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The best guinea pig toys your furry friend will adore

Rebekkah Adams
By

Guinea pigs love to play and you won’t always be around to entertain them. Instead, you should give them a mixture of time with you, exercise opportunities, and toys that stay in the cage. Remember, their chompers will never stop growing (in fact, little piggies are born with a mouth full of teeth already), so you should provide plenty of hay and chew toys along with other forms of amusement.

Guinea pig plays with a toy

How can I keep my guinea pigs entertained?

Getting a pet means locking yourself into big commitments: time, money, and energy. Guinea pigs must be housed in pairs or herds since they’re social animals, which both present challenges and offers advantages. For example, these little guys will play with each other, keeping themselves happily entertained without involving you. However, in addition to providing all the playthings, the humans of the household will definitely need to participate in playtime sometimes. Because guinea pigs often wake up at night, you’ll want something left in their cage to keep them occupied (and hopefully quiet) while you try to sleep. 

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Can guinea pigs have stuffed animals?

Yes! Cavies are chewers and you will likely find this pretend pet destroyed at some point. That’s OK! They had their fun and that’s the goal. Keep in mind that you should carefully select toys made for pets that do not include plastic, glass, or metal parts. Your little ones could wind up eating and swallowing them (and trust us, it’s a big vet bill).

What toys should my guinea pigs have?

No matter what assortment of personalities your fluffballs have, they are sure to love these toys and games that will keep them endlessly interested.

Chew & Treat Toy Assortment

According to multiple reviewers, guinea pigs absolutely love this bundle of toys that offers an assortment of chewable treasures to devour. Owners especially praise the variety of this collection, as it comes with a hanging ladder plus multiple games for munching. They all taste like apples (which your piggies will love), though some owners soaked theirs in water first to dispel some of the dye (though it is safe for animals).

Pet Tunnel

Rodents yearn to explore and need plenty of opportunities to do so. This particular tunnel can be used on its own, or be attached to the Living World Tent for extra fun. One happy customer proclaims it is a “Guniea Pigs Heaven!” and explains that they put multiple tunnels and tents together to create a full playset. 

Small Animal Hideaway

Do your guinea pigs want to play in a see-through castle? Of course, they do! Some owners report that their pets climb inside for daytime naps or clamber up on top of the hideaway. Keep in mind this isn’t a small toy, so even though it might be too big for a little dwarf hamster, it is the perfect size for guineas. 

Willow Ball Pack Chews

Keep your pets busy with this multi-pack of willow balls that they’ll instantly destroy. Remember that while providing chew toys is great, it doesn’t replace the need for consistent hay. If they do decide to eat the chews after they’ve had their fun, that’s fine. They’re perfectly safe for animal ingestion. 

All of these accessories will keep your guinea pigs’ attention while you tend to other things. Just be sure to set aside plenty of playtime for the group of you as well. Of course, small pets should always be supervised while outside their cage, and the designated area should be guinea-proofed in advance. With the right toys, your little pals will enjoy unlimited access to fun.

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Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah Adams
Contributor
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
Try out these 6 different kinds of best bird feeders to attract your feathered friends
House finch eats at nyger feeder

Bird feeders come in multiple shapes and sizes because birds do, too. Each feeder accommodates a different feeding style, and many are enticing to a particular species. Before setting up your feeders, think first about what kinds of flyers you want to attract — and which ones are likely to oblige. Then, once you have a good bird-watching list, scout out the right locations and the best feeders to attract them. You can put out all these for the widest array of visitors or focus on a few types and get the best setup for just those eaters. Here are the six best bird feeders and what feathered friends you'll probably see feeding at them.

