C&C Cages for Guinea Pigs UK

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What is a C&C Cage

C&C cages are modular guinea pig cages where you buy the components and fit them together to build the cage size and shape that suits the number of guinea pigs you have. 

This type of DIY cage is very popular in the guinea pig community as it allows for a huge  variety of customisations for creative guinea pig owners.

However, C and C cages are only suitable for indoor pets and should not be used if you are planning to house your guinea pigs outdoors.

What does C&C stand for?

"C&C" stands for Cubes and Coroplast which refers to the grids or panels and the plastic sheeting required in making one of these cages. Coroplast can also be called Correx.

What do I need to buy for a C&C cage?

To make a C&C cage you'll need grids, connectors and coroplast. Cable ties are also essential for more complex builds and also help make even a more simple cage more sturdy. 

You can buy the individual components but you can also buy a set in some sizes including this  2x4 cage with 2x2 loft which includes everything you need including the coroplast pre-cut to size.

C&C grids (panels)

The safe C&C grids (or panels) should have 9 squares along each side and measure about 14 inches or 35.5cm with a 3.5cm or 1.4 inch gap in each square.  These grids will form the main structure of your cage.

You'll find other panels that have less squares but these can be dangerous for guinea pigs. This is because the individual holes are too large and baby guinea pigs and even small adult guinea pigs may escape or get their heads stuck in the grids.  

There have been reports of fatal accidents with guinea pig owners using  other grids so it's essential for the safety of your guinea pigs that you buy the safe 9x9 grids we specify here.

C&C connectors

To join the grids together, you'll need the C&C connectors. They are easy to connect and simply push and click into place. However, some people bypass the connectors and just use cable ties to join their grids.

If you use the grids we recommend, they will come with a number of connectors. Depending on the cage size you require you may need additional packs of connectors.

Coroplast sheets (or Correx)

Once you have the main structure of your cage in place, you'll need some coroplast to make a base for your C&C cage. You'll need to cut it to the correct size to make a box and the sides will help prevent bedding and hay spilling out of the cage. 

C&C Cage Sizes

When people talk about C&C cage sizes, they will be referred to by number of grids rather than the length and width of the cage in centimetres or inches. 

To help you work out which size you need for the number of guinea pigs you have, refer to the chart below. It also gives the minimum cage size that your guinea pigs require. Bear in mind that male guinea pigs need more space than females so always go up a size for boars.

No. Guinea Pigs
Minimum cage size
C&C Cage in m2
Cage Size (inside)
Grids
1-2
0.7m2
0.7m2
68 x 105 cm
2x3
2-3
0.7m2
1m2
68 x 142 cm
2x4
3-4
1m2
1.2m2
68 x 178 cm
2x5
4-5
1.2m2
1.5m2
68 x 215 cm
2x6

What you need to buy for different C&C cage sizes

You can buy all the C&C cage components online and we've linked to the ones that are both safe and good value below. We've also included links to the cage sets which includes the coroplast that is cut to size and ready to assemble.

2x3 C&C Cage 

Buy the full set for a 2x3 cage with a 2x1 loft - all coroplast is pre-cut for you

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

You can also buy the full set for a 2x4 C&C cage with 2x1 Loft complete with pre-cut coroplast.

2x5 C&C Cage (for 2-4 guinea pigs)

Buy full set for 2x5 C&C cage with 2x1 loft with pre-cut coroplast

2x6 C&C Cage (for 2-5 guinea pigs)

Buy full set for 2x6 C&C cage with 2x1 loft and pre-cut coroplast

How to make a C&C cage step by step

Here are some step by step instructions on how to build a C&C cage for your guinea pigs. 

  • Build the sides to the desired shape and size by connecting your grid panels using the connectors top and bottom.
  • Measure the interior of your cage but leave a little space to ensure it's not too tight a fit.
  • Add 30cm to the width and length you have measured (to allow for the sides) . This is the size you will need your coroplast to be.
  • If you have smaller coroplast sheets rather than one big sheet, you may need to use some clear packing tape to stick them together at this stage to give you the desired size.
  • Using a strong, sharp pair of scissors,  cut your coroplast taking into account the additional 30cm you need to add as mentioned above.
  • With a marker pen, draw a line on each side of the coroplast 15cm in from the edge.
  • Score the marked lines with a craft 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 up into a box.
  • Secure the flaps behind the sides with clear packing tape. Make sure this is on the outside so your guinea pigs can't chew the tape.
  • Place the coroplast box inside your cage.
  • You've now completed the cage and are ready to add the bedding.

