Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

How to Make Guinea Pigs Happy (8 Tips & Tricks)

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

close up of a guinea pig

Guinea pigs are incredible pets. They’re adorable, take up a little space, require minimal care, and don’t wreak havoc when you’re away. However, these pint-sized rodents can be quite antsy, especially since they don’t like being petted as much as cats or dogs.

This explains why most owners struggle with keeping their guinea pigs happy.

Fortunately, guinea pigs are far from being complicated. With just a bit of effort, you can keep your guinea pig happy and healthy. Read on to find out how.

Divider Guinea Pig

The 8 Tips to Make Guinea Pigs Happy

1. Feed It a Balanced Nutritious Diet

The quickest way to your guinea pig’s heart is through its stomach. Feeding it a balanced diet keeps it happy and healthy and helps avoid digestive issues that may compromise its life quality.

Providing a balanced diet is a breeze. All you have to do is have the following:
  • Clean, purified drinking water
  • Plenty of hay
  • Fresh vegetables and fruit (sparingly)
  • Guinea pig pellets

You can occasionally give it dried herbs and Timothy hay to switch up the diet and break the monotony. Create a proper meal plan and stick to it for the best results.

breakfast for guinea pig grain feed from a bowl
Image Credit: Pogodina Natalia, Shutterstock

2. Get Them Some Company

Contrary to popular thought, guinea pigs are social creatures that enjoy spending time with their owners and other guinea pigs. Adopting another guinea pig is an excellent way to keep your current one happy and boredom-free.

However, it’s not as simple as grabbing the first guinea pig you see at the store and taking it home. Finding the best companion is vital for your guinea pigs’ happiness. Here are two factors to consider when picking a companion for your guinea pigs: gender and age.

Gender

Pay attention to the gender of the guinea pig you plan to adopt. Guinea pigs are prolific creatures and reproduce quite rapidly. Unless you want a hoard of guinea pigs taking over your home, you best find a guinea pig of the same gender to keep your current company.

Age

Ideally, you want a guinea pig that’s younger than your current one. This is especially true if the one at home enjoys a solitary, lonesome life. A younger rodent is more malleable and will easily fall in line with the current one’s lifestyle. They’re also less territorial than older male guinea pigs.


3. Keep Its Cage Clean and Cozy

A clean, comfortable, and conducive living space is imperative to your rodent’s happiness. Remember, the cage is where your furry friend eats, sleeps, plays, and goes to the bathroom. And It’s your job to keep it as comfortable as possible.

You might want to do the following.
  • Create a cozy sleeping area with bath mats or fleece liners
  • Put a water bowl or dispenser in the cage (multiple if necessary)
  • Have one food bowl for dry pellets and another one for vegetables
  • Install wooden structures for playing
  • Provide toys and entertainment items

Doing the above will create a lovely setup for your piggies, but this is just part of the equation. You also have to clean the cage at least weekly to keep it in pristine condition. What’s more, guinea pig litter stinks and the odor could spread to the rest of your home. Cleaning the cage weekly prevents this unpleasant scenario.

Lining the cage with a fleece liner is also a good idea since it absorbs all the urine and is easier to clean. Lastly, keep the cage in a dry, silent place to give the piggies some peace and quiet.

guinea pig sitting in litter pan
Image Credit: Lost_in_the_Midwest, Shutterstock

4. Spend Time With the Fluff Balls

Spend time pampering and talking to your rodent to strengthen your bond. Most guinea pigs don’t like petting, so don’t pet them if they dislike it. Instead, you can try playing games like hide-and-seek, tug of war, and other fun games.

It’s normal for your piggy to be shy and reclusive for the first few days or weeks after adoption. You can try luring it in with delicious treats and they’ll eventually get used to you. Before you know it, you’ll be the best of friends.


5. Have Fun Outside

It’s hard for your guinea pig to get some sunlight and fresh air when you always have it cooped in its cage. Guinea pigs love the outdoors, and a little time outside will make them ecstatic. However, you need to be extra careful when doing so.

Guinea pigs might run away if let loose, and most of them won’t come back. Consider creating a spacious enclosure outside surrounded by chicken mesh on the sides and the top. This will allow your furry friend to enjoy the outdoors while keeping it safe from predators like birds and cats.

guinea pig inside toy tunnel
Image Credit: scigelova, Shutterstock

6. Give Them Physical and Mental Challenges

A bored guinea pig is an unhappy and destructive guinea pig. These fluffsters need both mental and physical stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. Boredom leads to restlessness, depression, and acting out.

Keeping your guinea pig mentally and physically stimulated is a breeze.

Here are a couple of pointers for doing so.
  • Hide fruit and vegetable pieces in the cage for them to forage
  • Add a maze into their cage
  • Crumble little paper balls for them to play with
  • Incorporate non-toxic wooden blocks for stackable challenges
  • Incorporate ramps and obstacle courses for improved playtime

Physical and mental challenges are especially good if you have more than one pet rodent. That way, they can play games like hide and seek or fight amongst themselves.


7. Occasionally Give Them a Spa Day

Even furry critters need some time off their foraging to relax and unwind. Give your guinea pig a spa day to lift its spirit and improve its health. Of course, it won’t involve a full facial makeover, pedicure, waxing, and microdermabrasion, but it’ll achieve the desired result.

Your spa day might include the following
  • Brushing with a soft brush to ensure a smooth coat and eliminate dead fur
  • Wiping its grease glands with guinea pig shampoo
  • Massage using your fingertips
  • Lots of treats

A bubble bath may not be such a good idea for your spa day. Guinea pigs hate water, and adding a bubble bath will ruin their spa day and stress them. Proper grooming with a soft brush will suffice.

guinea pig getting dried with a towel
Image By: Pogodina Natalia, Shutterstock

8. Regular Vet Check-Ups

Sometimes, the reason for your guinea pigs’ inactivity and droopiness is an underlying illness. Unfortunately, pet illnesses aren’t too apparent, and you might mistake signs of sickness for laziness or fatigue.

Schedule regular visits to the vet to ensure your guinea pig’s health is in tip-top shape. The vet will check for early signs of disease and address them before they get out of hand. That way, you can keep your fluffster healthy and happy.

Divider Guinea Pig

Final Thoughts

Keeping your guinea pig happy isn’t rocket science but requires some effort and commitment. Whatever you do, don’t forget to look out for signs such as fidgeting, lack of appetite, and weight loss. These could indicate disease, which, if not addressed, could lead to loss of life.

See Also:


Featured Image Credit: Miroslav Hlavko, Shutterstock

Related Articles

Further Reading

Vet Articles

Latest Vet Answers

The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database