Guinea pigs Vs Rabbit

[Needsomezzzz]

We are looking at getting either a rabbit or guinea pigs.
I'm torn as to what would suit us best.
We have two boys who are looking for an affectionate pet sadly cats and dogs are not suitable for us.
I know GP need to be in pairs, but I'm now seeing rabbits should be in pairs too?
Any advice? We have a garden, not a big one and space inside for a cage if needed.
Any pros and cons?

We were in a similar situation recently and opted for guinea pigs. I felt that guinea pigs would be more placid and happy to be handled. They are difficult to catch but then settle to be stroked. I was worried that a rabbit may bite - I have heard mixed reports about rabbits

Rabbits need to be in pairs, they need vaccination every year (for Myxi, RHD 1&2) they also need a large amount of space (can not be kept in a hutch) and are prone to statis/teeth problems etc. IMHO they are more expensive than cats/dogs.

Guinea pigs I know less about but definitely need to be kept in pairs and need regular cleaning and decent space.

Rats are much more affectionate ime.

GPs are great fun. Mine used to squeak for food, call us when we got home and make a lovely purring noise when happy.
They were half house trained as in they didn't go to the toilet when held.
Hard to catch but really sweet when held. Ours would follow us round the garden and play with the cat.

Rabbits need more space and can be pretty bad as kids pets - my two neutered boy rabbits will eat from my hand but won't stand for cuddles.

Rabbits need to be kept with a friend, and a pair needs 24/7 access to a secure predator-proof area of 60sq foot. My boys live in a 5 x 12ft aviary. They have annual vaccinations for myxo, rhd1 & rhd2, around £70 per rabbit per year. They are both castrated, and females should be spayed as they get very hormonal which can cause aggression, & there's a high incidence of uterine cancers in unspayed females.

My piggies on the other hand are indoors, pair of females, no annual vaccinations or anything like that. They are more open to cuddles if wellhandled, and personally I think make much better kids pets. I've always had guineas and never been bitten by them.

Guinea pigs make the most extremely cute noises.

I have read that rabbits don’t really like being pets. Whether this is actually true I’m not sure.

I second @Aprilwasverywet recommendation of rats, and I say this as someone who has been involved with rabbit rescue and rehoming for years. They are amazing animals but definitely not a children’s pet. Can’t advise with regards to guinea pigs, but my sister has rats and they are so friendly and love being handled!

I have no experience of guinea pigs but have had cats, dog, rabbits, hamster and fish.

Of all those animals rabbits were the hardest work for the least reward.

Rabbits must live in pairs and need lots of space. Rabbits are not cuddly animals and it's very rare to find any that enjoy being handled.

They can be very noise sensitive and young children terrify them.

The vet costs are also much higher with Rabbits due to yearly vaccines and they are medically sensitive.

GP are far better than rabbits as pets. Rabbits can be vicious

gPs rarely bite and the noises are sooooo adorable

I'd consider a pair of male guinea pigs - the boys seem to be a bit more outgoing and have bigger personalities. But that's based on a fairly small sample.

Having had both, I'd suggest guinea pigs. The rabbits I had as a child were all quite scratchy and scrabbly and seemed to hate being picked up. The guinea pigs were shy to start with (but never aggressive), but easily tamed with daily gentle handling and parsley, to become gorgeous cuddly little pets.

Having had all three, I would say rats, followed by guinea pigs followed by rabbits. Rabbits are super nervy and quite high effort for low reward. We currently have a pair of guinea pigs and they're lovely, they come out and be stroked, they chitter and shout at me for breakfast each morning when I come downstairs and they're a nice cuddly size. Rats are fab pets but they're not for everyone because of the tails. They're fun and sociable, can be trained to do all sorts of things and they take up less space than GPs.

Guinea pigs are the best. I will talk all day about how amazing they are so don’t get me going!

If you give them affection and food at very regular intervals they will adore you with all their hearts.

Rats are undoubtedly more interesting but are also more likely to escape and then stress you out. Guinea pigs can do tiny little jumps onto low items but can't escape a cage (we have no lid on out gp enclosure) and if left to roam the room will waddle about and not fit under things due to their very plump rumps.

Rabbits dont even get a look in in my book. 😆

My house rabbit (and little best mate) lived to ten years old and I adored her. Rabbits are much, much harder work than people realise. It's so important they have close attention as they can go downhill very quickly. They are expensive vet wise and need a lot of stimulation. I advise people to think very carefully and do a huge amount of research before getting a bunny (a pair ideally - mine was an orphan and didn't handle sharing well hence why she was solo, and thought she was a dog!) as they are very different to Guineas and hamsters. I work from home so had the time to dedicate to her - they are so clever and such characters but not all like being handled so can be a disappointment to children. I lucked out as mine loved a cuddle and really became a little friend. But most don't like being handled. They are a much bigger commitment than people think. I miss mine so much, she was amazing! I still wouldn't get one 'for' a child though. Too much responsibility and a risk they wouldn't get what they craved eg affection and interaction, unless they lucked out like me!

