A guinea pig hideout is a small house that can be placed inside your pet’s enclosure. This space is essential for their well-being, providing a cosy retreat for sleeping, relaxing, and hiding if scared.
While beds and hammocks provide comfortable lounging in open spaces, they should not replace a proper hidey house, which meets their natural need for privacy and security. Each guinea pig should have their own hideaway, even if they sometimes like to share.
There are many different types of guinea pig hideouts and beds you can buy. In this article I will show you some of the best choices to help you find the perfect option for your pet:
- Wooden Hideouts
- Plastic Guinea Pig Igloos
- Fleece Hideouts
- Guinea Pig Sleeping Bags / Snuggle Sacks
- Beds & Cuddle Cups
- Hammocks
Wooden Hideouts
Wooden hideouts have a natural appearance and are sturdy and durable. While various designs are available, selecting safe, high-quality options is vital. Look for a hidey house made from non-toxic materials, without sharp nails, harmful glues, or sharp corners and edges that could harm your guinea pigs. Among the various hideouts I’ve tried, my guinea pigs’ favourites are:
Trixie Wooden Log House: This attractive wooden hideout is the all-time favourite for my guinea pigs. It comfortably accommodates two guinea pigs, making it suitable for those who like to snuggle up together.
Resch Spruce Wood Range: These quality hideouts are solidly built, merging practicality with aesthetics. My top recommendations include:
- No. 15 Large Wooden Corner Hideout: Marketed as a rabbit hideout, I’ve found it a good size for guinea pigs, especially larger breeds. It fits one guinea pig or two smaller ones. With a single entrance, it provides a dark and cosy retreat.
- No. 23 Guinea Pig House: Suitable for one guinea pig, this hideaway has two large entrances
- No. 35 Mansion House: Only suitable for a very large cage, this spacious hideout can comfortably fit four guinea pigs. Its size and dark, secure environment make it a favourite with my guinea pigs but it is pretty expensive. Although my guinea pigs don’t use the upper level, others might enjoy the additional space. It is a very cosy hideout so perfect for the winter.
Resch’s collection includes many more designs for various small pets. Just make sure the hideys you buy are suitable for guinea pigs. You can see their range here >
Small Pet Select Castle: This large, wooden hideout has two doors and a window, making it a well-ventilated, airy hideout for summer. As with all their products, the castle is well-made, durable and, as it slots together, it can be conveniently packed away when not in use. They also sell a very similar product called the Hideaway Habitat Tunnel.
Plastic Guinea Pig Igloos (Pigloos)
These plastic moulded houses, known as pigloos, are available in various colours. They are lightweight, which means guinea pigs sometimes tip them over and push them around their enclosure. Despite this, they are affordable, simple to clean, and provide a decent hideout for guinea pigs.
Fleece Hideouts
If you use fleece liners or bath mats in your guinea pig cage setup, fleece hideouts are a great choice, adding colour and a sense of fun. They are cosy, soft and warm, making them an essential choice for hairless guinea pigs.
Also known as caves and pods, fleece hideouts come in many designs.
- Haypigs Circus Hidey Hut: Designed to look like a circus tent, it fits one guinea pig, includes two pee pads.
- Haypigs Harlequin Tunnel: This tunnel comes with a reversible pee pad and unlike similar designs, is very sturdy.
- Snuggle Pets Store (on Etsy):This is an Etsy shop that sells a range of good quality handmade cosy pods and caves. You can choose your colour to match the colour palette of your setup.
While fleece hideys may work with certain disposable bedding options, wood shavings can stick to them, making wooden hideouts more practical in that scenario.
Fleece hideouts need frequent laundering to prevent them from becoming damp and soiled. It’s advisable to have multiple fleece hideouts on hand, allowing for rotation during wash days.
Fleece Snuggle Sacks and Sleeping Bags
Also called cuddle sacks, snuggle sacks appeal to guinea pigs because they can burrow right inside where they are hidden and feel cosy. They are not as sturdy as a proper hideout so are best bought as an extra hideaway.
Piggies In Blankets UK sell custom-made snuggle sacks with personalised fleece design choices.
