Toys for guinea pigs: what are needed and how to make them yourself?

Guinea pigs are quite active and curious animals. However, unlike dogs and cats, rodents live more isolated and 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 talk about what toys are needed for guinea pigs, and how to make them yourself.

Today there are a large number of various toys for guinea pigs. You can buy them at any pet store or make your own. When choosing, first of all, you need to pay attention to how safe the thing will be for the pet.

The toy should not consist of many small parts. Otherwise, the rodent can chew on the thing and choke on small elements. Also, there must be no sharp parts and corners, otherwise the animal will be cut during games. There should be no small holes in the toy, in which the paws of a rodent can get stuck.

Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the material from which the item was made. Poor quality toys can lead to poisoning of the animal.

Guinea pigs will not use wheels or closed balls, which are very popular with hamsters. This is due to the physiological characteristics of animals. Guinea pigs in such constructions can easily injure the spine, since their back muscles are rather weak. For the same reason, guinea pigs should not buy toys that need to be hung from the ceiling of their cages.An animal can be seriously injured when trying to reach an object.

One of the most popular guinea pig toys is tunnels. When choosing such items, it is imperative to take into account the dimensions of the pet. The size of the passages and holes should be such that the animal can freely crawl through them without risking getting stuck.

When choosing a finished toy, it is necessary to evaluate not only the appearance of the thing, but also its smell. If an unpleasant odor is emitted from an item, this may indicate the toxicity of the materials used to make it.

Guinea pigs are not picky about toys. Entertainment for your pet can be organized from those items that are already available at home. If necessary, you can purchase a suitable toy from the pet store.

If you look around the house carefully, you can find several ready-made options for entertaining the guinea pig. Rodents willingly play with table tennis balls. The balls must be periodically cleaned as they become dirty and replaced with new ones when the pet chews on old balls.

Guinea pigs love to look at their reflection. To please your pet, it is enough to give him a small mirror. It is best to place it outside the rodent's cage so it doesn't get hurt inadvertently. Children's dice made of natural wood can be useful entertainment for guinea pigs. The thing is that such animals like to actively chew on wooden objects. Such a thing will help keep your pet's teeth in good condition.

Instead of objects made of wood, 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 there are no traces of chemicals used to treat plants on the branches.

As for the type of plant, it is best to use the twigs of apple trees. Trees such as cherries, plums and apricots will be dangerous to your pet as they contain harmful substances. You can also use pine cones as a toy for a rodent.

However, it should be remembered that they must first be cleaned of resin and dirt. It is recommended to put the cones in an oven heated to 200 degrees for 30 minutes. Another easy option for playing is a paper towel or toilet paper tube.

Guinea pigs also play with paper willingly. As entertainment, you can offer your pet a balloon from an old crumpled newspaper. However, you need to be sure that no toxic dyes are used during printing. For safety reasons, you can make a ball not from newspaper sheets, but from unused and clean printer paper.

If you want to please your pet with a brighter toy, you can purchase it at the pet store. As an alternative to plain table tennis balls, brightly colored rodent balls can be used. When it is not possible to independently collect tree branches, you can purchase a ready-made set of sticks at a pet store.

Some rodents willingly play with soft toys. Their big advantage is, first of all, safety for the pet. The guinea pig may start chewing on a plush toy. In this case, it is recommended to remove the padding and replace it with hay.

In their natural habitat, guinea pigs mainly build their own dwellings underground or build houses from plants. The pet will love toys in the form of labyrinths, tunnels and soft long cuffs in which to hide.

Guinea pigs do not require any technically complex toys.Therefore, you can easily make them yourself at home. One of the easiest options is cardboard box shelters. In a regular shoe box, it is enough to make a few holes so that the rodent can easily pass through them.

Guinea pigs love hay, so anything stuffed with dry grass can be used as toys.... You can use socks, egg boxes, paper bags and other items as a basis for stuffing. An interesting and tasty entertainment for the rodent will be a rope to which pieces of various delicacies will be attached. As noted earlier, hanging toys from 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. You can make a small hammock out of unwanted clothes or pieces of fabric.

The dimensions of the cage do not always allow you to equip the playing area directly in it. For the guinea pig, you can make a playground outside of his home. First of all, you need to find and prepare a place in the house for a play area. It will be convenient to use a free corner in the room for these purposes.

The floor should be covered with a soft cloth or unnecessary blanket. It is recommended to enclose the boundaries of the playing area with a fence made of metal rods or a net. The height of the fence should be such that the pet cannot get through it.

You can equip the play area at your discretion, but at the same time taking into account the preferences of your pet. Here you can place your favorite guinea pig toys. Additionally, it is recommended to build a house from branches, place containers with hay and various tunnels. In such structures, the rodent will be able not only to have fun, but also to rest if necessary.

When choosing a finished toy or making it yourself, first of all, you need to take care of the safety of the guinea pig. However, the purchase or construction of various in-game items is not limited to. The state of play areas and things must be monitored regularly.

Guinea pigs can gnaw their belongings into many small pieces. Such situations should be avoided and the spoiled item should be discarded immediately. Otherwise, the pet may swallow any 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. Plush toys, as well as fabric mats and hammocks, should be washed regularly. The thing is that guinea pigs do not go to the toilet in a separate place, so they can even stain their favorite toy.

You can learn how to sew a sleeping bag for a guinea pig by watching the video below.