Before or after getting a guinea pig, an owner gets worried about a lot of things. One of those is, “Are guinea pigs messy pets?”
A guinea pig can be a bit messy sometimes because of their behaviors, food habits, and playing habits. They poop and pee a lot all day and throw hay all over the place which leads to a messy cage. However, you can prevent it if you do regular spot-cleaning and take care of your guinea pigs.
In this article, I’ll explore the causes of guinea pigs’ messiness and ways to prevent their cages from becoming too messy.
Table of Contents
Why are your guinea pigs so messy?
There are several reasons why guinea pigs may be especially messy.
Spreading food and hay
Guinea pigs are naturally messy creatures. They will often drag food around their cages and spread it everywhere.
They also like to throw hay around their cage, which can make the cage very messy.
Pooping and peeing a lot
They have a very high metabolism, which causes them to eat more frequently than other animals.
This means that they produce more waste, which can quickly build up and create a mess.
They can produce up to 100 pellets of poo per day! This can make their cage very smelly and dirty.
Urinating and defecating everywhere
In addition, they will also urinate and defecate all over the place. This can be a big problem, as the mess can create an unhealthy environment for both the guinea pigs and their human caregivers.
Guinea pig not grooming itself
One reason your guinea pig might be especially messy is that it is not grooming itself properly.
Guinea pigs rely on their owners to help them stay clean and healthy. If they are not being groomed properly, they will often start to develop a dirty coat.
This can lead to them getting dirt and debris all over their cage, which can create a mess.
In addition, guinea pigs that are not being groomed properly may also start to develop health problems.
Not using a litter box
If you have a litter box for your guinea pig or you can’t litter-train your guinea pig, they will often urinate and defecate all over the enclosure and bedding.
This can create a big mess, as the waste can build up quickly.
Not having a water bottle
If you do not have a water bottle for your guinea pig, they will often drink from their food bowl.
This can cause their cage to become very messy, as the water will spill and make the bedding wet.
In addition, if the water bowl is not cleaned regularly, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria.
Leaked water bottle
If you don’t use a high-quality and leak-proof water bottle, it may get leaked easily and cause a messy cage. Know the causes of leaking water bottles.
Lack of open space
If your guinea pig’s cage is too small, they will often struggle to move around and may start to urinate and defecate in their food and water bowls.
This can create a big mess, as the waste can build up quickly.
Moreover, if the cage is too small, your guinea pig may become stressed, which can lead to health problems.
Poor bedding material
If you are using poor bedding material, it can’t absorb moisture well and become wet.
This will make the cage very smelly and dirty.
In addition, the bedding may start to mildew, which can create a health hazard for both your guinea pig and you.
Not having an absorbent layer
If you don’t use absorbent material on the bottom of the cage, it won’t absorb moisture properly and cause a mess.
Burrowing and digging
Guinea pigs have a natural instinct to burrow and dig. This can cause them to kick up dirt and debris, which can also contribute to the mess.
Kicking out bedding
Guinea pigs are adorable, but they can be messy due to their cute behavior. They like to kick their bedding around and make nests.
Playing habits
Guinea pigs also have a lot of energy and like to play. They may run and jump around their cage, which can cause the bedding to become scattered.s
How do you make your guinea pig less messy?
You can keep your guinea pigs from making a mess by following a few steps.
Litter train guinea pigs
Guinea pigs are naturally messy creatures and they tend to leave their droppings all over the place.
This can be a problem if you’re not prepared for it, as the mess can be difficult to clean up.
To prevent it consider using a litter box or pee pad. Litter trains your guinea pig. This will help contain the mess and make it easier to clean up.
Provide guinea pigs with good bedding
Make sure you provide them with plenty of bedding material. This will help absorb their waste and make it easier to clean up.
You must ensure highly absorbing bedding materials to prevent moisture.
Check out my other article on fleece, paper, and wood bedding.
Use a guinea pig cage liner
Another way to help contain the mess is to use a guinea pig cage liner. This is a special mat that goes under their cage and catches all the droppings.
It’s important to choose a liner that is absorbent and easy to clean.
Use absorbent materials
Another important thing to reduce the mess is to use an absorbent material on the bottom of the guinea pig’s cage.
Check out my other article on absorbent material for guinea pigs.
Give them plenty of hay
Providing your guinea pigs with plenty of hay is important for their health and it will also help with the mess.
Hay helps to absorb moisture and it will also keep their cage clean.
Clean their cage regularly
It’s important to clean your guinea pig’s cage regularly. This will help to prevent the build-up of waste and it will also keep their environment healthy.
Groom your guinea pigs
Grooming your guinea pigs is important for their health and it will also help to keep them clean.
Regularly brush their fur and trim their nails. This will help to remove any dirt and debris that they may have picked up.
Use a leak-proof water bottle
Guinea pigs tend to spread their water around when they drink from a bowl. This can make a mess and it’s not healthy for them.
To prevent this, use a water bottle instead. This will help to keep their water clean and it will also reduce the amount of mess they make.
In addition, if your guinea pig has a water bottle and it’s leaking, you should have a leak-proof water bottle for them.
Provide them with a hay feeder or hay rack
A hay feeder or hay rack is a great way to keep their hay clean and dry. This helps prevent them from throwing hay all over the cage. It will also help to reduce the amount of mess.
Provide them with toys
Toys will help to keep your guinea pigs amused and they can also help to reduce the amount of mess they make.
If they are active, they may not make a mess with hay and their droppings.
Give them plenty of space
Another way to reduce the amount of mess your guinea pigs make is to give them plenty of space.
This will help to prevent them from kicking up dirt and debris and it will also make it easier for you to clean their cage.
If the cage is small, use an extra-large cage for your little pig.
Keep your guinea pig clean
You have to keep your guinea pig clean. Trim their hair and nail regularly.
