Guinea pigs are adorable - there’s no arguing about it. For many years, guinea pigs were considered good first starter pets, especially for children. But in reality, they need a lot of space, care, and time. So, are guinea pigs good pets for kids? And what about adults who are new to pets?
Let's find out why guinea pigs are good pets, what they need to really thrive in your home, and also why piggies may not be the right choice for some people.
Are Guinea Pigs Good Pets?
Guinea pigs are fantastic pets - for the right hooman. We absolutely get it, the small floofs look adorable, they’re fun to be around, and they’d brighten up any home. Perfect pet, right? Only if you’re prepared to put a lot of work into guinea pig care.
Just because guinea pigs are small doesn’t make them any less work intensive than a dog or cat. Just ask any piggy parent about the amount of poop they clean up every day - it’s unbelievable!
Guinea pigs need daily care, including lots of food, daily cleaning, and quality time with their piggy parents. They're sensitive pets with very specific care needs that prospective piggy parents need to know about. A piggy’s delicate spine can get injured easily, so it’s important the adorable pets are safe from falling. This is only one of the reasons why piggies might not be great as pets for children.
Just like us, you’ll find that every piggy is different. Some love to cuddle up with their hoomans, others prefer the company of their cage mates. Whether your piggies are social butterflies or not, they’ll need daily care to stay happy and healthy.
8 Reasons Why You Should Get Guinea Pigs As Pets
We already know that piggies are pretty great pets if they’re cared for properly. But why are guinea pigs good pets? Have a look at our top 8 reasons that’ll make you want to commit to cavy care in no time (and prepare you for the life of a small pet parent)!
1. Guinea pigs live long lives
If you're wondering how long do guinea pigs live, you'll be happy to know that they’ll brighten your heart and home for many years - much longer than other rodents. Guinea pigs can live for around 5 to 8 years - and sometimes much longer than that. The oldest guinea pig was almost 15 years old!
Although it’s tempting to choose baby piggies, adopting adult guinea pigs still gives you many years to make special memories with your furry friends.
2. Guinea pigs are affectionate animals
Guinea pigs are extremely social, so much so that no guinea pig should ever live alone. No matter how much love and attention they’re getting from their hoomans, a piggy always likes to have a friend who speaks their language. Imagine if you lived with someone who can’t understand a word you’re saying - beyond the loud WHEEK of piggy hunger, of course.
A single guinea pig can become depressed easily, missing the companionship of another piggy. And when a pig is sad, they can even get sick from it!
Guinea pigs are also bold when it comes to interactions with their favorite humans, though every pig’s different. Some like to be held, others prefer a little scratch while sitting in a cozy corner of their cage. The important thing is to gain their trust by bonding - whether that's a snuggle session or a few healthy treats.
3. Guinea pigs don't need much sleep
Guinea pigs don’t have a strict sleeping pattern like hoomans. While most people go to bed in the evening and sleep for (hopefully!) around 8 hours, a floof's sleeping pattern is a little less organized. Guinea pigs only need to sleep for 4 to 6 hours a day, favoring power naps over a long night of sleep.
That's part of why guinea pigs make good pets - they’ll be awake and active when we are. So no matter what your sleep routine is like, you'll be able to have plenty of quality time with them.
4. Guinea pigs have a lot of character
Guinea pigs have so much character, you’ll be surprised by how much sass (and love) is in such a small animal. As we keep mentioning, every piggy is different - some are shy, some are bold, others are sweet, or a little cheeky. Once you’ve spent time with your furry friends, you’ll know to appreciate their individuality.
And if you’re looking for piggies with a specific character, you can spend some time getting to know them before you take them home. Most shelters will let you meet their guinea pigs before you offer them their new furever home. And hopefully, you and your guinea pigs are a match made in piggy heaven!
5. Guinea pigs are oh so cute
We know we probably don’t need to tell you… but guinea pigs are stinkin’ cute! There’s no denying that their adorable looks are part of what make them a popular pet. And with such a variety in fur types and colors, there’s no lack of piggy beauty to choose from!
Did you know that there are over 40 different breeds of guinea pigs? Although the American Cavy Breeders Association only recognizes 13 of them, it’s a different matter across the pond, with the British Cavy Council counting more than three times as many breeds. So when you pick out your future companions, you'll have plenty of choice, but one thing is sure: they're all wheeking adorable!
6. Piggy Popcorn Parties
When guinea pigs are excited, they popcorn. This means they jump into the air, often over and over again, in between zoomies. So if you see your sweet floofs hopping about their cage, it means they’re extremely happy and excited about something.
