When I started hearing reports that temperatures were about to plummet to sub-zero levels, I knew that it was time to bring our guinea pig Fluffy inside.
He’s been outside since the summer and in the garage most of the winter.
He’s mostly done just fine. But his water bottle was freezing within a couple hours as temperatures dropped in early January. I’d replace it morning and night, but I was worrying that he wasn’t getting enough fluids.
Worse though were the pads on his feet, which started to get red and raw.
So I brought him into the house. He’s been here for a couple weeks and I’ve been cleaning his cage more than usual, trying to keep my husband’s allergies to him in check.
He’s also been getting all sorts of extra attention from Future Farmgirl. Until we brought him back inside, I’ve been the one on cuddle duty, giving him the attention he needs (and checking to be sure he’s healthy).
When it’s warmer…in the 30s and 40s…my daughter will join me in the garage and we’ll play with him while he runs around in her old kiddie pool.
But this cold is too much for her…and him. Yet, I’m prepping to send him back out to his hutch in a couple days.
This time though, he’ll have a couple more features for his two-story critter condo: a heated resting spot, a heated water bottle and a special outlet that turns both devices on when the temperatures drop too low and off when it warms up outside.
I got the pad and the bottle last night, but am still waiting for the Thermo Cube to hook them all up. I’d worried that the resting pad wouldn’t really be chew proof. But it looks pretty hearty.
I’ll set it in Fluffy’s cage before I plug it in, to see whether he tears it up. It’ll be interesting to see how he reacts to a heated apartment.
Virtual Farmgirl 