The Best Guinea Pig Toys That Will Keep Your Fluffy Friend Engaged: Ranked and Reviewed

Written by Judie Sigdel
Updated: December 28, 2022
© AnBoris/Shutterstock.com

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It is a common misconception among people who have never had a guinea pig as a pet, that they lack intelligence. If you’re lucky enough to be a guinea pig parent, you know that nothing could be further from the truth. Guinea pigs are intelligent, highly inquisitive animals. So, it’s a reasonable conclusion that they get bored sitting in their cage all day.

What can you do to alleviate your pet’s boredom?

  • Taking care of pets is not an easy task and that’s where toys come in. Having things that engage your pets and helps them enjoy play is good for both physical and mental health.
  • Your piggy may not play fetch like a dog or chase a piece of yarn like a cat, however, they enjoy the mental stimulation that toys provide as much as other animals do.
  • Guinea pig toys encourage natural behaviors like foraging and burrowing. These behaviors provide much-needed physical activity, which can help them to maintain a healthy weight and optimal body condition.

Our expert guinea pig keepers searched high and low to find the best toys for guinea pigs available. Then they reviewed and ranked them so you don’t have to spend hours shopping and spend money on substandard toys. Find what you need and enjoy watching your pet engage in play time!

  1. DOZZOPET Wooden Enrichment Foraging Toy for Small Pet
    • Made from quality beech wood
    • The puzzle simulates foraging
    • Very sturdy
    • No paint or varnish
    Check Amazon
  2. Bissap Timothy Hay Sticks
    • These chew sticks are made of 100% natural, organic Timothy hay.
    • They're high in fiber.
    • They encourage chewing and promote gastrointestinal health.
    • They're canned and sealed to keep the chew sticks dry.
    • 38 sticks per can
    Check Amazon
  3. Niteangel Wood House with Window, Chinchilla and Guinea Pigs Hut Hideout
    • Made from kiln-dried pine
    • Easy to clean
    • The roof can be used as a place to put a food tray
    • You can add bedding for a resting place
    Check Amazon
  4. Niteangel Guinea Pig Tubes & Tunnels
    • Made of sturdy, durable, quality canvas
    • Comes in a carrot-and-bunny print
    • Easy to clean
    • Completely foldable
    Check Amazon

#1 Best Overall: DOZZOPET Wooden Enrichment Foraging Toy

Our choice for the #1 Best Overall guinea pig toy is the DOZZOPET Wooden Enrichment Foraging Toy because keeps piggies physically and mentally agile. This pair of puzzles is beautifully crafted from quality beech wood. It’s safe for guinea pigs because unfinished wood is free from paint and varnish and has been sanded to smooth the edges. The puzzles are designed to simulate foraging by encouraging your pet to sniff out hidden treats.

Guinea pigs love to forage and as it turns out this puzzle provides the required stimulation. Just place treats in the holes and close the lids. You may want to leave the lids open a crack until your piggy figures out how to solve the puzzle. After they figure it out, they will be excited every time you put the puzzles in their cage.

Each puzzle measures 6 ¼” x 3 1/8” x ¾”, and you can use them individually or together. They’re small enough to fit in any guinea pig enclosure. And they’re sturdy enough to keep your pet engaged for the long term. Not to mention the hours of fun you are going to have watching your piggy forage and play.

Most reviews for this product were positive, but a few pet parents reported that their puzzles arrived broken or that they broke shortly after they were received.

Pros and Cons of the DOZZOPET Wooden Enrichment Foraging Toy

ProsCons
This pair of puzzles is crafted from guinea-pig safe, untreated beech wood.Some buyers reported that their puzzles were broken upon arrival or broke shortly after they were received.
They simulate foraging by encouraging guinea pigs to sniff out hidden treats.
Simply place treats in the holes and close the lids.
Each puzzle measures 6 ¼” x 3 1/8” x ¾”.
Best Overall
DOZZOPET Wooden Enrichment Foraging Toy for Small Pet
  • Made from quality beech wood
  • The puzzle simulates foraging
  • Very sturdy
  • No paint or varnish
Check Amazon

2. Best Chew Toys: Bissap Timothy Hay Sticks

Satisfy your guinea pig’s natural desire to chew with Bissap Timothy Hay Sticks. These delicious, nutritious chews are made from 100% natural, organic Timothy hay, so they’re high in fiber that promotes gastrointestinal health. Plus, unlike other chew toys, they’re completely edible and digestible.

