Home / Inspiration / Guinea Pig Circus

Guinea Pig Circus – enrichment with hay wagon, tent, snack ball & shopping list

Create a fun Guinea Pig Circus corner with a hay wagon, tent, treat ball, tunnels, and a soft resting spot. Includes assembly tips, maintenance, and a shopping list. Specialist since 2011.

Cavia Circus – a cheerful, practical enrichment corner with a shopping list

Guinea pig with Circus hay wagon Want to make your guinea pig's habitat a little more fun and active, without making it complicated? The Guinea Pig Circus is a themed area that revolves around what guinea pigs naturally enjoy: nibbling, searching, hiding, and exploring . It combines a hay corner (great for a long time), a few "stations" to walk through, and a soft resting area. At the bottom of this inspiration page, you'll find matching products so you can shop right away to find the perfect fit for your group and your space.

Quick to:

What is Cavia Circus? · Circus Items Explained · 10-Minute Setup · Maintenance & Hygiene · Safety · FAQ · Shop & Links

✔ For guinea pigs (groups)
Great for guinea pigs who love to roam, nibble, and find some shelter. Ideal as a "corner" in a run or spacious enclosure.

✔ Playful and practical
You make the stay more interesting, while also working smartly with a fixed hay corner and clear "stations".

✔ Shop directly
Below you'll find the products from this theme. Mix & match: choose just the basics or expand with extras.

What is Cavia Circus?

The Guinea Pig Circus is a themed design where you divide the enclosure into small, recognizable zones: a hay and nibble area , a passage/tunnel zone , a snack/foraging area , and a resting area . This way, guinea pigs get small daily stimuli to move and explore. And you keep things organized.

Want to get the basics in order first (space, bedding, hay corner, houses)? Then start with: Basic Guinea Pig Setup .

The circus items explained

1) Hay Wagon = the “main attraction”

Circus Haywain 23 cm
Fill it with tasty hay and preferably place it in a fixed spot. Guinea pigs often visit it several times a day: this provides peace (a regular routine) and activity (pulling, nibbling, searching).

2) Tent = shelter with a “stage feeling”

Circus Tent 25 cm
Place the tent against a wall or in a corner, ensuring there's always a clear route around the outside. Shelters with a clear entrance and exit are often more readily accepted.

3) Tilting tunnel = run, crawl, turn around

Cannonball tilting tunnel 22 cm
Place the tunnel securely on the ground. This is typical guinea pig practice: go through, look around, and then back again. It's a great addition to a hiding place or haystack.

4) Snack Ball = Foraging Without the Hassle

HayPigs Circus Snack Ball 8 cm
Fill it with a small amount of daily kibble or a few suitable mini-snacks and let it roll. Perfect for a short "searching moment."

5) Veggie dumbbell = snack time + activity

HayPigs Guinea Pig Veggie Halter 22 cm
A fun item to place along the route or near the hay corner: guinea pigs love to "do something" that is immediately rewarding.

6) Soft resting place

Piggy Crash Fleece Mat 35 cm
Handy as a permanent resting zone. Preferably place it in a dry spot (not directly under the haystack) and create a walking path around it so the mat doesn't block the entire passage.

7) Themed feeding bowl

Guinea Pig Circus feeding bowl
Great as a fixed spot for treats or (very small portions of) extras. Tip: For a group, it's best to have multiple feeding stations to reduce crowding.

8) Cardboard playhouses = demolition is allowed (and that's exactly the intention)

HayPigs Cardboard Play House 33 cm · Cardboard Play House Junior 30 cm
Cardboard is ideal for guinea pigs who love to nibble and "rebuild." Replace it when it gets wet, soft, or frays too much.

Assembles in 10 minutes

Clear one corner (so that there is enough walking space).
Place the hay wagon as a permanent hay corner (preferably in a place that is easily accessible).
Place the tent as a shelter next to or diagonally opposite the hay corner.
Place the tunnel as a “route” between the hay corner and the resting place.
Finish with a snack ball/dumbbell and the fleece mat as a rest zone.

Quick checklist

✔ Fixed hay corner (hay wagon)
✔ At least 1–2 hiding places in the zone
✔ Route item (tunnel) for movement
✔ Short foraging stimulus (snack ball)
✔ Dry, soft resting place (fleece mat)

Maintenance & hygiene

A themed area remains enjoyable as long as it remains fresh and comfortable. Guinea pigs often have fixed habits (eating, resting, toileting areas). By placing the hay area logically and replacing wet areas promptly, the habitat remains more pleasant for both humans and animals.

Practical maintenance tips

Hay wagon: refill daily, empty and remove regularly.
Fleece: keep dry and wash according to the label (handy if you can alternate 2 pieces).
Cardboard: Replace when wet, limp, or severely frayed.
Snack ball/dumbbell: take it off briefly; use small portions to prevent it from becoming sticky.

Safety

Safety checks

✔ Place items low and stable (guinea pigs are not climbers like rats).
✔ Check weekly for wear , sharp edges and loose parts.
✔ Cardboard is meant to be demolished: replace it when it becomes wet or soft.
✔ Keep passageways wide: guinea pigs must be able to turn easily.
✔ When in a group, be aware of “crowding”: it is better to create several feeding/resting places .

FAQ – frequently asked questions

Is Cavia Circus suitable for every guinea pig?
Basically, yes: as long as you place the items low and stable, and leave plenty of room to move around. Quiet hiding places are especially helpful for skittish animals.

What can fit in the snack ball?
A small amount of daily kibble or a few suitable mini-snacks. This provides a short foraging incentive without becoming "too much extra."

My guinea pig destroys cardboard very quickly... is that bad?
No, that's actually normal behavior. Replace the cardboard when it gets wet, weak, or frays significantly.

Can I combine this with my current interior?
Absolutely. Think of this as a corner you can change. Want to make structural improvements (hay corner, bedding, houses)? Then also cover the basics with Basic Guinea Pig Design .