There are a lot of things that you need for your guinea pig’s cage and the hideout is one of them. While there are plenty of commercially-available hide houses for them, it can be much more fun to do it yourself and also economical.
In this article, I will give you Homemade DIY Guinea Pig Hideout Ideas.
I will also tell you about things to consider before using a hidey and explain why the guinea pig’s owner needs this for guinea pigs and how to make it at home.
Table of Contents
17 Homemade DIY Guinea Pig Hideout Ideas
Let’s take a look at some ideas for making a hide house for a guinea pig’s cage.
1. Cardboard box hideout
Cardboard is one of the most common and inexpensive materials you can use to build a hideout for your guinea pigs. All you need is a large cardboard box and some tape or non-toxic glue to hold it together.
Items will need
– Cardboard box
– Tape or nontoxic glue
– X-acto knife or box cutter
– Hay or other bedding material
Instructions
1. Measure the area in your guinea pig’s cage where you want to place the hideout.
2. Cut a doorway into the cardboard box. Make sure the doorway is big enough for a guinea pig to fit through easily.
3. Tape the box closed. You can also take help from non-toxic glue.
4. Place the cardboard hidey in the guinea pig’s cage.
5. Put some hay or other bedding material (natural paper, or wood bedding) on the floor of the hide house.
6. The guinea pig will love having a cozy place to hideaway.
2. Cardboard house
Another great and creative way to make a hideout at home is using cardboard pieces. This is better than using a cardboard box as you can give it any shape.
You can also cut the old cardboard box into several pieces to make the house.
Items will need
– Some cardboard
– Scissors
– Marker
– Ruler
– An X-Acto Knife
– Non toxic glue
Instructions
1. The first thing you need to do is cut the cardboard into pieces. You can use scissors or an X-Acto knife for this.
2. Once you have the pieces, you need to start shaping the house. You can use a marker and ruler to help you with this.
3. Once you have the shape of the house, you need to start gluing the pieces together. You should use non-toxic glue for this.
For extra safety, make sure there is no exposed glue outside the hidey so that the guinea pig doesn’t come in direct contact with that.
4. Once the glue is dry, you can add some string to the house to help the guinea pig climb inside.
5. Your homemade hideout for your guinea pig is now ready! You can place it in the corner of your guinea pig’s cage and watch them enjoy it.
3. Cardboard tube hideaway
Another great way to make a hideaway on your own is using a cardboard tube. This is a great option if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a hideout, as you can probably find a cardboard tube lying around your house.
You can give design it as a hideaway or tunnel if you want.
Items will need
-Cardboard tube
-Scissors
-Tape or glue
Instructions
1. Cut one end of the cardboard tube off so that your guinea pig will be able to access the inside.
2. Cut out an archway in the other end of the cardboard tube so that your guinea pig can enter and exit as they please.
3. Decorate the outside of the cardboard tube with whatever you like. You could use paint, stickers, or even wrapping paper.
4. Put the cardboard tube in the cage and let the little pigs enjoy their new hidey!
4. Fabric hideout
If you don’t have any spare cardboard boxes lying around, another option is to use fabric to make a hidey. An old T-shirt or piece of fleece can be used to make cozy and comfortable hideaways. This house works great with fleece bedding.
Items will need
– Fabric (cotton or fleece)
– Scissors
– Tape or Needle and thread
Instructions
1. Cut a rectangle of fabric that is big enough to fit the guinea pig comfortably.
2. Fold the fabric in half and sew the two sides together. Make sure the opening is large enough for the guinea pig to get in and out easily.
3. Use some tape to secure the two sides of the fabric together. You can also sew the fabric with a sewing machine.
4. Place the hideout house in your guinea pig’s cage and let your pet enjoy playing inside!
5. Wooden planks hut
If you’re handy with wood, you can also build a hideout using some wooden planks. A small wooden box or hutch makes a great hut for the guinea pig to cozy up in.
Use safe wood such as aspen, kiln-dried pine, plywood, or wood that doesn’t contain aromatic oil and dust.
This hut is the best option for natural wood or paper bedding, even can work well with fleece bedding.
Items will need
– Wooden planks
– Wood glue
– Screws
– Drill or screwdriver
Instructions
1. Measure and cut the wooden planks to the size you want.
2. Glue the planks together to form a box or hutch shape.
3. Drill holes into the wooden hidey and attach it to the guinea pig’s cage using screws.
4. A guinea pig will love hiding inside this cozy wooden hideaway!
6. Wooden box hide house
If you have an old wooden box lying around, this can also make a great homemade hideout for your guinea pig. You can use the box as is, or add some bedding or fabric to make it cozier.
Items will need
– Wooden box
– X-acto knife or box cutter
– Tape
Instructions
1. Cut a doorway into the wooden box using the box cutter or x-acto knife.
2. Line the inside of the wooden hut with tape, to prevent your guinea pig from getting splinters.
3. Place the wooden hidey in the guinea pig’s cage.
4. Your small pigs will love this new hide house!
7. PVC pipe hideaway
If you want to try your hand at some basic carpentry, you can also build a hideout for your guinea pig using PVC pipes. You can make all sorts of shapes and designs using PVC pipes, so this is a great project for anyone who likes to be creative with their projects.
