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What Do Guinea Pigs Like to Play With? Top 12 Guinea Pig Toys

What do guinea pigs like to play with

Are your guinea pigs looking a bit bored in their cavy condo? Have you been hearing more snoozing than scurrying lately? Are you a new pet parent who simply has no clue what these adorable rodents like to play with?

Then, it’s a good thing you’ve come across this detailed list of the top 12 toys for guinea pigs! The best thing – most of these toys can be made at home easily and inexpensively!

1. Crumpled Paper

Paper ball toys for guinea pigs

Easy and inexpensive, you’ll most likely have a few sheets of paper on-hand at home already.

Basically, just crumple it up into a large ball or a few smaller sizes and place it in your guinea’s cage. Don’t be fooled by how simple this sounds, paper balls do actually make some excellent toys for cavies.

Not only are they attracted by the crumple noise it produces when it’s played with, but guineas also like gnawing on any (safe, non-toxic) paper products.

2. Cardboard Boxes

Along the lines of crumpled up paper, cardboard boxes (without glue or tape) make for an ingenious homemade or store-bought toy that doubles as a hideout and a munchy-crunchy snack.

If you have some plain shoe or moving boxes collecting dust in your closet, then whip them out, clean them off, and present them to your fluffy friends.

3. Tunnels

Guinea pig tunnel for entertainment

As rodents that naturally live in burrows, guinea pigs have an innate need for hiding in underground tunnels. Unfortunately, in a cavy cage or C&C habitat, it just isn’t possible to do so. However, you can provide them with some tunnels to play with. Luckily, you can find these online or make them yourself.

Wrapping paper tubes can be used as tunnels, but you must make sure to cut open the entire length of the tube to ensure your pig doesn’t get their fuzzy backside stuck when checking out their awesome new toy.

Alternatively, there are some great toy tunnels that you can purchase online like the Living World Pet Tunnel or, my guineas’ personal favorite, the Nature’s Hideaway Grass Tunnel Toy. With the grass tunnel toy, rodents can use them for exercise, a hideout spot for a nap, or even a quick bite to eat.

4. Paper Bags Filled With Hay

This super-easy toy is a favorite among guinea pigs. All you have to do is fill a paper bag from the grocery store with an ample amount of hay and place it in your guinea pigs’ cage for them to indulge in.

As they nibble on the hay, they also get to interact with the bag, which adds an extra layer of excitement to their playtime.

5. Hay or Grass Chew Balls

Guinea pig chew balls

Made from all-natural materials, hay or dry grass balls make an ideal toy that’s also a tasty treat. Again, it’s another option that both entertains and keeps their teeth in check.

Cavies have fun rolling these balls around their cage, and with some of these toys, they get the added bonus of a fun jingle toy inside that makes a pleasant noise.

My little fluffsters got a kick out of Peters Woven Grass Play Ball, so I’d recommend that if you’re not sure which product to purchase.

6. Chew Sticks

In the guinea pig world, you can never have too much to chew, gnaw, and nibble on!

Chew sticks are another good toy these rodents enjoy, so long as you select premium, all-natural wood sticks such as the Sharllen Apple Sticks Pet Chew Toys or, our Muffy’s personal favorite, Simona Micah Organic Apple Tree Branches.

Don’t be surprised when these disappear ultra fast! Not only are these sticks delicious, but they’re also a great way to keep their teeth trim and healthy.

7. Fleece Accessories

Fleece hideout for guinea pigs

Fleece is by far one of the best (and cheapest) materials you can buy to make your pet’s home more cozy, fun, and entertaining. How is that possible, you may be asking? Well, from a simple fleece blanket, you can create a warm, snuggly tent or an amusing fleece “forest.”

Simply cut strips into a section of fleece and turn it into a curtain. Then, hang it somewhere in their habitat where they can run through the hanging strips. Try this quick and simple play structure out, and you’ll see how quickly your piggies will take to playing with it!

8. Stuffed Socks

Before you throw out those lonely solo socks that just can’t seem to find their long-lost partner, consider using them instead to create a stuffed sock sensation.

All you have to do is round up a sock or two, stuff them with hay or clean bedding, then tie off the sock with wool on the open end. And voila, you’ve just crafted a throw pillow your pets will drag around, play with, and nestle on!

9. Stuffed Tubes With Hay

Entertaining guinea pigs with stuffed tubes

Another wonderful and inexpensive all-time favorite is hay-stuffed paper towel or toilet paper tubes. Since these are non-toxic, plain tubes, they make a great toy to munch on. But when you stuff the center with yummy hay, you create the ultimate guinea pig treat!

Cavies have teeth that continuously grow, so you need to supply them with wood and hay to gnaw on to keep their choppers at bay.

10. An Obstacle Course

Guinea pigs tend to get bored when they’re not mentally stimulated. So, grab those unused cardboard boxes you haven’t given them to nibble on yet, and make a custom, one-of-a-kind maze or obstacle course.

Use a large piece of cardboard for the base, then simply tape walls to the floor section. Get creative with it by adding twists and turns, but whatever you do, don’t forget to have a treat ready at the end of the it all! If you’re in one of those mastermind moods, then go hog-wild and add interesting obstacles to the maze like cardboard tubes, bridges, tunnels, or bar jumps.

