Tell me anything good about guinea pigs please!

[PenguindreamsofDraco]

I don't want guinea pigs. I want a cat (or several). I've had cats all my life, I adore them.

BUT my husband is absolutely adamant that we're not getting any more. And my 7yo needs a pet, so here we are "compromising" on a pair of guinea pigs.

Have I got anything to look forward to here? Will they recognise us? Will they have different personalities? Are they cuddle-able? Is there anything interesting about a guinea pig?

Thank you!

[Floralnomad]

Presumably you will be keeping them indoors , they are lovely animals with distinct personalities who chatter away to you . That said I think rats make better pets for children as they are people pleasers who love human interaction.

[BiscuitMachine]

They are lovely! I was reluctant, but my children wanted something small and furry so they wore me down. I don’t regret it, they are sweet, have different personalities and make lovely noises. Veg never goes to waste in this house now, they eat all the carrot tops, broccoli stalks etc that we don’t. They do poo a lot though...

[Guest6565]

Eeeee cat all the way. And ive had guineas most my life.
Guinea pigs are nervous creatures, I just wouldn't with young children myself but a lot of people see them as the perfect pet.

They can be cuddly. My mum still keeps a few and swears they have their own personalities.

They need a LARGE cage, preferably their own run, I've seen people section off a corner in their homes for them etc - pets at homes cages are NOT adequate for two, so consider where they are going to be in the house.

[Dillydallyontheway]

They make amazing pets. Such sweet, happy things. Can be nervous and skittish but with time and patience they can learn to love cuddles etc. Individual personalities and adorable chatty noises. They definitely recognise different people (and the sound of the fridge door). They can also learn their name and a few simple commands. Keep them indoors if you can - better for the pig skin and you get to know their personalities much better. Get as big a cage as you can so they can run and jump. C&C cages are perfect

[PenguindreamsofDraco]

I don't know - I thought they'd have a caged run outside for the daytime and then a smaller cage to bring them in at night since we have urban foxes in the next door garden. Would that not work?

Can't be doing with a rat, a friend has got two and they are just too wriggly, they feel like those water-filled jelly sausage things that squick me out. Guinea pigs have fur of sorts don't they?

And yes, cats all the way but I am told sometimes you have to compromise in marriage (whhhyyyy?) so in the meantime I just have to remind myself he's 8 years older than me

[BrieAndChilli]

We’ve just got guinea pigs after being worn down.
I don’t like little animals so was a bit reluctant but I’ve warmed to them surprisingly quickly!

They make funny little noises to communicate with you, will sit on your lap for cuddles etc.

[SporkInTheToaster]

They very rarely bite
They make happy, chirping noises
They ‘popcorn’ (sort of spontaneously fling themselves in the air) when they’re happy
They don’t scuttle about, so easy to cuddle
They are nice and solid and calm to cuddle
They recognise voices and respond to people they recognise (and favourite food!)

All of that slow calmness and sweet placid nature makes them very vulnerable though, so they need TLC.

My advice to get the best out of them is to have them in a big cage in the house, in a room you or the children use regularly. Bigger than you think. Nothing you can buy in pets at home or is big enough. They will get used to the noises and smells of home and you will all socialise and interact with them daily, if not for a full on cuddle/play session.

When they are outside and the weather is cold/rainy/crap, it is much easier to skip a day once the novelty wears off. Then they become de-socialised and will be very nervous around humans again.

Enjoy them, they are lovely, lovely additions to the family.

[Enb76]

I love my guinea pigs - I would have preferred a dog but can't due to full time job. Mine live outdoors all year round and are basically free range in a large secure garden . I never need to mow. They're not exactly cuddly but they are very sweet and do have different personalities. They greet me squeaking when I come home but I don't kid myself that it is out of any love for me, they see me as a food dispenser. If you sit down in the garden they will come and investigate, they are very curious - mostly to see if you might be food related. One is very brave and will come and sit on a lap but in general they are fairly skittish creatures.

I don't think I'll get any more when these kick the bucket, I would still rather have a dog.

[PenguindreamsofDraco]

custardy, that is a long and painful discussion for another day! Every argument that can be run has been run, but it comes down to, he doesn't want one. And much like whether to have children, the one who says no gets the veto

I am honestly a bit heartbroken but it really was proving to be a marriage breaker. Someone had to take a step back.

So, enter pigs (for now).

[BertieBotts]

I love cats but I have a soft spot for guinea pigs too.

I think they are great.

You can defo have them in a hutch if you let them out to have a good run once or twice a day - in the garden if it's nice (they do need a barrier or they'll escape, like a rabbit run works fine) or we used to let them on an old piece of rug indoors if it was raining. Sometimes we'd even let them have the run of the living room, but you have to keep an eye on them as they will wee on the floor. However their poos are little hard pellets and can easily be hoovered or swept up. DSis and I used to make them little elaborate mazes out of cardboard crates you get from the supermarket, which was wildly entertaining. Another thing we liked to do was create a "human run" which is where we'd sit with legs in a V shape touching feet to make a diamond/triangle/star (depends on number of people), guineas in the middle and you just use your hand as a barrier if they try to climb over a leg.