This is a great option if you’re looking for a hut that is simple to build and inexpensive.
Items will need
– PVC pipe
– Hacksaw
– Sandpaper
– Drill with a 3/4-inch hole saw a bit
– 2 elbow connectors
– 1 T-connector
– 2 end caps
– 1 piece of Plexiglas or acrylic (optional)
Instructions
1. Cut the PVC pipe into 4 equal pieces using a hacksaw. These will be the walls of your hideout.
2. Sand the edges of the cut PVC pipes with sandpaper to smooth them out.
3. Drill a 3/4-inch hole in the center of one of the end caps. This will be the entrance to your hidey.
4. Connect the PVC pipes together using the elbow and T-connectors, as shown in the diagram below.
5. Attach the end cap with the hole to one end of the PVC pipe hideaway. You may opt to place a piece of Plexiglas or acrylic over this entrance for safety and to prevent your small pig from chewing on the PVC pipe.
6. Place your hide house in a quiet, dark corner of the guinea pig’s cage and fill it with hay for bedding. The guinea pig will love snuggling up inside his new house!
8. Paper bags hideaway
Paper bags are the cheapest in price and easy to find material that you can use to make a hideout for your guinea pigs. You can use a paper grocery bag or a brown paper lunch bag.
However, make sure that it doesn’t contain ink or other chemicals as it can be harmful to them.
Items will need
– Paper bag
– Tape or non-toxic glue
Instructions
1. Cut a doorway into the paper bag.
2. If you’re using a paper grocery bag, you can leave the handles on and use them to attach the hideout to the guinea pig’s cage.
3. If you’re using a paper lunch bag, you can tape or glue the bag to the side of the cage, or add some non-toxic glue to each of the bag handles and attach them to the side of your cage.
4. After creating the hide house, put some hay or other bedding material that the guinea pig will enjoy.
5. Your little pig will like hiding inside this homemade paper bag house!
9. Wood sticks hideaway
Wood sticks make a great hideaway for your guinea pigs. You can use any type of wood, but make sure it is safe for them to chew on. You can find wood sticks at your local pet store or online.
Items will need
– Wood sticks
– Tape
Instructions
1. Tape the wood sticks together to form a hideaway shape.
2. Put the hidey in the cage and spread some hay on the floor.
3. They will love this open-ended hide house. They will love playing and resting inside his new wood sticks house!
10. Cereal boxes hideout
Cereal boxes make a great hideout for your guinea pig. You can find these at your local grocery store or online. Or, you can use the box that you have already used.
Items will need
– Cereal box
– Tape or non-toxic glue
Instructions
1. Cut a doorway into the cereal box.
2. Tape the box closed, leaving the doorway uncovered.
3. Place the cereal box hidey in the cage.
11. Oatmeal containers hidey
Just like cereal boxes the oatmeal containers are a great choice for hiding since they are easy to clean and inexpensive. You can also quickly find them in the kitchen or at home where you may have some saved from your last grocery shopping trip.
To make this hut, you only need a small container that is big enough for your guinea pigs and a few items to make it more comfortable.
Items will need
– Oatmeal container
– Tape
– a knife
Instructions
1. Cut a doorway into the container large enough for your piggies to fit through.
2. Add some bedding material like hay inside the hidey to make it comfortable for guinea pigs.
3. Secure the container with tape or a rubber band so that there are no gaps for guinea pigs to squeeze through.
4. Place the hut in a quiet spot in your home where your pet can relax in peace.
12. Soda can hideout
Another easy and inexpensive option for a hideout is to use soda cans. You can use these to build a hidey in any shape or size that you like.
Items will need
– A number of empty soda cans of various sizes
– A box cutter or knife
– Tape
– Scissors
– Acrylic paints
Instructions
1. Use the box cutter or knife to cut doorways into the soda cans.
2. Tape the cans together to create your desired hideout shape.
3. Paint the cans if you like.
4. Place the house in the cage and fill it with hay or other bedding material.
5. Your guinea pig will love their new hideaway and will spend hours playing and exploring inside.
13. Sewing a towel hideaway
If you’re feeling a bit more creative, you can sew a hideout using a towel. This is a great option if you want to create a hidey in a specific shape or size.
Items will need
– A large towel
– Scissors
– Needle and thread
– Tape measure
Instructions
1. Cut a hole in the center of the towel that is large enough to fit your little pig.
2. Sew the edges of the hole closed, leaving an opening for a guinea pig to enter and exit.
3. Place the hidey in the cage.
14. Blanket house
If you’re feeling slightly more ambitious, you can sew a hidey using an old blanket or piece of fabric. This is a great way to upcycle old materials and create a unique hide house that your guinea pig will love.
