Need Info On Cages And The Type To Get

[WTrespassing3]

Hi,

I got two guinea pigs a little over a month ago and I was hoping to make their cage bigger. I have a bunny cage I got from Petsmart and it is 7.5 sq ft which is supposed to be the "minimum" they need. I now want to upgrade and try to get a C&C cage. I ordered one online and it came in and I liked it but my mother thought it was really ugly so she is making me return it. I am trying to talk her into letting me keep it because it is 4x2sq ft on the bottom and has the wide loft, but I think I might not use the loft or try to customize it more if she lets me keep it. I still have a few days before I need to ship it out so I am trying my hardest to convince her otherwise.

Her complaints are mainly that she does not like the grid system that is used. She says it looks like a prison and it is hard to see the pets since I have to keep a lip on due to the other animals in the house and that she does not like the general design of it. I think what she wants is to have a cage where you can view the animal from any angle and not be bothered by bars, similar to having an aquarium cage type deal.

She wants me to get a cage similar to the first two pictures I attached and I need to explain to her why I need to get a cage like a C&C one and the benefits of one over a store-bought cage or the "whatever this thing is (picture 2)" cage she showed me on Google images of the kind of cage she wants. We have had gerbils in the past and have had ok (I guess) cages for them and they were different than these other two (third is the gerbil cage type we had) and she claims that it was more like the others when it was not. I get that she does not care for rodents as pets due to her job where she has lab rats, but they live in a lab in small cages that no one really cares for and meet the lowest of the low criteria for animal housing. I kind of don't think she understands the size and requirements when you keep rodents as a pet compared to a lab, and I am having trouble getting this trough.

Now I tried my best and I need some information from other people to maybe convince her. I appreciate any help.

 

[HansPiggies]

Hi, that's a shame your mum doesn't like the c&c. What about it you just had one level therefore it looks a lots less monsterous in a room, thy can actually look quite nice. A,so it it whit or black as I find the white ones more aesthetically pleasing! As for the cages in the pictures you'll have to tell mum you can't get ones like that as they are for hamsters, the top one is ok but not very big still. Other things you could use are an old book shelf laid on its back...
I k ow you said you needed a lid due to other animals..I'm not sure what animals you have but would it be ok if you kept it off the floor on a table.
I also have a DIY which is a table with conti board sides and Perspex on the front so you can see them
If you have to have a lid then a C&C is probably the best option by you can get larger store bought cages up to 140cm long I think, then I think a C&C looks nicer anyway lol

 

[HansPiggies]

Here is a pic of my DIY cage

 

[WTrespassing3]

hmm I might see if she likes something like that. I have a cat and a dog so that is why I need a lid.

 

[lissie]

If you need a lid, the top is going to have to be wires. You can't put plastic all over. The cage needs ventilation. The first pic in your post is a very bad cage.

Since you mentioned Petsmart, I assume you're in USA. You can go to Home Depot or Lowes and have them cut closet shelves to the length you need. There are many lengths to choose from. These make great lids. They also make strong cage. If you're going to use this with the C&C cage, choose the shelves that are 16in deep. You can use 2 shelves to make the lid. Make the lid a little wider than the cage, so it doesn't fall into the cage.

Rubbermaid 48 in. x 16 in. FastTrack Garage Wire Shelf-FG5E21FTSNCKL - The Home Depot

Cage will look like this with the shelving lid.

Shelves for the whole cage

Two levels

 

[lissie]

By the way, this is my cage. See if she'll like something like this. I think you could put the wire shelves on top for the lid.

Here's a cage with combination of C&C grids and plexiglass, and closet shelves for the lid.

Another good looking cage. Your dog won't be able to reach it. Still need lid for the cat.

 

[zombieprincess]

It's a real pity your mum does not like the c&c although I think they look nice with those shelving lids as they are great cages, I really like that plexi/c&c combo too!. The cages pictured are all hamster cages and I would never put a hamster in the bottom two. It is really very important for Guinea pigs to have full ventilation uf not they are prone to respitory infection which can kill very quickly. They also run a higher risk of getting fungal infection due to how damp the cages can get. So bars really are best. I really hope your mum will see sense and put the animals welfare before looks.