How to catch guinea pig to clean his cage?

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

michellexgix

Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Messages
77
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
Ireland
I have my guinea pig for three days now. He is around 12 weeks. I need to clean the cage out tomorrow and wondering how to catch him as he is very scared. Once we open the door etc he will run back in the hideout. I usually just stay in the room and be really quite till he comes out and then I talk softly but again he runs back in. So wondering how to pick him up without scaring him and to catch him in his cage?

Might I just say I usually clean my rabbits cage out every second day just that I said I would give the guinea pigs cage till tomorrow to get him used to the place first.

The girl who picked him up at the pet shop, he was trying to get out of her arms and was backing back etc so hes a scared little one. So do you think if I have a towel in my arms it would be safer so he doesnt back back? I have the little box that the petshop gave me to take him home so I can put him in there while cleaning the cage.


Thanks x
 
I've got a rescue pig who's the same. She often runs into a tube which I have in her cage and when she does I just block both ends with my hands and lift her out that way. It seems much less stressful than trapping ehr in the corner and her panicking, which she was doing until she learned the tube trick!

I have another pig who's 2 1/2 who does the same. When I go to get them out she always trots into one of the tubes and obligingly lets me pick her up!

I always find having a cloth/towel in my hand makes it more awkward, but I di have one ready so that if I pick my skittish one up in my bare heand I can then cover/wrap her in the towel for security. And it does seem to help stop them struggling to jump off!

All the best. i'm sure your pig will settle eventually.
 
If mine are playing up and wont let me take them out of their cage, I remove all of the tunnels and hideys etc and put their carry case into the cage - it is a cat one I think, one of the ones with the door on the front rather than the top. They just do a piggy train into there as there is no where else for them to go!
 
Thanks for the help, I actually removed everything from the cage and put the box we brought him home in on its side so he ran in to it and then I just tipped the box over slowly so it was upright while I cleaned the cage. Then after I cleaned the cage I was going to just tip the box on its side to let him out, but I went to pet him first to see if he would let me and he did so I actually picked him up and placed him in to the cage. That was yesterday. He didn't seem to mind so much, much more relaxed that I thought. Didn't struggle. I'm hoping to pick hi up tomorrow just for a very short time to get him somewhat used to me and being picked up.

He even comes out of his cage when I am in the room and even when he sees me there and when someone opens the door he doesnt run.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top