RSPCA says to move guinea pigs indoors when it is below 15°C.
Their space
A metal grid pen, one level, big enough for two
HOMIDEC metal grid pen panels, 35cm
4.5 on Amazon · 1,237 ratings · 400+ bought last month · #2 in Small Animal Playpens · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Wood Green's minimum indoor space for two females or a neutered pair is 153 by 61cm on one level, and 182cm long for two males. One set of these 35cm metal mesh panels builds 140 by 70cm, the listing says, so buy two and build one level at least 175cm long. There is no floor: stand it on a waterproof base such as correx or lino, then add bedding.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Quick to put together and easy to reshape to fit the room(5 of 8 reviews)
- Sturdy, especially once the cable ties are fitted(5 of 8 reviews)
- Extra sets join on to make a bigger pen or a second level(3 of 8 reviews)
Watch out for
- The lift-up door is awkward, and small paws can catch on it(2 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 140 x 70 x 35 cm
- Material
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Iron, Polypropylene (PP)
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 31 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 30 of them, including today.
Dust-free paper bedding
Back2Nature paper bedding, 30L
4.7 on Amazon · 5,238 ratings · 9K+ bought last month · #1 in Bedding & Substrate for Small Animals · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Always "on offer"53 of 53 days
The RSPCA wants a solid floor with a good depth of litter, and PDSA lists shredded paper among suitable bedding. This bedding is 99% recycled paper, the listing says; spread it over the pen's waterproof base. Put hay on top as well, since the RSPCA says bedding should be safe to eat, such as dust-free hay. Spot clean daily and deep clean at least weekly, the RSPCA says.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Soaks up wet well and keeps smells down between cleans(6 of 8 reviews)
- Soft paper pellets that are gentle on small feet(4 of 8 reviews)
- Low in dust, with little mess carried out(2 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 4.5 kg
- Material
- Paper
- Capacity
- 30 litres
- Made for
- small animals
- Warranty
- Manufacturer Fault
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 53 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 53 of them, including today.
A hide for each guinea pig
4.3 on Amazon · 108 ratings · 100+ bought last month · #10 in Small Animal Beds · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The RSPCA says guinea pigs feel vulnerable in open space, need places to get away from each other, and should have one more refuge than there are guinea pigs. This soft house is 24 by 24cm with a removable pad, and washes by hand or machine, the listing says. Two of these and the hay cottage below make three refuges for a pair.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Guinea pigs move in and settle down straight away(4 of 8 reviews)
- Washes in the machine and keeps its shape afterwards(4 of 8 reviews)
- Roomy enough for a guinea pig to curl up inside(4 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- In the box
- Guinea Pig House
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 31 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
A third hide they can chew
Rosewood carrot cottage, large
4.5 on Amazon · 3,672 ratings · 600+ bought last month · #1 in Small Animal Habitat Décor · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Always "on offer"30 of 30 days
The RSPCA suggests special houses, cardboard boxes or tubes as refuges. This cottage is cellulose fibre coated in meadow hay and carrot, bonded with water and vegetable starch, the listing says, and the large size, 37 x 25 x 24cm, suits all adult guinea pigs. They will eat it, so expect to replace it.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Pets take to it within seconds and happily chew it down(12 of 13 reviews)
- Used as a den for hiding and napping until it gets eaten(6 of 13 reviews)
- The carrot roof is the first part to be stripped(4 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- Only one doorway, so owners of pairs would like a second exit(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 37 x 25 x 24 cm
- Weight
- 100 g
- Material
- Wood
- Made for
- small small animals
- In the box
- 1 x cottage
- Warranty
- No warranty
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 30 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 30 of them, including today.
Also recommended on: a rabbit.
Food and water
Hay, always in reach
4.3 on Amazon · 821 ratings · 6K+ bought last month · #2 in Small Animal Food · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Real deal today
PDSA says hay should make up 85 to 90% of a guinea pig's diet and cannot be overfed, and the RSPCA says good hay should be there at all times. This is UK-grown meadow hay, dust-extracted and unchopped, the listing says. Start with one bag; once they take to it, the three-bag pack saves reordering.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Rabbits and guinea pigs tuck into it straight away(4 of 8 reviews)
- Good value next to pricier branded hays(2 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 1 kg
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 53 days; Amazon showed a discount of 10% or more on 21 of them, including today.
