To get guinea pigs as a Christmas gift

[SaveAHorseRideAHighlander]

Fully prepared to be flamed (even if just for mentioning the C word before August!) but bear with me! My DD is 9 and has been asking for a hamster for the past few years, we've fobbed her off by saying if she keeps her room tidy until Christmas she can and she's never kept it tidy until now. I don't really want a hamster due to a number of reasons. Our DD and DS (6) both love our friends guinea pigs, are very caring with our cat and spend a lot of toke outdoors/in the garden. I have had guinea pigs before as well. So have started thinking about getting them two guinea pigs for Christmas. I'm fully prepared and willing to look after them myself (in fact it's most like a gift for me which DH has clocked on too ). They would be in a loving, responsible forever home. I'm wondering if it would a good idea to buy a hutch and essential items (hutch is a big 6ft hutch with a run attached and thermal cover) and build it and wrap it for Christmas Day, with two vouchers inside for each child saying that they can choose a guinea pig each, then take them a few days after Christmas. This is so that 1) It is less stressful for the pigs admidst al the excitement of Christmas Day, and 2) I'm not sure if reputable places would let me buy them as actually Christmas gifts. Will I be able to buy them just after Christmas does anyone know? So, AIBU to consider doing this? Thanks

Just remember guinea pigs are not just for xmas...... if you are careful you’ll have some left over for boxing day 😁

Sorry, i will get my coat

Pablo yup, my partner had a housetrained piggy when he was growing up. And a terrier, somehow.

Oh apparently the free range piggy and the terrier were at different times.

Cool @JoyFreeCake, you learn something new everyday ☺️

If you look at their cages, they generally prefer to go in the same places again and again. It's basically a matter of extending their range while maintaining the designated toilet area.

It's easier with wees than poos, but then the poos aren't quite so disastrous to clean up. Certainly preferable to the revolting hairballs I have to clean up from the cats I'm currently looking after for someone.

Mine plop everywhere, it’s that wet poo they do that they like to eat that is the worst 🤮

YABU unless they are rescued (and therefore the gift is providing them with a suitable home). Living beings aren't gifts.

We used to have a C&C run too. It was 6x2 grids, plus a mezzanine level, but the ramp was less steep than commercial hutches so they were fine with it.

I agree with rehoming, there are so many small pets looking for a home. Mine were given to me by a lady who had thought she had two boys..

If the garage isn't heated I would recommend an electric bar heater you can get for greenhouses. Not inside the cage but nearby to keep the chill off. They have a thermostat setting too. They do get forgotten about by the kids if outside in winter though

Btw Guinea pig urine is extremely corrosive and stinks. The droppings are usually solid and not too bad. Really you need to clean that our daily and put fresh paper and sawdust /hay for them.

If they're going to be inside then you definitely need to toilet train them!

Please look at rehoming from a rescue, I've been adopting rescue pigs for a few years and they come with a health check and a lot of support and information.
They're fantastic pets, I love ours.