Items will need
– A piece of fabric or an old blanket
– Scissors
– Sewing machine or needle and thread
Instructions
1. Cut a rectangular piece of fabric that is big enough for the guinea pig to fit inside with room to spare.
2. Fold over one side about one inch and sew it shut to create a small entrance hole.
3. Sew the other side shut so that a guinea pig can’t easily get out and will be able to hide inside.
4. Place the hideout in the guinea pig’s cage and watch them enjoy their new space!
15. Toilet roll hidey or tunnel
An easy and inexpensive way to make a hide house is to use toilet paper rolls. You can tape these together to create any shape or size that you like.
Items will need
– A number of toilet paper rolls
– Tape
Instructions
1. Collect a number of toilet paper rolls that you can use to build the guinea pig hidey or tunnel.
2. Roll the toilet paper rolls up so that they are all the same size.
3. Tape the toilet paper rolls together to create your desired shape or size.
4. Place the tunnel in your guinea pig’s cage.
16. Pots or baskets hideout
You can use pots or baskets as guinea pig hideouts. Just make sure that the pot is big enough for a guinea pig to move around in and that the basket is well ventilated.
You can also put a blanket in the pot or basket to make it cozier for the guinea pig.
17. Hoodie hidey
You can easily turn an old hoodie into a comfy hideout for your guinea pigs. Just cut a hole in the front for your piggies to crawl in and out of, and stuff the hood with a layer of soft material like old towels or blankets.
You can even add a second layer of fabric to the inside of the hoodie for extra warmth and comfort.
Why do you need a hidey house in a guinea pig’s cage?
Well, the main reason is to provide your guinea pig with a safe, sheltered space where they can hide away from the world and get some peace and quiet.
Guinea pigs are naturally shy, skittish animals that like to hide when they feel threatened or scared.
They use their hiding spots as a means of escape, as well as a place to feel safe and protected.
Many guinea pigs will seek out their own hiding spots even when they are not feeling stressed or afraid, simply because they enjoy having a cozy place to curl up and relax.
Of course, there are also practical reasons for giving the guinea pig a house.
By giving them their own space, you can keep their cage a little neater and it can also help to prevent them from getting bored.
Which materials should you use to make a hideout for guinea pigs?
Materials that are commonly used for guinea pig hideouts or hide houses include wood, plastic, cardboard, straw, grass, and cloth.
Wood is the most popular material because it is strong and durable. But, make sure you use safe wood for your piggies. It is also easy to clean and disinfect.
Plastic and cardboard are less durable than wood and metal, but they are more affordable.
Straw and grass are natural materials that guinea pigs like to burrow in. A hut made of these materials can be a great idea. However, they can be difficult to clean and disinfect.
Cloth hideaways are easy to make but they may not last very long.
Which materials should you not use to make a hidey for guinea pigs?
Materials that you should avoid making a hideout are metal, and concrete. These materials can easily cause serious injuries to your pet guinea pigs if they gnaw on them. Moreover, it can get hot sometimes.
You should stay away from wood that contains dust and aromatic oils such as pine and cedar. These cause respiratory issues and are dangerous for their health.
Another thing you should keep in mind that materials with added chemicals. For example, don’t use newspaper that contains ink. If they decide to chew and eat a piece of paper, it will cause digestive issues.
Things to consider before using hideouts for guinea pig
Before you start making a hideaway for your guinea pigs, there are a few things that you need to consider.
Number of guinea pigs
You have to consider the number of guinea pigs you have. If you have 2 or more guinea pigs, you have to ensure that you provide them with individual hide houses.
Material used
You also need to think about the material that you are going to use to make the hidey. The material should be safe for the guinea pigs to use and should not cause any health problems.
Safety
Make sure the materials you choose are safe for guinea pigs to chew on and won’t pose any choking hazards. Moreover, it shouldn’t contain any harmful chemicals. Avoid newspaper that contains ink.
Durability
You’ll want your hideaways to be sturdy and long-lasting, so you don’t have to keep replacing them.
Ease of cleaning
You’ll also want to choose materials that are easy to clean and won’t absorb urine or other odors.
The size of the hideout and the guinea pig
You have to consider the size of your guinea pigs. Getting a hide house that is too big can be problematic for them.
If the hideaway is too big, they may have a hard time finding their way out and getting lost.
It is important to get a hide house that is the right size for a guinea pig.
The location of the hidey
The next thing that you need to consider is the location of the hide house. You need to find a place in the cage or playpen where your guinea pigs can feel safe and secure.
Consider the other cage items such as hay feeder, water bottle, litter box, and others.
You should avoid putting a hidey in these areas or, if you put it, you have to make an adjustment.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a safe, comfortable, and fun hideout for your guinea pig, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Whether you want to make a hide house yourself or buy one, there are many materials and designs that can be used.
Before choosing or making a hidey for the guinea pig, there are a few things that you need to consider such as the number of guinea pigs you have, the material used, the size of the hideout, and the location of it.
Keep these things in mind and you’ll be able to find the perfect hideaway for your guinea pig!
