Despite how mild it is today, winter is approaching fast, the clocks have gone back, the leaves are falling off the trees and the nights are drawing in. I don’t mean to state the obvious but the change in season brings with it a temperature change and this has a knock on effect for our fury friends – Rabbits and Guinea Pigs.

Below is a list of things we at Purrfect Paws & Friends suggest you can do to keep your pets warm and safe this winter.

  1. Bring them inside. Pretty obvious right? But not everyone does it. If you are cold outside then they will be too. They will be much happier in the temperature you are happier in.
  2. Use a snuggle safe disk which looks like a frisbee and can be heated in a microwave in a few minutes and then gives heat to a rabbit or guinea pig for up to 8 hours. These can be bought from most pet shops.
  3. Put a small blanket in their cage. I have also used old t shirts and other clothing to make caves for them. Anything like this can help keep them warm and snug.
  4. Put lots of extra hay or straw in the cage which they can crawl under and hold their body heat in. We fill the sleeping area to the roof with hay in winter, if they are too warm they will climb on top of it and squash it down.
  5. Put a blanket or duvet over the cage during the night and then take half of it off during the day time. There are also very good hutch covers that can be purchased for a variety of budgets.
  6. Move the cage away from windows and any drafts. These can make them very uncomfortable.
  7. Make sure they have a mate to snuggle up to. They are naturally very good at keeping each other warm. If you only have one rabbit or guinea pig, consider getting another to keep it company, they are very socialable creatures afterall.
  8. If you are moving them to a shed or summer house for the winter, consider having a heater in the room to give them warmth. Do keep in mind electrical safety and that it doesn’t get too hot. Excessive heat can equally cause harm to your rabbit or guinea pig, it’s not just the cold you need to consider.

At Purrfect Paws & Friends we happily take boarders in any season. Our climate controlled accommodation ensures the best possible environment for your rabbit or guinea pig when they stay with us.