Toys and Accessories

Once you have a large enough cage, proper bedding, and access food, hay and water, it's time to make your pig's home fun and stimulating for your little friend. We recommend the following:

• Keep in mind the best stimulation for your pig is another guinea pig. Guinea pigs are social creatures that do much better in pairs or small groups. Your pig will be more active, animated, and overall a happier and healthier animal if he or she can interact with another of his or her kind. Remember to keep only same-sex groups or neutered males and females together to avoid breeding. Responsible guinea pig owners do not breed their pigs. It can be dangerous for the female and contributes to the egregious overpopulation problem with these animals.

Does your pig have social stimulation? Then try these ideas:

• Hidey houses. These are crucial in any cage because they offer your pigs a place to go to feel covered and safe. They can offer a place to retreat from other pigs as well as a quick hiding spot if a big scary human is trying to pick them up! There are a wide variety of hidey houses available on the market, from plastic Pigloos to wooden houses and grass hutches. Check out the Links page for pages with more ideas and links to buy.

• Tunnels, Cozies, Cuddle Cups and other soft beds. An obvious suggestion for this site:) But seriously, these soft hidey places and cozy beds are a huge hit with the pigs and a must for any cage, whether or not you choose to purchase them here. We do encourage you to check out our Available Now items are well as all our custom Tunnels and Cozies and Cuddle Cups. Save more when you buy them as a set. Make sure you check out the page on Yarn Safety as well before you buy.

• Towel tents and cardboard boxes. Easy hidey areas and great inexpensive toys. Hang a towel from the corner of your cage for a place for your pig to hide out and move the towel around all he/she likes. Cut holes in the side of the cardboard boxes and watch your pig hide inside, flip it over, crawl around, and have a blast!

• Crumpled up paper, socks stuffed with bedding, tennis balls. Fun for your pig to roll around! Some stores and web site offer mini tennis balls made for cats and ferrets if you have a small pig.
• Toilet paper tubes stuffed with hay. A toy and a treat! Put a small slit in the tubes so your pig doesn't get stuck trying to crawl through when the hay is gone.
  
• Some bird and cat toys. Hang them from the top or side of your pigs' cage for them to nose. Toys with bells are even more fun. (Make sure any cat toys don't include catnip).
• Some ferret toys. Small plastic balls with bells inside are a big hit.
  
• Small stuffed animals. Something soft to cuddle with. This idea was especially important for my Chloe when she was in quarantine as just a little baby. Her little elephant provided a soft alternative for safety when she was missing mom and her other pig friends. Make sure your pigs aren't fabric chewers first!
• See the Links section for pages with even more ideas!

NEVER USE EXERCISE WHEELS OR RUN-AROUND BALLS AVAILABLE IN SOME PET STORES. These products, though marketed to guinea pigs, are extremely dangerous and can cause significant damage to your pig's spine, feet, and toes. The balls and wheels force pigs' spines to curve opposite to their natural orientation and can cause serious damage.