Can't deal with my guinea pigs

[Maisa45]

First of all I promise I'm not an evil guinea pig hating monster, I'm just a very stressed out and overwhelmed mother so please be nice!

I took in three guinea pigs last year. I also have two elderly dogs, two hamsters and a small child plus |I work so I'm generally very stressed. I'm vegan and people seem to think I'm some sort of animal sanctuary. I know I need to start saying no.

I have misophonia and I knew guinea pigs were noisy but fucking hell I didn't think it would be this bad. The screeching goes right through me and they do it every time someone walks in the room. One of them in particular is so shrill. I can deal with the wheeking if I'm going in the feed them but not 20 times a day. They're in our spare room which also contains our hamsters, tumble dryer, wardrobes and chest freezer so I'm in and out of the room quite a lot and it's got to the point I don't even want to go in. I actually sat and cried last night which I know is ridiculous.

I don't want to rehome them as they're settled here now and I know I'd feel horrendously guilty so my only other option is to learn to live with it. Does anyone have any tips about making them stop or how to train yourself to ignore it?

We are thinking of making my husband's box room man cave into the pet room and moving his computer desk into the larger spare room so I'm not going in and out of the guinea pigs' room multiple times a day. By the way they are well looked after - the only one suffering is me!

No advice just sympathy op. My dcat has increased his vocals 1000fold. I actually feel I hate him at times. He is getting fat a so keep feeding him to shut him up! Can you put a radio in there? Company for them and drown the noise out for you..

Put them in a hutch in the garden? We have had guinea pigs for years (stuck in the endless cycle…) and they do screech as soon as they hear the tell tale rustle of a salad bag!

But honestly I wouldn’t feel guilty about re-homing them- they really aren’t the kind of animal that gets attached to people! Maybe a household with primary aged kids that have the time to look after them and fuss them would suit them better?

Thanks for the replies and sympathy I'm glad I'm not the only one who sometimes feel like they hate their pets. I feel like an awful person for resenting them when I agreed to take on the responsibility. We don't have a garden. It's a nightmare when you get stuck in the endless cycle of animals that need companions isn't it? We were like that with rats but then at the end we ended up with one younger and one elderly rat left. The younger one randomly had a seizure and died and we knew the older one was on her way out so even though I was very sad they died I was glad none of them had to live alone for a long period of time.

Would rehoming them be so terrible?
If you could find a nice home for them?
If they are moved to a new home with their current cage etc, it would not be as unsettling for them. I think its different to rehoming cats and dogs etc, as they are in a hutch so their immediate surroundings don't change, even though the surrounding beyond the cage will change iyswim.

Are they quite tame, happy to be handled? Because if so this would make it easier to rehome them.

Agree with PP, it was lovely of you to take them in, but guinea pigs do like a garden to roam around in. I bet if you advertised them locally or through a shelter you could find a home for them.

Don’t feel guilty, find them a new home with a lovely garden and a run they can play in. They will be perfectly happy.

@SquishySquirmy They don't love being handled but they tolerate it and are tame. They weren't handled much in their previous home so we've been working on getting them used to it.

Perhaps they are making so much noise because they are housed in the same room as the hamsters? The tumble drier might also be bothering them. Give them to the pet shop?

@DoWhatYouLike

Perhaps they are making so much noise because they are housed in the same room as the hamsters? The tumble drier might also be bothering them. Give them to the pet shop?

The hamsters are at the other side and they all seem unbothered by each other. The wheeking is for food - they only do it when we walk in the room and are quiet when they're given food. They are fed veg and nuggets twice a day and have unlimited hay, they're just greedy and are hoping I'll give them vmore veg.

Sorry I have no advice but wanted to say we can't have a dog and i'm not a cat lover (I love birds) so we have a hamster. We have thought about getting guinea pigs as our hamster is not very tame and dislikes being handled. We used to have a hamster which was the complete opposite but he died at just 12 months. We reckon it was genetic reasons. He was so docile and would fall asleep on you whilst having his head rubbed!! The new hamster we've got is awful in comparison but maybe the first one was a one-off.
So are guinea pigs a better bet? We have an 8 yo DS and he would love some (or a rabbit but are they too bitey)?

@BooseysMom I honestly wouldn't advise getting a rabbit for a child. They dislike being held and are very high maintenance. They need loads of space, exercise and can be destructive and territorial. I used to keep rabbits before DC and they're amazing but such a huge commitment.

I personally haven't found guinea pigs very rewarding to keep. They're cute but they shit nonstop - I have to clean their enclosure three times a day and it's a large cage. They're also, as I mentioned lol, noisy and they are eating us out of house and home. If you want something that will sit on your lap once they're used to you though, a guinea pig is definitely a better bet than a rabbit or hamster. Just make sure you get at least two so they aren't lonely .

My advice to you would be to not get your son a pet at all though, just go feed the ducks, much less hassle lol.

@Maisa45.. thanks for the advice. I won't bother getting rabbits then! We can't really have guinea pigs here. Our hamster is cute but doesn't like being handled.
It's true that pets are so much hassle. We are paying someone to take him for a few days whilst we're away. The good thing is its only £4 per night!

I once had 2 piggies..sadly I escaped and ddog helpfully brought her home..

I asked our local vet if they knew of a home for the last 1. The receptionist suggested I 'swap' her for 4 orphaned dkittens. And so my fostering began!!
Many pathetic scraps made it after weeks of bottle feeding.
And ddog redeemed herself by becoming the best bum washer a dkitten ever had!

@Easterbunnyiswindowshopping Aw that's so sweet!

Update - The guinea pigs have moved rooms and it's been much better!

Our guinea pigs squeak in the mornings when they are about to get their vegs. They never squeak to me because I am the one who tried to catch them. Rest of the family feed them. They are my daughters guinea pigs but in reality they are my babies.

Maybe they just wanted a change of scenery or didn't like the decor!!

oh Jesus don't be guity them are not puppy!!they even dont think you as
pet owner.you can not change thieir squeak natural instincts.why you torture youself?or you can rehoming these guinea rats.