11. Egg Carton Treat Box

Egg carton toy for guinea pigs

This exciting puzzle will make your pets zoom around in excitement!

Use an egg carton to hide a few delicious treats such as pieces of veggies, fruit or foraging plants. Cover the treats with an ample amount of hay to make it even more enticing. Close the egg carton and let your pets try to figure out how to get to their yummy goodies.

12. A Playpen for Free Time

Guineas also enjoy their free time outside of the cage and particularly like playing in a pet playpen. With this kind of enclosure, you give them a chance to wander about in a sectioned-off location.

Since cavies love to socialize, this also gives them the opportunity to hang out with their rodent buddies and share a hay tube or two. Also, don’t forget that guineas enjoy playing with their humans! As such, playpens are a nice, comfortable place for cavies to interact with their pet parents.

At our place, we use the Prevue Pet Products Multi-Color Small Pet Playpen. Admittedly, I consider this item a must-have, and I especially like it because it’s easy to fold and stores flat. This also makes a great sanctuary when your guinea pigs are exploring the yard.

Guinea pigs plying with toys

FAQs

Do guinea pigs need toys?

As far as dental health is concerned, as long as guinea pigs have unrestricted access to hay, their teeth should remain at a healthy length with or without chew toys. In terms of enrichment, toys can be beneficial in keeping your pets occupied and entertained.

Do guinea pigs play with toys?

Some guinea pigs adore toys, while others ignore them. I think offering toys is worth a shot to see if your piggies enjoy playing with them. The toys don’t have to be anything fancy – simple DIY guinea pig toys such as toilet paper rolls, crumpled paper, and hideouts made of cardboard boxes can make excellent toys.

Do guinea pigs like wheels? Do they like exercise balls?

Please remember to avoid exercise wheels and balls at all costs.

While rodents such as hamsters positively adore their exercise wheel, these things are not suited for the guinea pig physique. Thus, cavies can get seriously hurt when using these toys. In some cases, the results can even be fatal.

Exercise balls are also extremely dangerous for guinea pigs (hamsters too!) for multiple reasons. Guinea pigs are not built to be running in balls, their toes can get trapped in the ventilation holes and cause injury, and there isn’t enough ventilation inside the ball. In addition to that, this kind of toy is not something a prey animal like a guinea pig would enjoy.

What kind of toys do guinea pigs like?

Every guinea pig is different and has unique likes and dislikes. But most guinea pigs like the types of toys listed in this article, from cardboard boxes, tunnels, and paper bags to fleece curtains and chew sticks.

Final Thoughts

With a little imagination and a few household items, you can make some pretty awesome and (thankfully) inexpensive toys guinea pigs like to play with.

If you stick to our list of toys they like to play with, you’re sure to keep those cavies healthy, happy, and thoroughly entertained!

What do your guinea pigs like to play with?

Let us know in the comments!

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18 Comments

      1. Thank you for visiting our blog! BTW guinea pigs are social animals so they should live in pairs or groups:)

  1. Wonderful information. I’ve just become a guinea mum and I want the best for him and he’ll be really happy with these toys. Thank you.

  2. I. Have. Three. Guinea. Pigs. Abbie. Zeba. Shikira. All. Females. And. A. Big. Guinea. Pig. Cage. I’m. Trying. To. Get. The. Piggies. To. Share. The. Bigger. Cage. As. Its. Got. Enough. Room. For. The. Three. Off. Them. To. Live. In

  3. I’m a New Guinea pig mom I have one question can I put my Guinea pigs in a small cage just for sleep and buy them a play pin to run around and roam freely and put them back in the cage at night like train them to know is that possible

    1. Hi, this is not the ideal solution. Guinea pigs should have a minimum of 7.5 square feet (if you have 2) of room 24/7, not just during the day. Also, changing their habitat every morning and every night could stress them out. If at all possible, it would be best to keep them in decently sized cage all the time, without moving them. You can attach a playpen to your cage so they can roam free in a playpen during the day and remove the playpen during the night, but nevertheless, they’ll need those 7.5 square feet of cage space during the night too.

  4. Good evening my name is Allison! And I am wanting to know more information about guniea pigs and how I can keep them occupied at night while I am trying to sleep at night because all that they do is chase after each other and make guniea pigs noises so if I can have someone either text me with more information on how to keep my pets calm at night you can text me or call me at 289-689-2908 or you can try to reach me by email my email address is [email protected]
    Best regards
    Allison Lindsay

    1. Hi, unfortunately that’s what guinea pigs do and it isn’t really something that can be changed. They don’t sleep through the night like us humans. If possible, maybe try to move their enclosure to a different room so they don’t disturb your sleep. You can also refill their hay before you go to sleep and give them some veggies so they have something to do. If they’re wheeking because they want veggies from you, set up a schedule to give veggies at the same time every day so they don’t expect it at other times of the day (or night). And lastly, if nothing else works, earplugs are a saver!

  5. Thank you for the tips on the guinea pigs. I got two girl guinea pigs and they’re the cutest things ever. How many times should I pick them up per week. I don’t think Peanut and Hazel enjoy it though? Shouldn’t they get time to roam around outside their cage say on the couch?

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