How to Make Cardboard Guinea Pig Toys

Last Updated: January 11, 2022

Guinea pigs are inquisitive pets that love to explore and play. Unfortunately, they can become bored and depressed when isolated in their cage most of the time. Toys are important accessories to provide your guinea pig to promote healthy enrichment and mental stimulation. If you would like to introduce a little fun to your guinea pig's cage, begin by making an affordable and recyclable toy for your cavy. Continue reading this article to find out how.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Using Household Items

1
Make a tunnel using a cardboard shipping tube. Guinea pigs are fairly large rodents compared to mice and rats, so cardboard shipping tubes with a 3-4 inch diameter opening make perfect tunnels.^{[1]
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- Wedge the tunnel in place by the sides so that it does not roll around, and place one end in a pile of hay for your guinea pig to hide in and explore.
2
Make a hay stuffer using a toilet roll holder. Place a handful of hay and treats inside a toiler roll holder to create a home-made stuffer. Cut some slits down the middle of the roll to allow more hay.
- Alternatively you can place some vegetable and lettuce inside the toilet roll to tempt your guinea pig.
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3
Make a hide-house out of a cardboard shoebox. Cut a few holes in a shoebox about 3-4 diameters for your guinea pig to hide and play. Place some treats and hay to encourage your guinea pig to explore.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Making a Cardboard Treat Ball

1
Cut a cardboard toilet roll into 10 rings. Cut some rings about 1 cm wide. You will likely need 1-2 toilet paper rolls.
2
Layer the rings into a ball. Place each ring into each other with the largest rings on top. Layer them until you create a ball shape. Do not layer them all the way; you will need a big enough gap to squeeze some treats or hay inside.
3
Squeeze some treats or hay inside the gap of the ball. You can use commercial treats, such as pea flakes, or you can stuff the ball with vegetables and hay.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Creating a Cardboard Maze

1
Acquire a large cardboard box. Guinea pigs are fairly large rodents compared to rats and mice; therefore, require more space in their maze to have fun.
2
Flatten the cardboard box and tape pieces together to create a base. You will likely need to take away the base of the cardboard box and use the sides to create a fairly large base.
3
Tape the remaining cardboard at the side of the base to create a wall. Cut the entrance and exit of the maze as well.
4
Plan the route of the maze. Using a pencil, sketch out the maze route on the base. Guinea pigs do not have a large attention span, so make the maze easy and short.
- Create 2-3 dead ends in the maze, depending on how big your base is.
5
Cut the walls of the inside of the maze. Attach the walls on top of the pencil sketches using pet-safe glue.
6
Place some treats inside the maze. Using commercial treats or vegetables cut up into small cubes, place these treats around the maze, including at the dead-ends, to encourage your guinea pig to explore. Place your guinea pigs at one side of the maze and watch as they make their way out.
- Place a large reward consisting of vegetables, forage mix, hay, and commercial treats at the end of the maze.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Making a Treat Box

1
Acquire a cardboard egg box. Half a dozen is a good size for guinea pigs. Acquire a dozen egg box if you have more then two guinea pigs.
- The idea of this toy is to have your guinea pig forage and try to find the treat hidden in the box.
2
Place treats at the bottom of each slot. Vegetables cut up in small chunks make great treats. Otherwise, you can purchase commercial treats from a pet store.
- Apple, carrots, and cucumbers make great treats.
3
Layer fresh herbs on top of the treat. Guinea pigs can have a variety of herbs including; parsley, mint, dill, cilantro, and thyme.^{[2]
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Research source} These herbs will compact the treats inside the egg slots.
4
Place a small handful of hay on top of the treats. With the hay on top, your guinea pigs will have to forage to find the treats. Close the egg box, and place the toy inside your guinea pig's cage to see some fun.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Making an Edible Treat Slot

1
Acquire your cardboard. The cardboard should be untreated to ensure it is edible and safe for your guinea pig. Cut it into a small or medium rectangle.
2
Cut slots through the cardboard. Using a stanley knife or a pair of scissors, cut slots through the middle of the cardboard in a line. Cut about six slots.
3
Slip your treats in the slots. You can use commercial treats or fresh fruits or vegetables. If you're using vegetables, then opt for more dry produce so that the cardboard won't soil.
- Vegetables would be a healthier alternative for your guinea pig as commercial treats have a high sugar content.
4
Place the treat in their cage and watch them play. Your guinea pig should explore their new toy and attempt to grab the treats from the slot. Remove the cardboard once the treats have been eaten, or if it's been soiled.

Community Q&A

Question

Is the cardboard safe to for the guinea pig to eat?

Community Answer

Yes, a guinea pig's digestive system allows them to chew cardboard and paper without any sickness. If some is accidentally swallowed, it won't do any harm.
Question

What happens if a guinea has a lot of cardboard?

Amy Harrison

Top Answerer

Guinea pigs' digestive systems allow them to chew wood and wood-based products such as paper and cardboard without any ill effects.
Question

Is the wooddust and thread safe for a guinea pig to eat?

Amy Harrison

Top Answerer

Yes, guinea pig's digestive systems allow them to chew wood and wood-based products such as cardboard without any ill effects. This includes natural-fibre thread.

Warnings

Don't use glue when making guinea pig toys, as most glues contain poisonous chemicals. Some kid-friendly glues may be safe, however, have a veterinarian approve them first.

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Throw the cardboard toys out after a couple of days, and straight away if your guinea pig urinates on them. Damp cardboard can result in urine scald or bumblefoot if left in the cage.

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Don't purchase yogurt drops as a treat, as guinea pigs are lactose intolerant and cannot digest dairy. Pea flakes or baked vegetables treats are generally safe for guinea pigs to digest sparingly. Oxbow manufactures a line of approved guinea pig baked treats.

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