Each can, which is sealed to keep the contents dry, includes 38 sticks.

We were only able to find two negative reviews for this product. One buyer said that her bunny didn’t like them. Another reported that the hay sticks were broken.

Pros and Cons of Bissap Timothy Hay Sticks

ProsCons
These chews are made from 100% natural, organic Timothy hay.One buyer reported that her rabbit didn’t like these chews.
They’re high in fiber and promote gastrointestinal health.A sole buyer said that they received broken hay sticks.
Each sealed can includes 38 sticks.
Best for Chewing
Bissap Timothy Hay Sticks
  • These chew sticks are made of 100% natural, organic Timothy hay.
  • They're high in fiber.
  • They encourage chewing and promote gastrointestinal health.
  • They're canned and sealed to keep the chew sticks dry.
  • 38 sticks per can
Check Amazon

3. Best Habitat: Niteangel Wood House with Window

Just like human children, guinea pigs love to play house, and the Niteangel Wood House with Window will let them do so to their heart’s content! Hideouts encourage small pets to rediscover their innate desire to hide. And if you have multiple guinea pigs, they can play “king of the hill” to determine who gets to sit on top of the house. You can even place it on an absorbent fleece blanket and “furnish” it with a comfy plush bed.

This beautifully crafted playhouse measures 11.7” x 9.3” x 6.9”. If it’s too large for your pet’s cage, they’ll enjoy using it when you bring them outside to play. It’s made from kiln-dried pine, which is safe for guinea pigs because the aromatic oil is destroyed during the drying process.

Our experience is that this hideout is easy to clean with a damp cloth. We recommend doing so every time you “deep clean” your pet’s cage, which should be at least once a week.

Reviews for this product were overwhelmingly positive, but a few buyers reported that their guinea pigs chewed it to bits. A handful of reviewers said that tiny nails secure the roof to the house, so they removed it from their guinea pigs’ cages so they wouldn’t swallow them while chewing.

Pros and Cons of the Niteangel Wood House with Window

ProsCons
This hideout provides a place for your guinea pigs to hide, and they’ll play on top of it as well.Guinea pigs may destroy it by chewing.
It measures 11.7” x 9.3” x 6.9” and is made from kiln-dried pine, which is safe for guinea pigs.The roof is secured to the house with tiny nails, so if your guinea pig is a chewer, this hideaway may not be a good option.
You can clean it with a damp cloth.
Best Wood Hideout
Niteangel Wood House with Window, Chinchilla and Guinea Pigs Hut Hideout
  • Made from kiln-dried pine
  • Easy to clean
  • The roof can be used as a place to put a food tray
  • You can add bedding for a resting place
Check Amazon

4. Best for Play: Niteangel Guinea Pig Tube

Guinea pigs love to play in tunnels like the Niteangel Guinea Pig Tube. As prey animals, it makes them feel safe and secure. This one by Niteangel is the best quality guinea pig tunnel our experts have seen. It’s made of sturdy, durable, quality canvas in a whimsical carrot-and-bunny print that you can spot clean with a damp cloth.

At 9.61” x 9.53” x 2.32”, it’s probably too big for most cages. You can even stretch it to 19.7” long! But it’s the perfect size to play on the family room floor with your pet.

You can attach a tent or bed (sold separately) to further encourage your guinea pig’s natural inclination to tunnel and hide. And it’s foldable, so you can store it when your pets aren’t using it. It features Velcro tabs to secure the tunnel when it’s closed.

The only negative reviews we could find were from buyers who said that their rabbits became fixated on the Velcro tabs and chewed them incessantly.

Pros and Cons of the Niteangel Guinea Pig Tube

ProsCons
This tunnel is made of sturdy, durable, quality canvas.The only negative reviews came from buyers who had rabbits that chewed the Velcro tabs.
It features a cute carrot-and-bunny print and you can spot clean it with a damp cloth.
It measures 9.61” x 9.53” x 2.32” and can stretch to 19.7″ long.
You can attach a tent or bed (sold separately).
You can fold this tunnel and secure it closed with its Velcro tabs.
Best Tunnel
Niteangel Guinea Pig Tubes & Tunnels
  • Made of sturdy, durable, quality canvas
  • Comes in a carrot-and-bunny print
  • Easy to clean
  • Completely foldable
Check Amazon

What to Look For While Choosing the Perfect Toy for Your Little Pal

When you are trying to find the best guinea pig toy, you need to consider three factors: type, material, and price.