They will keep your lawn nice and neat without needing to mow it - just beware of any poisonous plants and don't put the edges too close because they will eat anything, they are nothing if not curious.

You can save your vegetable clippings for them, carrot peel, top of celery, etc. They love these and they get so excited and chirpy when you open the fridge, it's very cute. You may find yourself collecting dandelion leaves and groundsel when you're out on walks because it looks particularly tasty They do need fresh food every day alongside their dry food.

Their little movements are hilarious and very cute. Popcorning as mentioned. When they sit on your lap they will sometimes burrow into your arms/legs and push up with their noses, which I always liked. If you handle them a lot they will be happy to be cuddled. Not quite like a cat or dog, but much nicer than rats (IMO). They can be very chatty and the variety in their noises is delightful. Fur varies - there are different fur styles and some are more fluffy than others. Long haired varieties might need brushing with one of those soft baby hairbrushes. I quite like the ones with wiry, fuzzy hair.

They don't smell at all if you clean their cages once a week. If you want an even easier time to clean out then line their cages with old towels and a top layer of fleece, with hay or straw as bedding for them to burrow in. You can just shake off the poos into the garden and throw the towel/fleece into the wash (no fabric softener) and replace/rotate it.

Do make sure you buy proper guinea food, preferably all one type of pellet, rather than the "museli" type because they are picky and they will pick out the bits that they like which can leave them vitamin deficient.

You will need to clip their nails. If you have light coloured guineas this is much easier to see and you've less chance of accidentally nicking them on a nerve which will upset them. Dark colours are harder to judge. If you feel really nervous about this, a vet can do it for you at their check ups. Or ask the vet to show you the first few times.

[BertieBotts]

Keeping indoors at night is imperative not only for fox protection but also for cold - they can get hypothermia in our winters.

[Doidontimmm]

I couldn’t stand the smell, cleaned once a week with daily top ups and still smelled!

[Toottootcar]

I don’t think you should get them as you don’t really want them. If you compare them to a cat you’ll be disappointed. If you compare them to hamsters you’ll be pleased. They require work and space and money.

[PenguindreamsofDraco]

Toottoot, no I don't want them, but I will be a good and responsible pet owner anyway. I think kids benefit from growing up with pets, and my 7yo will love them.

And in the meantime I shall fantasise about burying my husband under the GP run and getting a couple of cats go and buy a book about them and work out where to put them.

Thank you all.

[Bubblysqueak]

I've kept piggies for the last 12 years and currently have 4 . 2 adult males and to baby males. They make amazing pets. They 'talk' to you, greet you in the morning (especially if you have treats) . Mine headbutt both me and the dog when they want attention. They are definitely the boss in this house.

[blondeemily]

If you are going to get guinea pigs, the more time you spend with them, the more rewarding they will be as pets. They are lovely little animals with far more personality than rabbits in my opinion. Ours are kept indoors and we have found they are far happier this way as they seem to come alive when we are around paying them attention. They are very nervous to begin with, but persevere as with time and patience they become very fun and loving.

[Merrz]

I love Guinea Pigs, pretty much had them my whole life as an adult and a child. They really do have their own little personalities and with enough input and dedication can be really rewarding pets.
But personally i don't think they make the best kid's pets, they are quite nervous and skittish and will become much more friendly and handleable in a gentle and quiet environment. They do enjoy human company and mine will always come running over to get a treat and climb over you but i wouldn't say they particularly enjoy being cuddled and picked up as such. For me a lot of the enjoyment of them is the satisfaction of looking after them really well, i love to give them plenty space to run around and am always thinking of new things to give them to keep them entertained.

[Fuzzywig]

What does your son want? If he has no interest in guinea pigs then it’s going to be a chore for all of you. Will your husband get involved in the care?

I love guinea pigs they are cute and the happy noises they make are adorable but they are more high maintenance than cats and smellier.

[BertieBotts]

Yes much better than rabbits IME, rabbits can be quite moody.

[PenguindreamsofDraco]

My son just wants a pet. In his ideal world he gets a cat (but...sigh, see above) but he'll take anything He loves stroking the guinea pigs at the local petting farm, he'd be thrilled to have two of them. He's been around animals all his life so he's pretty good with them, he'll be ok going gently at first as long as there is an expectation that at some stage they will recognise and interact with him.

[Doidontimmm]

What is it your dh doesn’t like about cats?

[PenguindreamsofDraco]

Doidonti, honestly not relevant. If there was any way I could get agreement to a cat, I would have done it, but I can't.

Hence the GP questions .

[Doidontimmm]

Ah just if it’s committment I think GP are much more work & mess than cats!

[Toottootcar]

Your child will indeed love them, but they won’t do the work! As I know from bitter experience. Look up c&c cages if you might keep them inside. We started with what felt like a giant ferplast cage and it was plenty big when they were babies. Not so much later, hence we sized up. Pets at home would let you hold one if you want to get a sense of what they’re like, unless you live near one of us!! They can live quite a long time (6 years) and break your heart when they die