Are Guinea Pigs Good Pets for Kids? Vet-Verified Facts & Info
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Parents are always trying to make the best life possible for their children. This means ensuring they are loved, well-fed, and have all their basic needs met. However, when it comes to children, pets are often another part of life. Little ones often ask for pets from an early age. The idea of growing up with a best friend is precious. It’s also a big responsibility. This leads parents to search for the right pet for their children.
Guinea pigs and their cuteness are pets many children request. But, are guinea pigs good pets for kids? The answer to that question is usually yes, assuming your children are taught about responsibility and how to properly handle their guinea pigs.Â
Guinea pigs are docile, loving pets which are great for kids. However, they do require a lot of time and attention. This means small children shouldn’t be left solely responsible for their care. If you’re a parent who plans on making the care of a guinea pig a family affair, then yes, they are an ideal pet for kids.
A Bit About Guinea Pigs
Before we discuss having a guinea pig as a pet, let’s learn more about these cuddly cuties. Guinea pigs, or cavies, were originally domesticated around 5000 B.C. Today, guinea pigs are widely distributed as pets, and all breeds and varieties of guinea pigs kept as pets are, in fact, the same domesticated species: Cavia porcellus. This species is not found anywhere in the wild.
When it comes to appearance, guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) can be born featuring a variety of colors and fur lengths. Male cavies are usually larger than females. These little creatures can grow to 8–10 inches in length and weigh between 0.5 – 2.6 pounds. However, guinea pigs raised specifically for their meat weigh considerably more.Â
The wild ancestors of the guinea pigs we bring into our homes originated in the Andes Mountains. Most prefer living in elevations of at least 14,000 feet. Both wild and domesticated guinea pigs are considered social animals. This could be part of the reason they make great pets. However, considering this, it’s always best to consider bringing two guinea pigs into your home so they can be sociable and avoid loneliness. It is important to note that in some countries, it is illegal to adopt just one guinea pig.
Why Guinea Pigs Make Great Pets for Kids
Now that you know a bit more about guinea pigs, let’s take a look at the reasons these adorable rodents make great pets for families with children. Of course, before bringing any pet into your home, you should make sure your children are old enough to understand the proper ways of handling and interacting with a pet. This is especially true for small pets like guinea pigs. It is much easier for these smaller pets to become injured from rough handling at the hands of little ones.
The Cost of Care
Perhaps the first thing to take into consideration when bringing a cavie into your home is the price of care for these pets. While a guinea pig needs proper food, a clean enclosure, toys, bedding, and access to fresh water, you’ll find that the cost of this care is often less than that of conventional pets like dogs and cats. When taken care of properly, guinea pigs require less food than larger pets. Not to mention, there are lots of veggies and fruits you can offer your guinea pig that could already be part of your family’s weekly groceries.
Require Less Room
Some families don’t live in large homes. Apartments and mobile homes have less space but are just as respected. For families that don’t have a lot of room, larger pets aren’t always an option. If you’re in one of these situations or simply don’t want to give up room in your home to a dog or cat, guinea pigs are great options. A guinea pig’s enclosure doesn’t take up a lot of room. When you and your children take your guinea pig or pigs out to play, they don’t need the entire house to roam around. If you aren’t comfortable with a guinea cruising through your home, one room is plenty of space for them to exercise and play.
Guinea Pigs Are Lovable Pets
Once a guinea pig is socialized, they are quite docile and can be very lovable. This is great for children. Guinea pigs will play and engage with their families once trust is established. However, if you have small children in your home or a child that is experiencing a pet for the first time, always provide adult supervision. Guinea pigs aren’t as shy as small pets like hamsters. This means your little ones will want to hold and interact with them a lot. Unfortunately, kids that aren’t taught how to properly interact with such a small pet can cause injuries. This is why adult supervision should always be utilized when it comes to spending time with or caring for the guinea pig.
Important Things to Consider When Bringing a Guinea Pig Into Your Home
Yes, guinea pigs make great pets for kids, but there are a few things you should consider before you bring one of these cute cavies into your home. Let’s take a look at those so you’ll be prepared for both sides of the coin.
Breeders & Pet Stores
Unfortunately, just like dogs and cats, guinea pigs can be raised by bad breeders and experience hardships at pet stores. If things are bad for the guinea pig, this can make them fearful of their new owners. It’s important to thoroughly research and investigate the people you are getting your guinea pig from. This will help ensure your guinea pig was treated right and you aren’t promoting situations that are bad for animals.
Socialization
Yes, it would be amazing to simply bring a pet home and they instantly fall in love with you and the kids. That’s not how it works, though. Guinea pigs are the same way. Cavies need time to get to know you. They need socialization. This means you’ll be spending a lot of time, in the beginning, earning your guinea pig’s trust. If your plan is for your guinea pig to be close to your kids, they must be involved in this. While this can be difficult for kids to understand, it’s a process that can’t be denied.
Proper Diet
One of the biggest concerns when it comes to guinea pigs is ensuring they are eating a proper diet. Hay, pellets, and a mix of veggies are important for your pet to be healthy. They can also have tasty fruit snacks from time to time. However, there are lots of foods out there that aren’t great for guinea pigs. If you bring one of these pets home, or hopefully two, learning what’s safe for them to eat is a must. This goes for the kids as well. Make sure you teach your children what they can feed your cavies. It’s also best if adults are always there during feeding or snack times.
Teeth & Bite Potential
While they are cute and cuddly, you can never forget that guinea pigs have sharp teeth and aren’t afraid to use them. This is especially true when they aren’t feeling secure in their environment. You should teach your children the signs that your guinea pigs aren’t wanting to be messed with. If your cavies hide away or chatter their teeth, it isn’t the right time for the kids to interact with them.
Final Thoughts
Overall, yes, guinea pigs are great pets for kids. However, adults need to be involved to teach and guide the young ones. No child is born with the ability to care for an animal alone. If you want your kids to become animal lovers and show kindness to pets in their life, it’s up to you to teach them how to do it. With very young kids, always ensure adult supervision is involved when they handle or care for the guinea pigs. If you do this, your cavies should become great pets and bond with your children.
Featured Image Credit: Lipatova Maryna, Shutterstock
