Do Guinea Pigs Make Good Pets? What You Should Know!
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Guinea pigs are super sweet, sturdy, and gentle domesticated rodents and are among the most popular small pets.
They have many qualities that make them great pets, but they are not a good pick for everyone. So, if you’re considering adding a piggy to your herd, you must first familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of these cute little critters. Keep reading to discover why guinea pigs make great pets and why they’re not necessarily great pets for every family.
The 7 Reasons Guinea Pigs Make Great Pets
1. Their Diet Is Simple
Because guinea pigs are herbivores, finding the ingredients they need to get a healthy and well-balanced diet is simple. Though most of their diet comprises high-quality hay, they’ll also need fresh fruit and vegetables every day.
In addition, you’ll also need to choose a commercial guinea pig pellet to further supplement their diet. Just make sure you’ve selected a pellet designed specifically for guinea pigs, as it should contain all the vitamin C your piggies need to thrive.
2. You Can DIY Their Habitat to Suit Your Needs
Most guinea pig owners don’t buy their pet’s cages from pet stores, instead opting to make their own.
C&C cages are among the most popular habitat types for guinea pigs. They’re made of grids that you can use as building blocks to suit your needs. They’re super easy to customize and fit into your space, not to mention they’re easy to add on to if you decide to add more piggies to your herd. You can even create a double-decker C&C cage to add more vertical space to your pet’s habitat.
3. They’re Entertaining and Sweet Companions
Guinea pigs are fun, cuddly, and vocal little critters. They can form strong bonds with one another and their owners. Like any other animal, each guinea pig has a unique personality, so the more time you spend with your pet, the more you’ll get to know and understand each individual.
One of the most adorable things guinea pigs do is a behavior known as “popcorning.” This is commonly seen in younger piggies when they get happy or excited. They’ll start jumping straight into the air repeatedly like popcorn kernels popping. This behavior is unique to guinea pigs, so it’s quite fun to see.
4. They’re Cute
There are many guinea pig breeds, each being as adorable as the next. Some are known for their wild cowlick hairdos (Abyssinians), while others are easy to recognize thanks to their long, curly coats. Some breeds, such as the Teddy, have short, rough, springy coats that stand up on end, and others have no hair at all.
Guinea pigs also come in many colors and patterns like brindle (black and red coloring), Himalayan (white with colored points), and tortoiseshell.
5. They’re Relatively Low Maintenance
Guinea pigs are fairly low maintenance. They’ll need their nails trimmed occasionally, and long-haired varieties should get their coats brushed regularly to prevent matting. You’ll have to sweep their enclosures daily to remove poops, but it’s not as big of a job as you might initially think.
Their nutrition requirements are easy to meet. Provide plenty of hay, constant access to water, fresh veggies once a day, and a vitamin C supplement (if the pellets don’t meet their needs).
6. They’re Great for Kids
Guinea pigs are great first-time pets for children because they’re not nearly as fragile as some of their other small pet counterparts (we’re looking at you, rabbits). In addition, they’re not as skittish as other critters, so they’re great for getting your kids used to interacting with animals.
Their low-maintenance care requirements are great for teaching kids responsibilities. But of course, you shouldn’t buy your child a guinea pig and expect them to do all the care. Instead, you’ll need to step in to make sure things are getting done properly and that they’re being handled with respect.
7. They Have a Long Life Span
Guinea pigs that are properly fed and cared for can live between four and six years, with some reaching eight years or older. Compared to the 12-to-18-month lifespan of hamsters, the two-year average for mice, or the two-to-three-year lifespan of rats, guinea pigs live a fairly long life for a rodent.
The 5 Reasons Guinea Pigs Aren’t for Everyone
1. They’re Messy
Guinea pigs may be small, but they’re very messy critters. They spend much time chewing things in their habitat to wear down their constantly growing teeth. The adorable hot pink plastic hide you bought for them will be chewed up in weeks.
Most guinea pigs can’t be trained to pee and poop in a litter box, so their waste will be all over their enclosure. Oh, and don’t let their small size fool you; a normal piggy produces up to 100 poops daily. So, you’ll need to spot-clean the habitat several times a day to keep up with the poo mountains that will undoubtedly accumulate.
2. They Require a Lot of Laundry
Most guinea pig owners opt to use bath mats or fleece fabric in their habitats. These materials are highly durable, soft, and relatively easy to change, especially compared to paper bedding and wood shavings. In addition, they are great for absorbing urine, ensuring your piggy doesn’t walk around its cage with wet feet and develop health issues from sitting in puddles of its own elimination. They’re also dust-free, perfect for guinea pigs’ sensitive respiratory systems.
The downside to using such materials is that they must be put through your washing machine at least once a week, preferably more. Hay and fur will stick to fleece and bath mats, so they must be brushed off before you put it through the laundry. Unfortunately, even if you brush the materials thoroughly, some hay and fur will stick and make their way into your washer.
My family and I had guinea pigs for several years and bought a second-hand washing machine specifically for our guinea pig bedding. But, unfortunately, washing their dirty fleece in the same washing machine I washed our clothes in wasn’t ideal.
3. They Can Trigger Allergies
As with any other animal, humans can be allergic to guinea pigs. Like cats and dogs, guinea pigs produce dander—tiny flakes of skin that furry or feathery animals shed. These microscopic pieces can cause an allergic reaction when people come into contact with them.
The proteins in your piggy’s urine and saliva can also trigger allergies. You’ll know if you’re allergic to your piggy if you exhibit some of the following tell-tale allergy signs:
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Itchy eyes
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Hives or rash
- Swollen face
4. They Need a Lot of Space
Guinea pigs may be small, but their habitats must be very large to keep them happy and thriving. Unfortunately, most pet store cages marketed towards guinea pigs are far too small to house these critters.
While some small animal cages use vertical space to boost the living area size, guinea pigs don’t jump or climb, so they need much more room horizontally. According to the Humane Society, 30″ x 50″ should be the minimum size for two guinea pigs. That said, the larger the enclosure is, the more enrichment your piggies will have.
5. They Should Be Kept in Pairs
Guinea pigs are highly social herd animals that should always be kept in pairs. They’re happiest and more likely to thrive when in pairs or groups to keep them from getting lonely and depressed. So, if you want to add a guinea pig to your family, you must add at least two to your herd.
Related Article:
- What Do Guinea Pigs Eat as Pets? Vet-Approved Feeding Guide
- Do Guinea Pigs Shed? How Much & How Often
- Where to Buy Guinea Pigs: 4 Options
Final Thoughts
Guinea pigs can make great pets in the right household. But, as with any animal, you’ll need to consider your lifestyle and the pros and cons of guinea pig ownership before you add these adorable critters to your herd. They can be highly rewarding for children and adults alike, but their specialized care level requires you to research before you welcome one (or two or more) home.
See Also:
- Why Do Guinea Pigs Popcorn? 5 Reasons for the Jumping Behavior
- How to Introduce Guinea Pigs: 6 Effective & Safe Methods
- Can Guinea Pigs Get Fleas? Vet Approved Treatment & Prevention
Featured Image Credit: Jaroslaw Slodkiewicz, Unsplash
