covered 2 level c&c cages?

[tabelmabel]

Hiya - I have 2 baby boars (12 weeks old now) in a single story 6' x 2' c&c which has a roof on as we have a cat.

Initially I wanted single story only as I know the piggies are easy to catch in there! However, they have become very tame very quickly and just sit in a position waiting to be picked up (they are rex so I think they are a docile type?)


I would like to make the cage a bit more exciting - add another level or even just a hayloft - does anyone have any pictures I can copy of such a cage that is cat proof please? Many thanks!

 

[lissie]

See this page for ideas.
http://www.guineapigcages.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=507

 

[SpinningNickel]

I also have a cat; he hasn't gotten into mine yet*, which is on this thread and this one if you'd like to have a look.

One thing I'd recommend is reinforcing everything to death with cable ties. I leaned on the top level of mine once to reach for something behind it, and it all kind of... popped its joins and started to come away from itself. We took the pigs out and spent about half an hour pressing on the top, tested for weak spots, and reinforcing. The extra weight of the cat-proofing layer and mezz level just means those little plastic connectors don't quite hack it on their own!

I use my top level as a feeding area; it's one big forage tray for them, with their nugget and veg bowls to one side. They absolutely love rummaging around in there, and I hide berries, pieces of carrot, dandelion leaves, etc. under the hay for them to find during the day. It also keeps (some of the!) hay off the fleece.


*This is kind of a lie. He jumps into it and wanders around all the time while I'm cleaning it out with the front doors open. Luckily, the pigs are never in there... But he's never BROKEN in anyway!

 

[tabelmabel]

Thanks to both of you - I would never have had the imagination to design these myself so I will definitely crib one of these ideas! I like your cage, spinning nickel - and I also like the 5 foot by 2 foot double decker cage in the first link.


Our cat doesn't really seem to pay much attention to our piggies - we can have them on our knees with the cat right there in the same room and she doesn't bat an eyelid - she doesn't make any determined efforts to get into the c and c either - think she is a bit wary as there are the 2 piggies and they really race about the cage and the cat's wary of them.

However, I would never leave the cage uncovered as she IS a killer cat! She brings in so many mice, shrews, voles, birds and even bats so I wouldn't trust her for a moment!


Thanks again so much for these links!