Thank you all so much, looks likes GP are the way forward!
Rats are not for us, having had an expert escape hamster I can't face the stress of loosing one!

Rabbits are great pets IF you put the work in. Mine have all been rescues and they make me laugh every day BUT they need a lot of space, they have very distinct personalities (one of mine doesn't like touching, the other will constantly be nudging you and asking for pets), and they can be quite sensitive. My bold little madam cost me £200 in emergency vets bills this week after a bout of gut stasis.

Guinea Pigs are better for children but do a lot of research on them as there's a lot of old fashioned ways of keeping them that are entirely inappropriate. They still need lots of space and careful diet management.

Rescues get a lot of guinea pigs in, definitely worth looking for a bonded pair from a rescue and not buying from a pet shop (they get all their small animals from breeding mills).

We have GP now after having had rabbits and hamsters previously. GP are definitley the better for children

We’ve had rabbits and guinea pigs, we have 2 house rabbits at the moment, a grumpy lop boy and an extremely friendly New Zealand white girl. Our boy doesn’t like being touched unless it’s on his terms, our girl on the other hand is an affection monster and will quite happily cuddle up with our 1 year old dd.
That being said, if I had to make the choice again, I’d stick to GPs, much less destructive and their noises are so cute!!!

100% Guinea-Pigs but I've never kept rabbits or rats .
The appeal of rats I can see - they are clever,agile , (unlike guinea-pigs who are not the sharpest tools in the shed and like to be on terra firma)

A rat residence can be many levels so you can go up in a small footprint . Guineas take up a huge amount of floor space .

I'll give you the downside of guinea-pigs :

They are messy . They don;t do toilet training though our boars did make a little pile of droppings where they slept , it was more laziness than tidyness.
The hay gets everywhere . The hay smells , guinea-pigs don't provided you keep them clean. The hay and the fur can be very allergenic but guinea-pigs need unlimited hay (they eat pretty constantly) and do insist on Real Fur which is a poor show for a vegetarian
They are prey animals and very vunerable . It makes them sweet and endearing because they don't kick or lunge at you . They cannot run as fast as other small animals and cannot turn their heads quickly .
They can bite . Don't believe people who say they never bite . They're rodents with teeth . But I would say 99.9% of biting is fear, pain, your hands smelling of food or mishandling . They have no defences , it is amazing that they don't bite more . One of my sows "gnawed" not a bite but a toothy kiss .
They need protected from everything : heat , cold, damp, draughts, predators, poisonous plants .
They cannot be sick. What goes in has to go through them.
They are complex healthwise . And as prey animals get ill very quickly and hide it . You will need to know them well to pick up the early signs. And get a Cavy Savvy Vet - they are Exotics .
They need company of their own kind, if you have boars they're best in a pair . Lots of room.
They die and leave a huge space in your heart so you end up in a never ending cycle .
They are a bit (covers any guinea-pigs ears) a bit limited . Some will say boring !

But the upside is they are beautiful, gentle, chatty , greedy , very bribeable little mammals .
No matter how much your DC say they'll look after them it'll be You as the Adult who will do it . At the end of the day the buck stops with the responsible adult .
My DD and I shared our pigs so shared the cleaning, feeding, cuddling , bathing, claw cutting . It is hard work !
Some days if she was away , or ill or busy with homework it was "Mum can you do the pigs"?
But the next day she did it .
And if we were away or ill, DH did it .

We have cats now after the last old piggie died . I have to say they're easier as they're independant . They have their own feline requirements and shred the carpet and wallpaper , but we love the little monsters !

You have to view a couple of YouTube videos of Guinea-Pig Noises

They have an amzing vocabulary .
We had a couple that "sang" it is like a bird chirping , really weird .
No-one knows why they do it .

Oh rats are wonderful pets (I've had all 3, & like the poster above rats then GP, then rabbits). Intelligent, friendly, funny. But don't live nearly long enough.

Guinea pigs definitely! We currently have 5 - a pair & a three, all females.

They have very different temperaments but all happy to be handled. We have one that follows DD round the house & will wait in the bathroom while she has a shower.

DD has just come home & they're wheeking away like mad because they know it's dinner time.

Another vote for guinea pigs. So much more character to them than rabbits, with their chirps and squeaks!

Thanks all, we've been to see some, so cute! We have a brought a book to read through together, as it's such a big commitment. I'm pretty sure they will end up as my fur babies!