These Guinea Pigs Will Make You Want to Adopt One ASAP (2024)

FAQs

Why you should adopt a guinea pig? ›

Guinea pigs have a lot of appealing qualities: They're small, gentle and personable, just to name a few. Like all companion animals though, they require special care and attention.

Guinea Pigs Should Always Be Adopted as a Pair

It isn't healthy for them to be alone—they need a companion of their own species they can “talk,” play, and cuddle with. Companionship is so vital to their well-being that Switzerland has made it illegal to keep only one.

Companionship. Guinea pigs rely on social interaction to thrive. They will often groom each other, play, keep each other company – all of which will help them feel happy, safe, and secure in their home with you. As a minimum, Caroline recommends having a pair of guinea pigs to enable them to do all of these things.

Guinea pigs are gentle and relatively quiet animals, so if you're looking for a pet that won't be too loud or disruptive, they are an excellent choice. Unlike some other pets, guinea pigs will not disturb your neighbors.

95% of Guinea Pigs don't do very well on their own once they have previously bonded with another guinea pig and need to have at least one friend. Imagine how lonely you would be if you spent all your life with no one to talk to and interact with. We recommend getting a partner for your single Piggie.

Male guinea pigs MUST be separated from mom and female littermates by 3 weeks, or they WILL impregnate them. Females are often left with mom longer, but it's not a necessity. There really is no best age. They make great pets at any age.

If you're wondering whether you can bestow your piggy with smooches, then know that guinea pigs are typically happy to be kissed if they've formed a trusting bond with you. However, if your guinea pig is new to your home or appears particularly nervous, then it's best to wait a while until they feel more comfortable.

Generally speaking, guinea pigs are considered “elderly” when they reach the age of five, However, this can vary, and signs of illness and aging can start to appear from their third year onwards. These symptoms might include: Weight loss. Reduced activity levels.

Guinea pigs are social animals and enjoy human interaction, including petting, stroking and playing. However, it's important you learn how to handle your guinea pig correctly to avoid any injuries. It's not uncommon for guinea pigs to be skittish around their owners.

Guinea Pigs Are A Bit Messy: As mentioned, urinary accidents can happen with guinea pigs. They “go” a lot. Fecal pellets might drop every few minutes and peeing is also frequent. This means that the cage bedding and litter box need spot cleanups several times a day.

Is it OK to have 3 guinea pigs together? ›

The minimum size for a group of guinea pigs is two. However, there are good reasons why should consider acquiring three or more at the same time and keeping them together: Several guinea pigs will stimulate each other and encourage active behaviour.

Guinea pigs are social animals and crave the company of other pigs. Communicating through vocalizations and touch, they will coo and cuddle each other just like people chat about their day and hug each other.

Both have similar temperaments although males often have a bolder personality, making them easier to handle. It can often be easier to find a suitable companion for a female guinea pig though as they tend to be more amenable with their guinea pig friends.

The oldest guinea pig was Snowball from England. The adorable floof made it almost to 15 years - 14 years and 10 months, to be exact. What an incredible age for a pig! Snowball is recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records, though there are probably lots of guinea pigs out there trying to break her record.

The initial cost of owning a guinea pig can vary greatly, depending on whether you adopt from a shelter or purchase from a breeder. Adoption fees typically range from $10-$50, while purebred or show-quality guinea pigs can cost up to $100.

Guinea pigs are great first pets for children. They are not as fragile as a rabbit and generally less skittish than hamsters. Guinea pigs can be an excellent way to teach kids the responsibilities of pet care while enjoying the company of these furry little creatures.

The guinea pig is also widely used to provide tissues and organs for research. Guinea pig blood components are widely used, and isolated organ preparations such as guinea pig lung and intestine are extensively used in research to develop new medicines.

The ideas of how guinea pigs can help are endless and can be adapted depending on what type of emotional support is needed. From short-term to long-term, the piggies do what they do very well, which is helping each 'mommy' or 'daddy' to function with responsibility, compassion, and understanding.