Grass-based nuggets made for guinea pigs
Burgess Excel guinea pig nuggets, 3kg
4.7 on Amazon · 1,164 ratings · 2K+ bought last month · #11 in Small Animal Food · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, the RSPCA says, and PDSA wants grass-based pellets made for guinea pigs, all one shape, about a tablespoon per adult a day. Burgess lists grass meal first, adds vitamin C and says every nugget is the same. PDSA says to keep pellets cool, dry and dark and use them within three months of buying, because the vitamin C breaks down.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Guinea pigs eat these nuggets eagerly, mint and all(8 of 9 reviews)
- A bag goes a long way and is good value(4 of 9 reviews)
Our summary of the 9 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 3 kg
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 48 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Heavy bowls for nuggets and water
4.4 on Amazon · 255 ratings · 300+ bought last month · #3 in Bowls for Small Animals · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The RSPCA says fresh water must be there all the time and checked twice a day, and that a pair needs enough food and water for both at once. Heavy stoneware is hard to tip over, and this 13cm bowl is sold for guinea pigs, the listing says. Use one for nuggets and two for water, or clip a water bottle to the pen's mesh instead of one bowl.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Heavy enough that pets cannot tip it over(5 of 9 reviews)
- A good size for an adult rabbit(3 of 9 reviews)
- Well made, with a cute carrot design(3 of 9 reviews)
Watch out for
- The colour is pot luck, so you may not get your choice(2 of 9 reviews)
Our summary of the 9 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 13 x 13 x 5.5 cm
- Weight
- 350 g
- Material
- Ceramic
- Capacity
- 142 g
- Made for
- small small animals
- In the box
- 1 x Ceramic Pet Bowl, 13 cm
- Care
- Dishwasher Safe
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 31 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Also recommended on: a house rabbit.
Can wait
- An exercise run. PDSA says the run should be at least 2m by 1m, and the Rabbit Welfare Association asks for an exercise area of 6ft by 4ft on top of the living space. Set up the pen first, then add the run.
- An outdoor hutch. The RSPCA says to move guinea pigs indoors when it is below 15°C, so an autumn start is an indoor one. For an outdoor home later, PDSA says the hutch should be at least 1.5 by 1m with a 2 by 1m run attached.
Skip it
- SkipA rabbit as companyThe RSPCA says rabbits and guinea pigs do not make ideal companions: they have different needs and do not understand each other's behaviour. Guinea pigs are best kept with guinea pigs.
- SkipMuesli-style guinea pig foodPDSA says never to feed a muesli-style mix, because guinea pigs pick out the bits they like best. Pellets should all be the same shape and colour.
- SkipCages with a wire or grid floorThe RSPCA says grid floors let the litter fall through and can hurt guinea pigs' feet.
- SkipTwo-level cages with narrow rampsWood Green's minimum space is on a single level, and the Rabbit Welfare Association says indoor housing should ideally be on one level or have wide ramps with sides.
- SkipPine shavings and fluffy beddingThe RSPCA says not to use softwood products such as pine, or nesting material that separates into thin strands, like cotton wool.
- SkipSmall starter cagesWood Green's minimum indoor space for a pair is 153 by 61cm, and it says most shop-bought cages and hutches are smaller than that, especially for two males.
Quick questions
What do guinea pigs need in their cage?
Room, a solid floor with bedding, a hiding place for each guinea pig plus one, hay at all times, a daily portion of guinea pig nuggets and fresh water. That list comes from the RSPCA, which also wants the space high enough for them to stand on their back legs, about 30cm for a young one's jumps.
Can guinea pigs live alone?
No. The RSPCA says guinea pigs get lonely and should not be kept alone. Good pairs are two females, brothers raised together, or a neutered male with one or more females. A rabbit is not a substitute: the RSPCA says rabbits and guinea pigs do not make ideal companions.
How big should a guinea pig cage be?
At least 153 by 61cm on one level for two females or a neutered pair, and 182 by 61cm for two males, Wood Green says. The Rabbit Welfare Association puts the minimum hutch at 4ft by 2ft, with a 6ft by 4ft exercise area, and PDSA wants a run of at least 2m by 1m. Bigger is better in every case.
What do guinea pigs eat every day?
Mostly hay. PDSA says hay should be 85 to 90% of the diet, with a tablespoon of guinea pig pellets per adult and a cup of fresh vegetables each, from at least five or six kinds. The RSPCA says fresh water must always be available and checked twice a day.
Should guinea pigs live indoors in winter?
Yes, once it is cold. The RSPCA says to move them indoors when the temperature is below 15°C, that 17 to 20°C suits them best, and that they cope badly with big swings in temperature. If they go back outside in spring, wait for the right temperature first.
Sources: RSPCA: guinea pig care (checked 27 September 2026); RSPCA: making the right home for your guinea pigs (checked 27 September 2026); RSPCA: what to feed a guinea pig (checked 27 September 2026); RSPCA: keeping guinea pigs together (checked 27 September 2026); PDSA: the ideal home for your guinea pigs (checked 27 September 2026); PDSA: your guinea pig's diet (checked 27 September 2026); Woodgreen Pets Charity: how to house your guinea pigs (checked 27 September 2026); Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund: owning guinea pigs (checked 27 September 2026); Burgess Pet Care: Excel guinea pig nuggets with mint (checked 27 September 2026).