Make sure you clean their body, grease gland, and hair regularly.
Long-haired guinea pigs need to be maintained more as they can get messy soon.
You can bathe them once a month on a hot day.
How do you stop your guinea pigs from making messes with hay?
Guinea pigs are known to make a mess with their hay, but there are ways to prevent this.
Use a hay box or hay rack
One way is to place the hay in a hay box. A hay box is a container that has holes in the top and sides for the guinea pigs to reach the hay, but the hay can’t be pulled out.
You can also try placing the hay in a hanging toy or in a hayrack.
Provide them with hay cubes
Another way to prevent a mess is to give your guinea pigs hay cubes.
Hay cubes are pieces of hay that have been compressed into a small cube.
The guinea pigs can still eat the hay, but it can’t be pulled out and scattered around.
Give them smaller pieces of hay
You can also try giving your guinea pigs smaller pieces of hay. If the hay is in large pieces, the guinea pigs may be more likely to pull it out and make a mess.
Try giving them hay that has been cut into small pieces or shredded.
Give each guinea pig its own hay
If you have more than one guinea pig, you may want to consider giving each one its own hay.
This way, they won’t have to share and they won’t be as likely to pull the hay out or, they won’t have to fight over the hay. So, there’s less chance of a mess.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what works best for your guinea pigs. Some guinea pigs are neater than others, so you may have to experiment to find what works best for your pets.
But with a little patience, you can keep your guinea pigs from making a mess with their hay.
How does a guinea pig cage get messy?
There are several ways how a guinea pig cage can get messy.
Firstly, if the guinea pig is not eating properly then there will be a lot of uneaten food and waste in the cage.
Secondly, if the guinea pig is not drinking enough water then its urine will be very concentrated and there will be a lot of waste.
Thirdly, if the guinea pig is not grooming itself properly then there will be a lot of hair and dander in the cage.
Finally, if the guinea pig is not using the litter box properly then there will be a lot of waste in the cage.
How do you keep the guinea pig cage from getting messy?
To prevent a guinea pig cage from getting messy, it is important to keep the following things in mind:
- Use a large space with enough ventilation.
- Do spot-cleaning every day to eliminate poop and pee.
- Make sure you clean their cage deeply once a week.
- Ensure that the guinea pig is using the litter box properly.
- Make sure the guinea pig has enough hay.
- Change bedding regularly.
- Consider using a guinea pig cage liner to help contain the mess.
- Use good and absorbable bedding.
- Make sure that the guinea pig has a good diet and is eating properly.
- Ensure that the guinea pig has access to fresh water and is drinking enough water.
- Make sure that the guinea pig is groomed properly and regularly.
- Use a leak-proof water bottle.
- Use a hay rack or hay feeder.
- Take the guinea pig to the vet for a check-up if you notice any changes in its behavior or health.
What to do if your guinea pig cage gets messy?
Anyone who has ever owned a guinea pig knows that they can be very messy creatures. While it’s natural for them to have some level of messiness, too much of it can be a real headache.
To get rid of a messy cage, the first step is to figure out what’s causing the mess. Is your guinea pig not eating properly? Not drinking enough water? Not using the litter box properly?
Once you’ve determined the cause of the mess, you can take steps to fix the problem. If your guinea pig isn’t eating properly, for example, you may need to change its diet.
If your guinea pig isn’t drinking enough water, you may need to change its water source.
If your guinea pig isn’t using the litter box properly, you may need to change the type of litter you’re using.
You may also need to replace the bedding material and get a new one.
If you aren’t using a hay rack or hay feeder, you should have one to reduce the mess with hay.
In addition, if you don’t use a water bottle for them or have a leaky bottle, buy a leak-proof water bottle.
Whatever the cause of the mess, there are steps you can take to fix the problem and keep your guinea pig cage clean.
Conclusion
Guinea pigs are messy creatures, there’s no denying it. It can be due to their poor diet, throwing hay around their cage, spreading food and water, not drinking enough water, not using the litter box properly, and their grooming habits.
But with a little effort on your part, you can keep your guinea pig and their cage clean and tidy.
To stop them from getting messy, you can use litter boxes, hay racks or feeders, and water bottles. You should also spot-clean their cage every day and change their bedding material regularly.
FAQ about guinea pig mess
Do guinea pigs make a lot of mess?
Guinea pigs do make a lot of mess and it can be difficult to keep their cage clean. They can poop and pee all over the cage, throw hay everywhere, kick out their bedding, and spread food or water. However, there are ways to prevent the mess and make cleaning easier.
Are guinea pigs unhygienic?
Guinea pigs are not unhygienic animals, but they can create a mess if they are not properly taken care of. Their cages need to be cleaned regularly, and they should be given plenty of space to exercise.
Guinea pigs are very clean animals and they groom themselves regularly. However, if their cage is not cleaned often enough, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and parasites.
How often should you clean out a guinea pig cage?
The Guinea pig cage should be cleaned out deeply at least once a week. However, you have to spot clean the cage every day to remove debris, poop, and pee. Moreover, you also need to wash the guinea pig’s fleece once a week.
Why do guinea pigs poop and pee everywhere?
Guinea pigs poop and pee everywhere, mostly in the place where they eat or drink because of their nature. They also poop and pee in those are where predators can’t attack them, as they have very limited resources for survival.
Moreover, as guinea pigs poop and pee a lot due to their high-metabolism rate and quick movement of their digestive system, this also makes them poop and pee all over the cage.
How do you stop your guinea pig from pooping and peeing everywhere?
You can litter train your guinea pigs to stop them from pooping and peeing everywhere.
How do you prevent guinea pigs from throwing bedding?
You can modify or change bedding and use a larger cage with open space to stop your guinea pigs from throwing bedding.