Beds and Cuddle Cups
While not a replacement for a hideout, fleece beds provide an open, comfortable space for guinea pigs, especially tamer ones. Cuddle cups, with their high sides, offer extra warmth and security, in contrast to donut beds, which are flatter, round cushions with a slight dip in the middle.
Some of the best fleece beds for guinea pigs are:
- Haypigs Crash Mat: This donut bed from the Haypigs circus range is made with soft fleece and is easy for your guinea pig to hop on and off. It matches the circus tent so is ideal if you want to coordinate your accessories.
- Snuggle Pets Store on Etsy: Offers a wide range of handmade cushions, donut beds, cuddle cups and pods in numerous designs. Handmade items from local UK shops are often of higher quality compared to cheaper imports found online.
For those seeking a wooden bed resembling a human bed, Cavy Craft UK on Etsy features a well-crafted miniature version, reminiscent of the popular IKEA doll’s bed used by some guinea pig owners. Additionally, they offer a custom pee pad mattress designed to fit this bed perfectly. The bed is low enough for most guinea pigs to access, though those with arthritis or mobility issues may find it challenging.
Hammocks
Hammocks must be securely mounted under a sturdy structure or attached to the cage sides. They may not be suitable for older or less mobile guinea pigs and should be positioned low for easy access.
The Piggies In Blankets UK hammock is well-made and features durable metal clasps for attachment to C&C cages.
Installation might require an extra C&C grid to achieve proper spacing for the hammock. Alternatively, a wooden stand like the Resch No.39 Shelter can be used, but would require the addition of hooks
| Type | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wooden Hideouts | Natural, sturdy, and durable structures available in various designs. | Long-lasting, safe materials, blends with environment, sustainable material. | Requires some cleaning, check materials are safe. |
| Plastic Guinea Pig Igloos | Moulded plastic houses in various colours, lightweight and easy to clean. | Affordable, easy to clean, provides security. | Can be tipped over, poor insulation in extreme temperatures. |
| Fleece Hideouts | Soft, cosy, and warm, available in designs like caves and pods, ideal for use with fleece liners. | Comfortable, warm, customisable designs. | Needs frequent washing, not suitable with all bedding types. |
| Guinea Pig Sleeping Bags | Also known as snuggle sacks, they allow guinea pigs to burrow inside for cosiness. | Perfect for extra warmth and comfort, customisable. | Not a standalone hideout, needs regular cleaning. |
| Fleece Beds & Cuddle Cups | Open, comfortable spaces for lounging, with high sides for warmth and security. | Soft, comfortable, ideal for tame guinea pigs. | Not a replacement for a secure hideout, needs regular cleaning. |
| Hammocks | Mounted under a structure or attached to cage sides, suitable for more mobile guinea pigs. | Saves space in the cage, enjoyable for some guinea pigs. | Not suitable for older, less mobile guinea pigs, needs setup. |
Tips on Choosing the Best Hideouts For Your Setup
Ensure your chosen hideouts meet your guinea pigs’ needs and suit your cage setup:
- Size and Space Efficiency: In smaller cages, select compact hideouts, considering corner designs to maximise space.
- Number of Hideouts: Allocate one hideout per guinea pig, varying styles and types to enrich their environment.
- Maintenance. Be aware that fleece hideouts need more frequent cleaning than wooden or plastic options, which are easier to maintain.
- Bedding Compatibility: Match the hideout with your bedding choice; wooden and plastic hideouts are versatile, while fleece ones pair best with fleece liners or bath mats.
- Large Setups: Consider extra large hideouts that can accommodate more than one guinea pig so they have the option to share, while ensuring there is still one hidey for every guinea pig.
- Multiple Entrances: Hideouts with more than one entrance help prevent conflicts among guinea pigs, especially males.
- Warmth and Coolness: Consider seasonal temperatures; plastic hideouts can become hot in summer, and fleece might be overly warm. Wooden hideouts with good ventilation are ideal for summer, while single-entrance wooden hideouts or fleece hideaways offer better insulation for winter. Plastic hideouts are suitable in moderate temperatures.