Secure guinea pig enclosure with cats at home

With cats that roam freely, your guinea pigs' enclosure isn't just about comfort — it's a safety-critical piece of kit. A curious or predatory cat can cause serious stress or injury even without getting inside, so you need something with a fully enclosed, lockable top. Guinea pigs are social animals and should always be kept in pairs or groups (which you're already doing with three, great), but space is the most underestimated factor — most cages marketed for guinea pigs are far too small for one, let alone three. Before I point you in the right direction: are your three guinea pigs adults or youngsters, are they currently housed indoors or outdoors, and is your main concern finding a new secure enclosure, or are you also thinking about enrichment and feeding setups?

That's a real and urgent problem — a cat sitting on a mesh lid puts direct weight and claw pressure right above the guinea pigs, and that alone causes chronic stress even if nothing worse happens. For three adult guinea pigs in a home with a determined cat, I'd recommend the Ferplast Cavie 80. It's a solid-base cage with a rigid, latched wire top that cats can't depress or pry open, and at 120 × 60 cm it gives your trio enough room to be comfortable. The wire spacing is narrow enough that paws can't hook through meaningfully, and the base is deep so there's no gap for a cat to reach down into. Can I ask — where in the house do you plan to put it? That'll help me think about whether you also need a cover or deterrent for the sides, since a very persistent cat sometimes needs an extra layer of discouragement.

Honestly, yes — proximity to a predator is inherently stressful for prey animals even with solid barriers, and a cat that's visually fixated and pawing at the bars is still triggering a stress response every time. The Cavie 80 removes the physical danger completely, which is the essential first step, but I'd also suggest positioning it somewhere the cat can't easily jump directly onto or press up against — a low shelf or sturdy stand with some clearance around it helps a lot. Adding hides inside the enclosure (a couple of wooden pigloo-style shelters) gives the guinea pigs somewhere to go when they feel watched, which genuinely reduces baseline stress. The combination of a secure rigid enclosure plus hides plus thoughtful placement makes a real difference. Would you like suggestions on the hides and a stand too, or is the enclosure the priority for now?

You're right to push on that. The Ferplast Cavie 80 is at the lower boundary of acceptable for three adults — it'll work, but it means enrichment and layout inside really matter, and daily floor time outside the cage becomes important rather than optional. If you have the space and budget, the Ferplast Cavie 120 (which is the same design scaled up to 160 × 60 cm) is the better choice for three guinea pigs and gives you genuine breathing room. Both have the same secure latched lid design that solves your cat problem. The 120 is the one I'd actually recommend for your situation if you can accommodate it.

That's the right call. The Cavie 120 gives your trio proper space and completely solves the lid problem — your cats won't be able to compress, unlatch, or claw through it. When it arrives, set it up with at least two hides so no one guinea pig can be cornered by the others, keep it positioned away from spots the cats use as launch pads, and you'll have a much calmer household all round. Good luck with the setup.