Safeguarding cages

[PirateZelda]

Hi everyone,

I wasn't sure of the best place to post this, so I've gone with "housing" since it seems closest.

We moved flat about 6 months ago, and our two gorgeous babies are housed very happily in the living room, their cages right next to each other (they don't get along, but can't be apart or they cry, so they have a "dividing wall" setup between their enclosures). There's nowhere with enough space for them except the floor, so that's where they are. They're perfectly happy, the cages are spacious, and they're the most spoilt pigs in the world.

My issue is that we have cats moving in soon. They're adults, well-behaved, all the rest, but they've never laid eyes on a guinea pig before and I know that one of them hunts mice outdoors every so often. I think the pigs wouldn't 100% come into the same category for him, as they're a lot bigger than a mouse, but the paranoia is still there. I'm not sure how to keep the pigs safeguarded around them. My husband thinks that the cages themselves will be protection enough but I'm worried about the looming presence, especially as my Artemis is very jumpy by nature - I know it'll frighten him. I wondered if anyone had any advice for cats and pigs living in the same space?

I will mention that my current plan is just to keep the cats out of the living room entirely, and make it a pig-only zone. I have nothing against keeping it this way if there isn't a better option. I would just ideally not have to worry about my flatmate accidently leaving the door open - I'd like that to be a "oh well" moment rather than a panic reaction. I would hope there's a way to safeguard the pigs and, in time, let them get used to the cats' scent and eventually have them live in a sort of happy relationship (though I've already decided it'll be monitored access to that room only, when we're home and able to keep an eye on things).

Thanks in advance for the help, guys. I know it's not ideal but I'm just trying to find a happy middle ground. I hate the idea of locking my pigs into isolation (usually the living room door is wide open so they're part of the overall house), and I think the cats would love that room too. It's a shame the pigs have to live on the floor is all, and that worries me.

Cheers

Rachel

 

[Siikibam]

i assume since you say cage that they have lids on them. The issue is that the cats can do a lot of damage with just a playful swipe. And if their paws can get into the gaps that’s even worse. I would keep them out of the sitting room entirely. And they’re different species, there’s no benefit to any of them meeting, even under your watchful eye, or having a relationship.

The one that chases mice won’t be put off because the piggies are bigger. Prey is prey to them. Would a stair gate work, as long as the cat can’t jump over or pass through the bars?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Your piggies will scare just seeing a predator walking through their room, they aren’t used to having such a presence. I’d make sure the cat is kept well out of their sight and reach of the piggies.
I think a stair gate would be too easy for a prey driven cat to get over. We’ve only ever had a cat come into our garden twice in ten years (and when it did my rabbit was petrified) but it very happily jumped a six foot fence back out again when chased out.

 

[KathT]

You could cover your cage in a smaller size wire netting to prevent the cats being able to get their paws in through the gaps. Trying to keep cats out of a room is hard, they will take every opportunity to get in a place they aren’t allowed - hence the phrase ‘curiosity killed the cat’. Plus while you may be extra vigilant, other house members may not be. I know my OH does things without thinking it might be a problem, until it’s pointed out to him - and he’s not a stupid person, he’s just not as vigilant as I am when it comes to the pigs.
A few months ago I got a very young boar (3.5 weeks) and covered my cage in a finer grade wire netting to stop him sneaking through the c&c grids, to get to the ladies across the way (boars will find a way!) He’s been done now so after six weeks I can remove the netting. I got a roll from B&Q. I hope you find a solution to your problem. Your cats may not bother the pigs but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Siikibam]

I was thinking something similar @KathT though with c&c grids.

 

[Fantasimo]

If it’s any help, my boys completely ignore my dog, who would quite happily have a snap through the bars if he could and they have never been scared of him (they’re 7 months now) so if you’re lucky then your pigs could be completely indifferent

 

[Alisa3114]

We have a cat who we call the killing machine as not a day goes by that she hasn't brought something dead or alive home. She once brought a half eaten hare home which I would say was bigger than a Guinea pig. When we first had the girls I was worried that she would try to get at them so we would keep the bedroom door closed which she hated as she used to have the run of the house and she would sleep on my daughters bed. But the kids kept forgetting to close the door. At first she would go in there when one of us was there and she would sit on the side watching them. We had a blanket on top of the cage and she started sleeping up on there luckily it didn't bother the girls and she never tried getting at them through the bars. And when we changed to the C&C cage I made sure to make the lid for it but it no longer has a blanket on top and she's never tried to to get on top of it touch wood. I think now she is used to them being there and doesn't give them a second look I still wouldn't trust her with them with no lid on the cage but I trust her enough not to go running up the stairs everytime someone shouted Kitty's going in Ava's room. We have a stair gate on our stairs to stop the dog going upstairs but Kitty either jumps over it or walks through the gap in the bars so that wouldn't really work to keep the cats out of the room for you. As with all animals they have different personalities and you can't really predict how they are going to be, I would just err on the side of caution and don't leave them in the room with them without supervision and then see have it goes.

 

[PirateZelda]

Thanks for your replies, everyone, and sorry for the delay in my own! I agree with those of you who say I can't prevent the cats being in that room; I know eventually my flatmate will forget to close the door when he "only goes in quickly", or the cat will sneak in behind him without him noticing. We have definitely considered the extra mesh covering so it's great to see others say that's an idea! Also, yes, we have lids on the cages for those asking

The situation changed a little since I last posted. We aren't taking on two cats anymore, as my fencing teacher no longer needs to rehome his darlings, but we are taking on one from a rescue centre who is frightened and needs a lot of time to settle. So we think initially she won't be in with the pigs anyway, and hopefully we can make it a gentle introduction rather than having a curious cat who may or may not hunt! She's an indoor cat too so isn't used to hunting, and even might be skittish around the piggies, but it does mean more so that we can't really ban her from a room in the flat. Definitely only supervised in the living room though.

Someone said there's no need for the pigs and the cat to have a relationship. We aren't really looking for them to have one, in a "let's be friends" sense. In my opinion it's a bit much to expect a natural predator to make friends with it's natural prey, but it would be preferable for them to tolerate each other so I don't have to panic when I find the door open by mistake.

All your replies were super helpful, so thanks a lot for them! I'll keep you all updated once we've got everything settled a bit more.

Rachel x

Edit: I realise I never specified why we were taking two cats initially, but I say here. My fencing teacher had to rehome his two initially, but his wife has come round to the idea of keeping them, which makes him a lot happier! But now my husband is devastated we aren't getting them and wanted to look at rescue centres, so that's what we did.