Guinea pigs are quite active and curious animals. However, unlike dogs and cats, rodents live more detached and have less contact with humans. So that the animal does not get bored, it is necessary to equip its cage with special toys. This article will discuss what toys are needed for guinea pigs, and how to make them yourself.
Toy requirements
Today, there are a large number of a wide variety of toys for guinea pigs. They can be purchased at any pet store or made independently. When choosing, first of all, you need to pay attention to how much the thing will be safe for the pet.
A toy should not consist of many small parts. Otherwise, the rodent can crack the thing and choke on small elements. There should also be no sharp details and angles, otherwise the animal will be cut during games. There should not be small holes in the toy in which the rodent's paws can get stuck.
Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the material from which the thing was made. Poor quality toys can lead to poisoning of the animal.
Also, rodents can be dangerous paintwork, as they are toxic.
For guinea pigs, wheels or closed balls, which are very popular with hamsters, are not suitable. This is due to the physiological characteristics of animals. Guinea pigs in such designs can easily damage the spine, since their back muscles are quite weak. For the same reason, guinea pigs should not buy toys that need to be hung from the ceiling of the cage.In attempts to reach an object, the animal can be seriously injured.
One of the most popular guinea pig toys is tunnels. When choosing such items, be sure to consider the dimensions of the pet. The size of the passages and holes should be such that the animal freely crept into them, without risking being stuck.
When choosing a finished toy, it is necessary to evaluate not only the appearance of the thing, but also its smell. If an object emits an unpleasant aroma, this may indicate the toxicity of the materials used for its manufacture.
In addition, guinea pigs react negatively to unpleasant odors - a pet may not even come close to such a toy.
Varieties
Guinea pigs are not picky in toys. Entertainment for the pet can be organized from those items that are already at home. If necessary, you can purchase a suitable toy in a pet store.
Handy things
If you carefully look around at home, you can already find several ready-made options for entertaining a guinea pig. Rodents willingly play with table tennis balls. Balls must be cleaned periodically as they become dirty and replaced with new ones when the pet nibbles old balls.
Guinea pigs like to look at their reflection. To please your pet, just give him a small mirror. It is best to place it outside the rodent's cage so that it does not hurt inadvertently. Children's playing cubes made of natural wood can serve as useful entertainment for guinea pigs. The thing is that such animals like to actively bite wooden objects. Such a thing will help keep the pet’s teeth in good condition.
Instead of wood objects, tree branches are also suitable for rodents. However, it is necessary to consider both the type of tree and the place where it grew. It is important that the branches do not have traces of chemicals that are used to treat plants.
Therefore, it is best to collect branches from forest and garden trees.
As for the type of plant, it is best to use twigs of apple trees. Trees such as cherries, plums and apricots will be dangerous for your pet, as they contain harmful substances. Also, pine cones can be used as a toy for a rodent.
However, it should be remembered that they must first be cleaned from tar and dirt. It is recommended to place the cones in the oven, heated to a temperature of 200 degrees, for 30 minutes. Another simple option for games are cardboard tubes for paper towels or toilet paper.
Guinea pigs also readily play with paper. As an entertainment, your pet can offer a ball from an old crumpled newspaper. However, you must be sure that no toxic dyes were used in printing. For safety reasons, you can make a ball not from newspaper sheets, but from unused and clean printer paper.
Toys from the store
If you want to please your pet with a brighter toy, you can buy it at a pet store. As an alternative to plain-colored balls for table tennis, brightly colored multi-colored balls for rodents can serve. When it is not possible to independently collect tree branches, you can purchase a ready-made set of sticks in an animal store.
Some rodents eagerly play with soft toys. Their biggest advantage in the first place is safety for the pet. Guinea pig can start to nibble a stuffed toy. In this case, it is recommended to remove the packing and replace it with hay.
In the natural habitat, guinea pigs mainly build their own dwellings underground or build houses from plants. The pet will like toys in the form of labyrinths, tunnels and soft long cuffs in which you can hide.
What can you make yourself?
Guinea pigs do not require any technically sophisticated toys.Therefore, they can easily be made independently at home. One of the easiest options is shelters from cardboard boxes. In an ordinary shoe box, it is enough to make several holes so that the rodent can easily pass through them.
Guinea pigs love hay, so any items filled with dry grass can be used as toys. As a basis for stuffing, you can use socks, egg boxes, paper bags and other items. An interesting and tasty entertainment for a rodent will be a rope, to which pieces of various treats will be attached. As previously noted, hanging toys on the ceiling of a guinea pig cage is not recommended. Therefore, the rope must be placed on the floor.
From sanitary polypropylene pipes, you can build tunnels for your pet. It is best to additionally sheathe the pipes with a soft cloth. From unnecessary clothes or pieces of fabric, you can build a small hammock.
The main thing is not to hang it in a cage too high - it is better to place the product near the floor.
The dimensions of the cell do not always allow you to equip the playing area directly in it. For a guinea pig, you can make a playground outside of his home. First of all, it is necessary to find and prepare a place in the house for a zone for games. It will be convenient to use the free angle in the room for these purposes.
The floor must be covered with a soft cloth or an unnecessary blanket. It is recommended to enclose the boundaries of the playing area with a fence of metal rods or a net. The height of the fence should be such that the pet could not get through it.
You can equip the game zone at your discretion, but at the same time taking into account the preferences of the pet. Here you can place your favorite guinea pig toys. In addition, it is recommended to build a house of branches, place containers with hay and various tunnels. In such structures, the rodent can not only have fun, but also relax if necessary.
Useful Tips
When choosing a finished toy or making it yourself, it is first necessary to take care of the safety of the guinea pig. However, the purchase or construction of various game items is not limited to. The status of gaming zones and things must be regularly monitored.
Guinea pigs can gnaw their belongings into many small parts. Such situations should be prevented and immediately throw away a damaged item. Otherwise, the pet may swallow some small part, choke or get poisoned.
It is also important to keep the toys clean. Items made of plastic and wood should be washed and dried periodically. Soft toys, as well as bedding and fabric hammocks, should be washed regularly. The thing is that guinea pigs do not go to the toilet in a separate place, so they can stain even your favorite toy.
If you do not monitor cleanliness, there is a risk that the animal may become infected with a fungal disease.
You can find out how to sew a sleeping bag for a guinea pig by watching the video below.