What are the different types of bird feeders?
You probably have a bunch of different dishes in your home — plates, bowls, maybe a gravy boat. Our avian guests have the same needs. After all, some birds eat seeds, some animal fat, some flowers, and some nectar. Take a look through these top types and figure out which one — or ones — belong in your yard.
Hummingbird feeders
Putting up a hummingbird feeder all but ensures you'll add a splash of color to your life. This one will bring in gorgeous birds and look nice in the window. Of course, the drawback is that you need to clean it often by hand. Don't worry: A little soap and water will do the trick, and its glass construction means it will last a long time. Feeding hummingbirds saves your wallet, too, since you can make all the food yourself. Boil 1 part sugar and 4 parts water to create this concoction and refrigerate any left over right away. It'll take your neighborhood birds a minute to find their new restaurant, but once they've discovered it (and given a rave review to their friends), you'll never run out of visitors, provided you keep the food flowing. 
Hopper feeders
This is a classic bird feeder that adorns nearly every yard at one time or another. You'll get large birds — and probably large squirrels — as regulars at this one. Try hanging it from a strategic spot or mounting it on a pole to avoid squirrels, but that might be a losing battle. Instead, focus on attracting the birds you do like with the proper seed for them (don't forget to keep it full). We suspect you'll spot a menagerie here, especially jays and cardinals since it's welcoming to bigger animals. Unlike the hummingbird feeder, you won't bring this one indoors often, and should make sure it's reachable by hose or bucket for proper cleaning. 
Tube feeders
The smaller birds of the community will thank you for this tube feeder, as the little perches and openings go well with tiny feet and beaks. Watch for a mix of sparrows, chickadees, and titmice who enjoy having a spot of their own, and look at purchasing a blend that encourages them. However, a small feeder means you have to fill it regularly. It might take a few weeks, but you should get an idea of how often the birds start begging for a refill. Finding a spot can prove tricky because you never know when the guests of honor will alight on the other side. Place it between windows to best see every angle. 

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Best hamster bedding: The safest options for your furry friend
Hamster in wood shavings in cage

To be healthy and happy, your hamster needs bedding that he can burrow into. Bedding absorbs urine and gives your hamster a soft, safe surface. But finding the best hamster bedding can take time, especially if you're new to owning a hamster.

Best hamster bedding
While it's sensible to look for cheap hamster bedding options, it's just as important to ensure that you're buying a product that's also safe for your hamster. The following bedding types are not only affordable but also safe and available at pet stores and online retailers.
Aspen shavings
Wood shavings are probably the most widely used and most widely available type of small-animal bedding available. Shavings are a great, cheap hamster bedding, and when you buy a larger package, you can get even better value.

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Girl plays with her hamster in a cage outside

So you've adopted a cute new hamster buddy. Great! Now you need to set him up with a comfortable new home. The perfect hamster habitat will vary greatly depending on your animal and your own home. You might decide that you want to erect a next-level tube city with branches that extend up and around your living room, or you might choose to go for a multi-story duplex for your new friend. No matter what you wind up going for, you'll want to make sure that the cage has enough space and that you provide plenty of exercise opportunities, both inside the hamster's housing and out of it. 

Why does my hamster want a tube?
In the wild, hamsters burrow and spend much of their lives underground, in part to protect themselves from predators. You can recreate that for them with lots of fun tubing either snaking through the room or underneath the substrate. Your hamster will feel safe inside and get some exercise climbing around in them. Be aware, though, that your hamster still needs some additional recess time out of the cage and getting in laps on his wheel. 
What are the best affordable hamster habitats?
The best part of designing your new enclosure is getting creative. Start with one of these setups and then make it your own by adding accessories. Check out these five low-cost, high-quality hamster habitats for your little guy as a jumping-off point.
WARE Chew Proof Small Animal Critter Cage
Many owners choose a basic wire cage to promote airflow and give their pet lots of uninterrupted space to move about. The great thing about this one is you can add just about any design that you want: tubing, a little home, or other toys. It's also really easy to clean because it comes apart and can be wiped or sprayed down. Reviewers love the big door for ease of access and the close-fitting and easily assembled parts. 
You & Me Small Animal High Rise Tank Topper
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Kaytee CritterTrail Portable Petite Habitat
You can use this as a travel/secondary cage, or you can get a whole set of the different CritterTrail hutches and connect them to make a giant home. It comes with the wheel and dishes too, so it's up to you to decide if you want to attach the habitat to another enclosure or make a tube city. If you decide to use the enclosure as a carrying case, you can include all the must-haves in here and use the handle for easy carrying. It's important to note that this isn't really enough space for even a small hamster, so don't consider this a primary habitat. However, you can certainly add it to a model that comes without accessories. 
Habitrail OVO Adventure Pack, Multi-colored
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Large Long Crossover Tube Habitat
This cage has all the bells and whistles, making it the ideal hamster 'hotel.' It's sort of a combination of a few of the others on this list because it has a mezzanine level on each side with a bridge to connect them, but it also has tubing around the top. The ladders lead down to the bottom level, which you can deck out by adding your own below-ground tubing or other playthings. "We couldn’t be happier!" raves one review. "The cage has tons of space to run around in. Our hamster loves the tubes that go over the top of the cage."

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