Wire cage hurting guinea pig feet? Better options

Wire-bottomed cages are one of the most common causes of foot problems in guinea pigs — so the fact you've noticed this early is genuinely important. Repeated pressure on wire can lead to bumblefoot, a painful bacterial infection that's much harder to treat once it takes hold. Guinea pigs are also social animals that really need to be kept in pairs or groups, and space is the most underestimated part of their care — most cages sold for guinea pigs are far too small for two. You mentioned two Texel guinea pigs at six months old — are they currently showing any redness or swelling on their feet, or is it more that you're seeing them limp or avoid standing? And are you looking to replace the cage entirely, or just find a way to fix the floor situation in the one you have?

Good — catching it before there are open sores means you're in a much better position. Redness is an early warning and switching to a solid floor now should stop it progressing. For two active young boars, I'd go straight to the MidWest Guinea Habitat Plus. It's 47 inches long with a solid, leak-proof base and a soft, grippy floor liner included — no wire anywhere. That floor is genuinely the reason I keep recommending it: it's comfortable on feet, easy to clean, and big enough that two boars actually have room to set up their own territories, which matters a lot for keeping male pairs settled. It folds flat for storage and the panels can be expanded later if you ever add a third. It's well within the minimum 10.5 square feet recommended for two guinea pigs, and it's the cage I'd buy if I were in your position right now.

Yes — cover the wire floor with something soft and solid in the meantime. A few layers of fleece fabric works well, or even folded towels. The goal is just to stop their feet making direct contact with the wire. Keep it dry, because moisture on top of wire pressure is what accelerates bumblefoot. Check the red foot daily — if the skin breaks, or you see swelling, heat, or they stop putting weight on it, that needs a vet visit rather than a home fix. But if it's just surface redness and you're switching the cage within a few days, you're likely to resolve it without needing treatment.

Fleece liners are the best pairing with the MidWest habitat — they're reusable, soft underfoot, and ideal for Texels whose long coats can trap loose substrate. You'd wash them every few days. If you prefer disposable bedding, paper-based options like Carefresh or Fitch are the safest: dust-free, absorbent, and gentle on feet and respiratory systems. Avoid wood shavings, especially pine or cedar — the aromatic oils are a real irritant for guinea pigs. For two active boars, I'd suggest going with fleece and keeping a paper option for any litter corner areas where they concentrate their toileting. That way you get the comfort benefit of fleece without fighting constant wetness.

You're in a good spot. The redness caught early, a solid-floor cage on the way, and temporary padding in place — that's the right sequence. Texels are gorgeous but they do need a bit more coat maintenance than short-haired breeds, so once they're settled in the new space, keep an eye that bedding isn't matting into their fur around the hindquarters. Enjoy them — six months is a lovely age, they're just hitting their confident, characterful phase.