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Brown paper rolls
The brown paper from the middle of a wrapping paper roll
is ideal to stuff with hay and can be eaten later.
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Cardboard toilet and kitchen roll tubes
Remove the paper and stuff with hay! Cut in half before giving to youngsters or they can get their heads stuck in them!
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Cereal boxes
Take an empty cereal box and open both ends, bend one face to make a roof and either stuff with hay or use as a tunnel.
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Cardboard boxes
Remove all sticky tape, packing tape, labels, staples, etc first.
Brown paper bags
Scrunched up newspaper
Egg boxes
Make sure the box is clean with no egg leaks, remove labels.
Old socks and old plain t-shirts
Don't use t-shirts with detail, beading, etc as they are a choking hazard.
Sections of thick rope
Towels and flannels
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Plastic jingle balls and soft toys
Soft toys for dogs make a great objects to snuggle up to. Plastic jingle balls create hours of fun nosing them around the hutch.
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Grassy huts
Guinea pigs enjoy sleeping in these and chewing new holes in them! Some grassy huts have a bottom, while others don't.
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Dangly vegetable cages
Great fun for making feeding time more entertaining. Beware of using these with youngsters as they may get stuck in them.
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Chubes
Youngsters love to wedge themselves in them and everyone enjoys chewing and sleeping in them.
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Plastic igloos (aka "pigloos"!)
A lightweight plastic igloo with no bottom. Great to hide in and sleep in with hay, and also fun to push around the hutch.
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Fiddle sticks
Bend these to create hidy holes, ramps and other fun things!
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Dangly bird bells and mirrors
Dangly bird bells and mirrors are fun to push and make noise with! One of my sows enjoys running under hers to make it ring.
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Soft furnishings
Cuddle cups, fabric pockets and pouches, and small animal sofas make a great place for snuggling and sleeping.
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Clothes
Never dress your guinea pig up in clothes. They may look cute, but guinea pigs do not enjoy being restricted by clothing. Guinea pigs are living creatures and the only clothing they need is their own fur. Dressing up a guinea pig is for the entertainment of the owner and has no benefits to the guinea pig. Don't do it.
Exercise balls
These will damage the spine and paws of your guinea pig and do not provide any level of fun for your pet. These balls are hot, stuffy and confine the animal. Guinea pigs are not physically built to use exercise balls and they will become injured through use.
Leads, leashes and harnesses
Guinea pigs do not enjoy being strapped into a lead, leash or harness and will become distressed, leading to injury or extreme fright. Pet shops sell them because they make money and they are purely for the entertainment of the owner. They have no benefit to the animal whatsoever. Please avoid these items and one day they may be taken off shelves for good. If you want to exercise your guinea pig, provide them with an appropriate exercise run or pen and never use these items.
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Toys with loops
I gave this hanging toy to one of my guinea pigs, not realising that he could get his head through the loop. We found him on his back with the loop around his neck. He couldn't get out of it and my partner had to unhook the toy from the cage so I could bring both it and the guinea pig out, and then my partner used some scissors to free him.
The loop itself isn't very large so to begin with I didn't think it was possible for him to get his head through it, otherwise I'd have never given him the toy. Please check your hanging toys especially for loops they may be able to get heads into, because the consequences could be unthinkable.
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