cages that look like cupboards?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Shauna

Shauna

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
1,761
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
coventry
I'm looking into buying a bigger cage for some of my four girls but my mums doesnt want something that looks like an 'eyesore' (her words not mine :( ) so i was just wondering if you could get cages that looked like cupboards or something similar?

any advice or links appreciated :)

DSCF2644.jpg

they say thanks in advance
 
Ive seen a few idea on the housing section of the forum which people have made using furniture from ikea etc, worth a look or design your own, I dont have a cage as thought it too small so my step dad just built me a run etc (have a look) you can customise it to your own space.
 
I'm sure you could make one or have someone do it for you. Do you know anyone that could?
 
Beebs said:
Ive seen a few idea on the housing section of the forum which people have made using furniture from ikea etc, worth a look or design your own, I dont have a cage as thought it too small so my step dad just built me a run etc (have a look) you can customise it to your own space.
Click to expand...

i was looking at your pics yesterday id I'm very jelous lol.. id love something like that but I'm not sure my dog would be as impressed

emmalala said:
I'm sure you could make one or have someone do it for you. Do you know anyone that could?
Click to expand...

and i could ask but were not very diy minded people :))
 
you can get most materials from a DIY shop and have it cut to size for you and the just connect them with hinges, thats what is holding mine together, it was so easy and just needs painting now.

I have corex too but if you cant get that easily then I also use puppy training pads to soak up their pee...

Good luck x
 
Beebs said:
you can get most materials from a DIY shop and have it cut to size for you and the just connect them with hinges, thats what is holding mine together, it was so easy and just needs painting now.

I have corex too but if you cant get that easily then I also use puppy training pads to soak up their pee...

Good luck x
Click to expand...

Sorry just a thought, my step dad also suggested a single wardrobe, turn in on its back and so its like a big wooden box, you can put something over the top to protect them from the dog?
 
Your piggies are gorgeous. x)
I think the best thing to do is custom make your own or if no-one in your family is any good at woodwork pay a carpenter to do it.

I was thinking of doing something similar myself but never seem to find the time or money to get around to it - you could design something like an old chicken coop dresser here's an example of an antique one:
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6396573

But you'd need to make it a good size for your piggies to have enough space and obviously have a house big enough to house it! Lol!

Or look around at the local antique auctions -you can pick up antique furniture ( the cupboards and such are a lot bigger than modern furniture ) for a surprisingly low price ( frequently less than brand new furniture which loses it's value the minute you've bought it btw ) and then convert them to your needs, put in open fronted/slatted/meshed doors - this may be something your Mum may like ( obviously with any furniture and wood you'd have to make sure they were piggie safe ).

I've had all the same thoughts myself, ended up sticking with C and C, you can always decorate it with bunting. :))
 
:)):)) well, neither am I. Luckily I have neighbour who very kindly made me an under stairs adaption for my lot. I very much doubt I would be any good at making one myself!
 
ill talk to my mum about it because theres a few decent sized kitchen cabinets ive got my eye on, so then my mum could have the glass display part and i could have the bottom half :)

thanks for your suggestions everyone :)
 
bookcase piggies

Mine are in a solid pine bookcase in the lounge - 5 1/2 ft by 3 1/2 foot - just cut out the shelves - lay it on the floor and line with esate agents boards or correx - then away you go - @)
 
There's a guy that makes vivariums that look like cupboards which I saw a while back on a reptile forum. Guinea Pigs would obviously need more ventilation etc (eg changing the glass for mesh or changing the back/sides for ventilation) but looking at his site may give you some ideas.

Anyway, just in case, here it is :

http://www.ralphsreptilevivariums.co.uk/gallery.html

x
 
AndreaJane said:
I love this one that you've built Lissie - it looks great, lovely and open-plan. What did you use and did it take you long?
Click to expand...

Thank you!

I use kiln-dried pine for the frame, plywood for the cage floor lined with vinyl flooring. I use bolts to bolt the frame together. Bolts are much stronger than screws.

The front is plexiglass ( perspex ).

It took quite a long time because I only had time to work on it during the weekend.

Here's an instruction I wrote for someone who wanted a similar cage.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lis95129/CageBuildingStepByStep
 
Lissie,
Thanks so much for your photos, links and guide. Your cage looks fantastic and I'd love to make something similar. Can I just ask, what is the height of the plexiglas you've used? Do you find it easy to reach in and clean it? It looks like it'd be easy enough and I'm all for easy cleaning!

Shauna,
Hope you can find something which works for you. I can understand your Mum wanting to strike a balance between something which is not only practical/functional but also looks great and doesn't stand out too much. Good luck! x
 
wow some of these ideas are brilliant.. I'm going to show my mum some of them tomrow when shes not as poorly ( shes suffering from shingles) so hopesully i can get something sorted soon :)

i didnt expect so many replies :)) its given me alot to think about
 
lissie said:
This is the cage I built. Would your mom be okay with something like this?


See more ideas here:
http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=512
Click to expand...

Hey,

I'm new here, but I'm getting two guinea pigs very soon so I've been doing lots of research and came across this! Wow I can't believe you managed to build that, it's amazing.
At the moment I have wire mesh panals in order to build a c&c cage, but something like this would look great in my apartment.

I can feel a trip to Ikea coming along.....haha.

Although to be honest I've already spent so much on getting everything set up, I think for the time being I will have to make do with the c&c - it was so hard to source here in the UK - I thought they were fancy, this totally puts anything I was going to make to shame!hehe.

K
 
missy said:
Lissie,
Thanks so much for your photos, links and guide. Your cage looks fantastic and I'd love to make something similar. Can I just ask, what is the height of the plexiglas you've used? Do you find it easy to reach in and clean it? It looks like it'd be easy enough and I'm all for easy cleaning!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the compliments :) My plexiglas is 9 inches high. It's 1/4 inches thick. It is easy to reach in and clean.

I have to admit, I miss my C&C cages though. I used to remodel my cage every month. You can't really do much with a wooden cage.

Here are my C&C cages.
 
I love your set up Lissie - it is fun remodelling C & Cs when the fancy takes you but I have to say that they're really doing my back in when I have to reach in and poo pick, fleece straighten, pick up piggies etc etc . :laluot_11:
I think I may have a go at making some like yours, I've been thinking of what I could make for ages but ended up with C & C because I just couldn't make my mind up and when we were due to pick Yoshi and Moonpig up from the rescue had to have an extra cage on hand fairly quickly. Your double decker arrangement looks much more back-friendly and very streamlined! :)
 
i think ive got a plan so once everythings ordered and built ill let you all know :D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top