Guinea pigs for beginners

[SliceOfCakeCupOfTea]

DS has expressed a desire for a pet for quite some time and after some consideration, I'm thinking guinea pigs.

Before I dig into researching them fully, I just wanted to get a rough understanding of the startup cost for the hutch, the run, the kit, the animals (you need 2 don't you?) Also running costs?

I would obviously do more research once I've figured out if they are actually a viable option for us.

Any advice is welcome

I think it's a firm no for us then. I can't commit to a very demanding pet. We're out the house from 8am to 6pm every day.
DS is sad that we don't have any pets but if I'm being honest, I don't want to be stuck doing everything for them.

What a shame, I had hoped I'd found a winner

Honestly OP the least demanding pet we have ever had is the cats. And we have had rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils hamsters, fish, quail, ducks, dogs. Anything that needs cleaning out is basically a pain in the arse.

Yes

I miss ours but the sawdust trail etc

Ooh they are good for your well-being and bring so much joy

OP, this is why you shouldn’t get pets when YOU don’t really want them. This poster has clearly done no research on the animal and they’re now being neglected in a back garden somewhere.

Penny, Rehome them. You don’t deserve them as pets. Hope you don’t ever get sick of your kids.

I think you have to like the pets yourself

We adored the GPS so much

My main issue with GPs is how easily they die. And then it's heartbreaking

op I think a cat is probably the only pet that would work if you are out so much

Honestly OP, don’t rule out a cat. They don’t need loads of company during the day. The cat would just sleep while you’re out or go out if you fit a cat flap and be perfectly happy with fuss in the evening. Mine have a flap so they don’t use litter trays (I have them but they choose not to use them) so the only maintenance needed is feeding them and flea/worm treatment plus annual vaccinations. If we go on holiday my neighbour pops round to feed them or if she’s away at the same time I pay a sitter to come round and feed them. They love a fuss/cuddle in the evenings but during the day they’re either asleep all day or out doing cat stuff. The most annoying thing is dealing with the occasional mouse they bring in, but that’s it. Very very easy pets to look after.

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea get a Syrian Hamster.

We’ve got Guinea pigs atm, I adore them, but they’re a hell of a lot of work and now DH has a job where he’s away a lot, we won’t be getting more because I’m disabled and I find it hard to keep it up. I’ve always had Syrian hamsters, too but don’t have one arm as I can’t look after both and give them what they need.

Don’t get a hamster from a pet shop, or anywhere like Pets at Home, find a breeder local to you. You will find that most breeders have a waiting list, but that’s a good thing tbh. You’ll be able to choose your pup and it will come to you at about 6 weeks old after being handled.

Hamsters make great pets. They’re not bitey, they’ve got amazing personalities. My last one would bang on her cage to let us know she was awake, if anyone but me went to get her out she’d turn her back and sulk. Your DS would get a lot of fun out of one.

If you do decide to get them, make sure no one in the house is allergic to them first! Guinea pig allergies are VERY common and often affect respiratory symptoms as well as causing rashes and itchy eyes.

Keeping hamsters properly requires a lot of space though. Massive massive cage or an ikea cabinet hack. Basically none of the cages in Pets at Home come anywhere near, nor do the modular tube system ones.

I'd go for a cat - get a pair of kittens so they entertain each other.

Very easy to care for.

I second the notion of getting a cat or kittens. I adore my guinea pigs but they are quite a time and money commitment-but because I love them so much and am a responsible owner I certainly don’t begrudge them anything.
l’ve had cats in the past and love them too but live on a fairly busy 30mph road where nearly everyone screams past at 50mph so just couldn’t risk it.

DH hates cats so that's a no too.

I find hamsters so boring, similar to fish.

We have indoor Guinea pigs and to be honest I wish we didn’t. They take up a lot of room and really smell even when cleaned regularly. They don’t enjoy being handled, they do love company and eating (they sound like me!). I too am looking forward to them going over the rainbow Guinea pig bridge but my kids adore them so we’re stuck with them.

They so have fun personalities and all that so they’re not entirely without joy, but I’d prefer my house back. Similar to you OP child wanted a pet, we’ve had hamsters, can’t have a cat due to allergies.