How to make a hinged lid for your C&C cage

Making a lid for a one-level C&C cage is really easy. All you need is grids, connectors and lots of cable ties.

C&C guinea pig cage with lid

A hinged lid is ideal as it allows easy access to your guinea pigs but you want to make sure it's made safe and secure so there is no chance of it collapsing into the cage and on to your piggies.

guinea pig c and c cage with opening top

Watch the video below on how to make a safe hinged lid for a 2x4 C&C cage.  It's easy to adapt for a 2x3, 2x5 or 2x6 cage simply by using more or less grids.

How to make a C&C cage loft and ramp (fits 2x4, 2x5, 2x6)

Creating a loft in your C&C cage will provide your guinea pigs with additional space which could be made into an eating or sleeping area to allow more room on the lower level for them to exercise.

We've put together a step by step video on how to make a 2x1 loft for any cage that is 2 grids deep and at least 4 grids long. This follows on from our previous video on how to build  a 2x4 cage which you'll need to watch first.

C&C cage ramp

It's important that the ramp is secure and solid as you don't want it to collapse when your guinea pig is using it. Another important factor is to make sure it's easy to clean.

The ramp we made is created with grids and coroplast for super strength.

Some people glue carpet to a coroplast ramp with smaller pieces cut and glued to act as additional grips. This is because guinea pigs are not particularly good with going uphill! Carpet helps their feet grip more easily and this is important as they won't use the ramp if they don't feel secure.

However, I'm not a fan of carpet because in my experience guinea pigs have a habit of pooping or peeing on the way up. A carpet that is stuck into place is not going to be easy to clean so it's not the best solution and we have a much easier solution for you! 

A  folded up towel cut into the right dimensions works brilliantly and you can just throw it into the wash when necessary. This also protects the coroplast from getting chewed. It's important that you use a large piece of towel that you can fold about 4 times. This is what gives it plenty of grip. A thin covering will make it difficult for your guinea pig to climb the ramp.

Make sure the towel is tucked under the fleece liner in the loft space to keep it in place. If you're not using fleece liner you may be able to clip it to the sides of the ramp with strong bulldog clips.

What you'll need to make the complete 2x4 C&C cage with loft and ramp

If you would prefer to buy a 2x4 cage with 2x2 loft plus ramp with the coroplast pre-cut, you can buy one here...

How to make a base, stand plus storage for your C&C Cage

There are  several reasons a stand is useful:

  • The piggies feel safer, especially if you have other pets
  • It is much easier to clean at a higher level
  • You can store all your piggy supplies underneath

In our video below, we show you how you can add a base and a stand which also acts as storage for all your guinea pig supplies. Our video shows a 2x4 cage but the same method works for any sized cage.

C&C cage liners

Once you've made your C&C cage, you'll need to add some bedding.

Many C&C guinea pig cages are lined with fleece liners and you can buy them ready made to the exact size you need in many different designs and colours. Here are some of our favourites:

If you prefer a more traditional bedding, you could use kiln dried wood shavings, mixed aspen and paper bedding for excellent softness and absorbency or another type of wood or paper based bedding.

Do I need a top for the C&C cage?

Most C&C cages don't have tops. This is really good as it allows for plenty of interaction with your guinea pigs than with a traditional cage which will usually have a built in lid.

However if you have other pets you'll need to make a top to keep them safe.

C&C cages and baby guinea pigs

If you are planning on adopting baby guinea pigs or you have a pregnant guinea pig you need to be very careful to ensure they can't get their heads stuck between the bars as baby guinea pigs are very small.

You could make your coroplast base with much higher sides to get around this problem until they are a bit older. Then, once your guinea pigs are a bit bigger you could cut the sides down a bit shorter.

How to stop your guinea pig chewing the coroplast

Sometimes guinea pigs will chew on the coroplast. To prevent them from doing this you can cut some pieces of fleece to put over the edges. This also helps brighten up the coroplast and can look really funky if you use different patterns and colours!

Alternatively you can get some slide binders to cover the tops of the coroplast.

Extra large C&C cages = happy guinea pigs!

Space is really important for guinea pigs. The more space you can offer them the happier they will be. 

You can build a much bigger cage with a C&C modular cage than those you'll find for sale in the pet shops. This also allows for you to have more guinea pigs which can be more work but great fun too!

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