Type

There are four main types of guinea pig toys:

  • Puzzles — Encourage pets to forage for hidden treats
  • Chew toys — Promote chewing, which is an essential behavior for guinea pigs since their teeth grow continuously.
  • Hideouts — Make guinea pigs feel secure. Guinea pigs also enjoy resting on top of hideouts with flat roofs.
  • Tunnels — Encourage little piggies to burrow, a natural instinct that keeps them safe from predators.

Material

Some guinea pig toys are not intended to be durable. Chew toys, for example, are designed to be chewed on until they’re frayed or soiled, then discarded. These are made of hay, untreated wood, bamboo, or other fibrous plants.

Others are meant to be long-lasting and durable, such as puzzles, hideouts, and tunnels. Depending on the toy, these can be made of plastic, wood, or fabric.  When buying toys, we encourage you to purchase natural materials that mimic nature as much as possible since they’re usually good for your pet’s health and the environment.

Price

Chew toys tend to be very inexpensive because they’re essentially disposable. Depending on the material, they can cost $1.00 or less per piece.

Puzzles, hideouts, and tunnels are more expensive because they’re constructed from higher-quality, more durable material, and they’re made to last. You can buy a good-quality hideout for under $30. Puzzles and tunnels can be purchased for under $20.

The Different Types of Guinea Pig Toys: Pros and Cons Compared

Guinea pig toys are available in four main types. Each has distinct pros and cons.

Puzzles

Behavior Encouraged?ProsCons
Foraging, which fosters curiosity and alleviates boredomThey’re usually made from durable materials like wood or plastic.They’re more expensive than chew toys.
Depending on the material, your pet may destroy them by chewing on them over time.

Chew Toys

Behavior Encouraged?ProsCons
Chewing, which is vital for piggies’ dental healthThey’re inexpensive.Piggies can destroy them quickly by gnawing on them.
You can discarded them when they get soiled or frayed.They get soiled being on the bottom of the cage.

Hideouts

Behavior Encouraged?ProsCons
Hiding, which makes these prey animals feel securePiggies can also play on the roof of flat-topped versions.Piggies may destroy them by chewing on them.
Fabric hideouts may get soiled quickly.
Piggies can knock over plastic hideouts.

Tunnels

Behavior Encouraged?ProsCons
Burrowing, which keeps piggies safe from predatorsYou can attach a tent or bed to the tunnel so your pet feels even more secure.Fabric tunnels may get frayed or soiled.  
Piggies may chew on Velcro or other fixtures.

Our Criteria for Choosing the Best Guinea Pig Toys

While choosing the best guinea pig toys, we researched a lot of products and selected those that met certain criteria. When it comes to your pet, we have set standards to ensure that you get the best available products, such as quality of material and make, meeting your pet’s needs, and value for money. Here are what we feel about each criteria:

  • Quality: First, we considered the materials that were used to create the products. Most toys that you can buy for a guinea pig have a high probability of ending up being chewed, which is why natural materials are preferable to plastic. Although some of these toys are disposable, they should be well made for safety reasons.
  • Meeting your pet’s needs: Its no secret that guinea pigs have an inherent need to chew, hide, forage and play. All the toys that we have considered had to fulfil those needs along with providing enough distraction to keep your pet entertained and active.
  • Value for money: Although these toys are not very expensive, we still had to make sure that you don’t burn a hole in your pockets, since some toys, such as chew toys, need to be replaced on a regular basis.

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About the Author

My passion is writing about animals. I’ve published articles on pet parrots, birds, and small animal care and reviews about pet food and products. I have an ever-evolving aviary and menagerie that has included cockatiels, parakeets, conures, European starlings, a chukar partridge, guinea pigs, dogs, and cats. I’m also the author of Faith without Labels: a Guide to Eclectic Spirituality.

The Best Guinea Pig Toys That Will Keep Your Fluffy Friend Engaged: Ranked and Reviewed FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Do guinea pigs really need toys?

Yes! Toys help to alleviate boredom by encouraging natural behaviors like chewing, foraging, hiding, and burrowing.

Are plastic exercise balls or exercise wheels good toys for guinea pigs?

No. Cartoons often show guinea pigs in clear plastic balls or exercise wheels. In reality, they should never be placed in either device. Their long, delicate spines simply aren’t meant to arch into a U shape. So, using either toy could cause them serious injury or even death.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.