C&C Cages for Guinea Pigs UK

C&C cages are incredibly popular with guinea pig owners who keep indoor guinea pigs. C&C stands for “Cubes and Coroplast” which are the components you need to build this modular guinea pig cage. Although it takes a little diy, you can build a cage that is the size you want or that fits your space.

A C&C cage enables you to unleash your creativity and set up a fabulous environment that you just can’t do with an ordinary cage.

If you want to see the C&C components we recommend, please click here. However, we do advise you read this whole page as we explain all you need to know about a guinea pig C&C cage including what exactly a C&C cage is, the advantages, where to buy the components, how to put it together and lots more.

What is a C&C cage?

A C&C cage is a modular cage that you can easily build yourself from grids, connectors and coroplast (also known as correx). The 9x9 grids are square and you join them up using the connectors. Once you have the structure of the cage complete, all you need to do is cut your coroplast to size and place in the cage.

What are the benefits of a C&C cage?

The more space a guinea pig has to run around, the better off they will be. So the main advantage with a C&C cage is the large play area it offers your guinea pigs, especially if you have more than two piggies.

These modular cages can be made to the exact size and configuration you require. This means that, if you have the room, rather than buying a smaller cage you can have a really huge one to give your guinea pigs loads of space in which to play.

We couldn’t find any ready made indoor cages for sale that were large enough for 3+ piggies so this is really the only option if you have this number of guinea pigs.

If you don’t have other pets in your home, another huge advantage of this structure is that you can have an open top, this allows for much more interaction with your guinea pigs than with a traditional cage. Most cages are covered, except for the Midwest Habitat which is the best cage for 2 guinea pigs if you prefer a more traditional cage without the diy element.

Best cage sizes for number of guinea pigs

Make sure when you’re considering a C&C cage that you buy the correct size for the number of guinea pigs.

Bigger is always better so if you have the space you should definitely consider building a larger cage. You will get so much more enjoyment from seeing them running around, chasing each other and playing when they are housed in an extra large cage.

Here is a chart showing the minimum amount of space your guinea pigs need, and the interior size of each of the most popular C&C cage configurations:

No. Guinea Pigs

Minimum cage size

C&C Cage in m^₂

Cage Size (inside)

Grids

0.7m²

68 x 105 cm

2x3

0.7m²

1m²

68 x 142 cm

2x4

1m²

1.2m²

68 x 178 cm

2x5

1.2m²

1.5m²

68 x 215 cm

2x6

What components do I need for a C&C cage?

To build a C&C cage you will need the following:

C&C grids
Grid connectors
Coroplast (or Correx)

The C&C grids you need are the 9x9 squared version. They measure 36cm x 36cm and should have a 3.5cm gap in each square.

Please note there are others that are available such as 8x8 which have a larger gap - although these would be fine for a rabbit, these can be dangerous for guinea pigs as they pose a strangulation risk as some piggies can fit their heads through the gaps. Make sure you buy the 9x9 grids - see recommendations for buying below.

C&C cage measurements, plans and shopping lists

We’ve put together some measurements and shopping lists for the most popular C&C cage sizes to make it easier for you to work out what you need:

2x3 C&C Cage

2x4 C&C Cage (recommended size for 2 guinea pigs)

2x5 C&C Cage (for 2-3 guinea pigs)

2x6 C&C Cage (for 2-4 guinea pigs)

Where can I buy the components to build a C&C cage?

All the items you will need for a C&C cage can be found on Amazon. Here is a list of the items you will need and the ones we recommend. We’ve done our best to find the best value for you while at the same time only recommending the options which will ensure the safety of your guinea pigs.

Set of 9x9 grids and connectors (4 cube storage set) - available in black or white
Additional connectors - available in black or white
Coroplast - these come in packs of 5 x A1 and can be taped together to make the required size.
Clear packing tape (for sticking the coroplast sheets together and securing the corners

What bedding is best for a C&C Cage?

As with hutches and standard cages, there is a range of bedding that is suitable for your C&C cage. The 3 main options that we would recommend are megazorb (a wood pulp fibre), fitch (made from shredded paper) or fleece liners.

Fleece Liners for C&C Cages

Many guinea pig owners who use C&C cages are huge guinea pig fans who want to create a more deluxe environment that looks attractive and is a wonderful home for their pets. This, along with the fact that it is completely dust-free, is probably why fleece liners are a popular choice for this type of cage.

Fleece liners come in an array of designs and colours and can be bought either ready-made in standard C&C sizes or custom made to your requirements.

Here are some links to where you can buy the fleeces:

GuineaDad: You can buy fleeces in the following sizes: 2x1, 2x2, 2x3 and 2x4. So if you have a 2x5 cage or larger you’ll need to combine them to fill the space. They are made with a cute pocket which your guinea pig can hide in - something they love to do! These are available in a grey quilted fleece fabric with a solid colour (about 7 colour choices) for the pocket.
Handmade on Amazon: These come in all the sizes you could possibly need! As well as those sizes supplied by GuineaDad, they also come in 2x5, 2x6, 3x3, 3x4, 3x5 and 4x4 with a range of beautiful patterns or solid colours. Click here to view the patterned fleece liners (8 pattern options) - or click here to view the solid colour fleece liners (9 colour options)

You can read more about guinea pig bedding options in detail here...

How to construct a C&C cage step by step

Here are the instructions on how to build a C&C cage. There are many different configurations so you refer to our chart to get the correct size.

Build the sides by joining your grid panels using the connectors top and bottom.
Measure the interior of your cage. You should measure from the inner side of the connectors as the coroplast will be positioned inside.
Add 30cm to the width and length you have measured (to allow for the sides) . This is the size you will need from the coroplast.
With clear packing tape stick enough A1 sheets of coroplast together to give you the area you need to cut.
Taking into account your measurements (including the additional 30cm) cut your coroplast accordingly.
With a marker pen, draw a line each side of the coroplast 15cm in from the edge.
Score the marked lines with a stanley knife making sure you don’t cut all the way through.
On just two of the opposite sides, cut along the vertical lines which you marked and scored - this will enable you to fold the sides.
Secure the flaps behind the sides with clear packing tape.
Place the coroplast inside your cage.

You have now completed the cage and are ready to add the bedding.

How much do C&C cages cost?

The cost of your cage will depend on the size you are building and the price does vary quite a bit from size to size. However, if you buy the components we recommend(and we’ve tried to find the best price for these safe cages) a 2x4 C&C for two guinea pigs will probably cost a bit less than a Midwest Habitat Plus and a bit more than the Standard Midwest Habitat. These are the standard cages we recommend if you don’t opt for a C&C. Find out the cost of the components for the C&C cages here…

When is a C&C cage not suitable?

Due to their flexibility, there are very few circumstances in which these cages are not suitable. However, if you are planning on adopting baby guinea pigs or you have a pregnant guinea pig you will need a cage with smaller spacing between the bars. This is not because a baby guinea pig could escape but because they can get their smaller heads stuck between the bars.

This is the same reason why we recommend the particular grids mentioned on this page for adult guinea pigs. There are many similar grids and storage cubes for sale that might look the same but if you look more closely they have larger grid gaps. These can be extremely dangerous and must be avoided to safeguard your guinea pigs.

An open cage is only suitable if you don't have other pets so you can still have a C&C cage but you'll have to construct a top to ensure it is cat and dog proof.