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Original poster

Complete novice thinking of getting a rabbit or guinea pig

52 replies

TotalChaos · 18/02/2008 18:43

As the title says, I'm a bit clueless about pets, so wondered if a)you could recommend any sites/books and b)what the likely expenses are - how many jabs/vet visits etc are likely, how much weekly food bill etc is.

Thanks for any advice you care to offer

OP posts:
ZippiBabes · 18/02/2008 18:45

well i didnt notice this is in pets until i got to the guinea pig bit lol

one track mind moi

wannaBe · 18/02/2008 18:48

pmsl zippy.

northernrefugee39 · 19/02/2008 16:08

Hi total- we have had the full range of small rodents, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, rats and... guineapigs.
They are imo easily the best.
They are very sweet natured, unlike rabbits who can be bastards, and scratch etc. Rabbits also are , according to the RSPCA, the most badly treated creatures because they need SPACE- jumping is their nature, and they need company- they live in big groups.
Guineapigs also have to have company- very unfair to keep one on their own, and they don't thrive when their lonely.
We have...11. But they have a very big run and lots of hutches.
They have never bitten any of my kids, put up with cuddling and brushing, and are very easy to please.
They need to have access to an outdoor run tho- personally I don't think it's fair to coup them up in a hutch.

I really love ours, and am going to be a mad old woman with guineapigs I know I am.

RubyRioja · 19/02/2008 16:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

northernrefugee39 · 19/02/2008 16:23

Oh Ruby- we have 4 gorgeous boys.
They have great character.
They all have their pockets picked tho' if ykwim....

RubyRioja · 19/02/2008 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

northernrefugee39 · 19/02/2008 16:27

They aren't really expensive- ours have Gerty guineapig to eat, but what they like best of all is loads of grass and danylions.
They also like apples, carrots, melon, cucumber, celery, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, everything really...
But grass best.
Ours haven't had jabs.
Once they got mites and had drops.
And one old one had an infection and had to have anti biotics.
But if they have plenty of good food and hay to sleep in, they are very hardy and content.
Cute.

RubyRioja · 19/02/2008 16:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blu · 19/02/2008 16:30

As the owner of two rabbits, I would say...get guinea pigs!

Rabbits have to have two injections every year (can't remember if it is £17 per rabbit or per injection), ours do not like being petted, and they do need lots of space. Ours have a whole shed to themselves, and an attached run. I had to dig chicken wire into the ground beneath the grass in the run to stop them digging out. DS can't hold his rabbits because thier back legs are so strong and scratchy. But he does sit in the shed and talk to them and they jump up against his legs. Ungrateful anti-social little beasts!

Also guinea pigs make a delightful squeaking noise and are pleased to see you when you approach the cage.

If you do get rabbits, don't get netherland dwarfs - however cute they look!

northernrefugee39 · 19/02/2008 16:33

Blu- we used to have arabbit which had the run of the (smallish) back garden.
Once I caught him with the neighbours cat in the missionary position.
Bastard.
They don't know noothing about what girls want..

RubyRioja · 19/02/2008 16:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

northernrefugee39 · 19/02/2008 16:58

He used to spray too- like boycats. Euukk!

carolyn1941 · 19/02/2008 17:16

We have hamsters and they're cute but far too fast for young children to manage. The school has 2 guinea pigs that live indoors and all the kids groom them, feed and clean them every day! very sweet little creatures really. Also gp much less likey to bite than hamsters IME.

bubblagirl · 19/02/2008 17:48

definatly guinea pigs my two boys came from guinea rescue centre in canvey island and they are adorable and best pet for a child to handle and as long as cleaned regualy they are the only animal who's urine has no scent

but if not cleaned regualy it will start to smell

northernrefugee39 · 19/02/2008 17:56

Ruby- your dh sounds fab...
Our guineas obviously prefer organic! Come on!

CarGirl · 19/02/2008 18:01

g-pigs are so loving and affectionate mine used to come in the house for hours. They were always waiting in the run when we came home and answered to their names.

Only a dog is better (but much more work!)

northernrefugee39 · 19/02/2008 18:06

AWW! Car- answered to their names....
I swear I love ours more than the kids do....

We just recued another one from the pet shop- someone came in, bought her sister, went to another shop and bought another one to go with it, and left this one 'cos twas,t very pritty .
It's so sweet, and keeps trying to cuddle up to the others, who aren't very interested in her.
Can't help being percularily ugly....left all on her own for two weeks cos she were no oil painting.

CarGirl · 19/02/2008 18:10

my first (kept on her own for a couople of years) would come into bed with me and everything. Another would only eat the carrot she selected from the veg box in the cupboard, would drag it out herself but turn her nose up if offered one) Mine all came to me already pregnant so had the joy of those little babies - so sweet. My pigs were happy to let me handle their babies whilst they were still drying off. They also loved being cuddled when pregnant still and to feel all those kicks - twas lovely.

One day........

Cataline · 19/02/2008 18:12

My rabbits died this year because I didn't know to get them vaccinated and they caught mxyxi - it was really awful!
Also they used to bite and kick, scratch and squeal! I still loved the little buggers though Our cats were terrified of them because they used to chase the cats around the garden and the boy rabbit used to try and shag them.
We had guinea pigs as class pets and they were fab! Really gentle and sweet. I liberated them because I thought they had a dreadful existence at school so they went to live with someone who had other pigs and could look after them properly.

Original poster
TotalChaos · 19/02/2008 18:13

oooh lovely, glad to see lots of posts that aren't just about sex toys [grins].

Seems to be a fairly unanimous vote for guinea pigs and at the very least a couple of them. We have a small garden they could go in. So do guinea pigs usually live outside then?

OP posts:
northernrefugee39 · 19/02/2008 18:16

Car- come into bed with you AND EVERYTHING...
Total didn't want talk about sex toys.
Good grief!

cornsilk · 19/02/2008 18:16

Our rabbit is fab! He's a house rabbit and he's really funny, full of personality. He was originally kept in a hutch at night but he bullied us into letting him stay in the house - he would attack dh when he went to put him back in the hutch. Now he's got his own way he's quite happy mooching around the house all the time. He's always waiting for ds when he goes up to his room at bedtime and jumps up on the bed to join in with his bedtime routine. Terrible thief though. I'm always finding a stash of biscuits etc behind the couch that he's pinched from ds's.

northernrefugee39 · 19/02/2008 18:17

Cata- our rabbit used to shag cats- see earlier post

northernrefugee39 · 19/02/2008 18:19

Ahh- house rabbits do sound nice cornsilk.
We had friends who had them.
They just don't have the cutyness of guineas- less cuddly.
And not such good bed companions- ask car...

marmadukescarlet · 19/02/2008 18:19

Yes but like all small furries, they would benefit from their cage being put in a shed for the winter as hutch alone a bit too chilly.

I'm a vote for GP's - we have a huge Rabbit. (could feed a large family on it!) She is a poppet comes to the cage for a kiss, hops in and out of cat basket (for moving to outdoor run) on command-ish and is v.pretty, but wild when you pick her up - I have the scars to prove it.