The behavior is known as popcorning because it looks like the pigs pop into the air, like corn does when it’s heated up. How cute is that?! Young piggies usually popcorn a lot more than their senior friends, so don’t worry if your older pigs don’t hop around in excitement. They’re still happy, they just express it differently.
7. Guinea pigs wheek
Guinea pigs make all kinds of noises, from quiet chatting to rumbling to show annoyance, and loud wheeks to let their hoomans know they’re ready for dinner.
Wheeking is usually a sign of excitement, but what’s really interesting about it is that the piggies have learned to use this sound specifically with people. Just like cats have a special meow for humans only, guinea pigs use the wheek to subtly remind their parents that the food bowl is empty. Aren’t they just really clever?!
8. Their routine can match yours
Unlike dogs, guinea pigs don’t need to go on walks. So there’s no need to get up at 5am before work to take them out, and you won’t have them scratching at your bedroom door if you’re sleeping in. Instead, you can easily match their routine to your own.
That said, guinea pigs do get into a routine easily. So if you feed them breakfast at 8 every morning during the week, they’ll probably wheek at 8.10am on the wheekend, if their breakfast runs late. It’s still not as strict as a dog’s daily routine, but most piggies thrive on a level of consistency when it comes to feeding, cleaning, and cuddle times.
As part of their daily routine, guinea pigs like to have a serving of fresh veggies, a big pile of high-quality hay, and fresh water. Their cage should also get a daily spot clean and a regular full clean. Plus, a weekly health check with regular grooming keeps them in tip top condition.
Guinea Pigs as Pets for Kids: Tips to Consider Before You Do It
There are many different things to properly consider before deciding to adopt a guinea pig into your family. If you’re thinking of getting a pet piggy for your child, then take the time to address the below points first to ensure you’re making the right call.
Tip #1: Think “age appropriate” tasks
Depending on the age and maturity level of your child, they'll be able to take on different levels of responsibility. Generally speaking, a kid around the age of 10-12 years old should be able to do the majority of piggy care and daily tasks. However, you may still need to be on-hand to supervise, and will always need to be prepared to step in when it comes to other tasks, like cutting a guinea pig’s nails.
Only give your child jobs that are within the capabilities of their age range. For kids under 10, you should be prepared to roll your sleeves up and take on the majority of piggy care. And under 5s should never be left alone with small animals like guinea pigs! They don’t have the emotional maturity to understand the full consequences of rough handling, and they may end up accidentally injuring their guinea pig (or even themselves) if left unsupervised.
At a young age, it’s best for children to learn through observation - whether it's offering to feed some fresh veggies at meal times or gently stroking them while you hold the guinea pig.
Ultimately, you know your own child best. If unsure, start with small tasks and add more as time passes and they get more used to their new pet. Teach them how to carefully hold their guinea pig, but carefully supervise to avoid accidents until you’re absolutely sure that they can take a more active role in piggy parenthood.
Tip #2: Teach children to respect guinea pigs
Before bringing a guinea pig home, it’s best to explain to your child how to behave around them. Crucially, children need to understand that guinea pigs aren’t a toy or a plaything - they’re a living being who needs love, respect and attention at all times.
Always remind your child to be calm and considerate around their guinea pig or other small animals, avoiding making loud noises or stomping around. It’s helpful to explain that piggies get easily frightened and will hide if they’re feeling scared, which is surely the last thing your child would want when trying to form a bond with their new pal!
Tip #3: Supervise children when feeding guinea pigs
It’s up to you to set the rules with your child as to exactly what their piggy’s dinnertime looks like and when it should be carried out each day. But make sure your child knows not to feed their piggy alone until they understand exactly what they can and can’t eat. If in doubt, they should always check with you first as to whether something is a suitable snack.
For example, dandelions foraged from the garden make a lovely, Vitamin C-rich treat. However, if these were accidentally mistaken for daffodil petals, they could easily poison your poor piggy. It’s important that kids understand the seriousness of feeding, as the consequences can be fatal.
Tip #4: Encourage children to be responsible
Finally, before taking the piggy plunge, it’s worth talking to your child about the daily responsibilities they’ll have to undertake to look after their small pet. It’s good for them to understand that it won’t all just be fun and games, there are also daily chores that they may not want to do sometimes but will still have to do.
One of them is keeping a piggy's cage clean. While you might not want your child getting involved in some of these cleaning jobs, they can assist with some of the less messy tasks, like refilling water bottles and food bowls, or putting out fresh pellets and replenishing hay.
Are Guinea Pigs Good Pets for You?
Whether guinea pigs are the perfect pet for you really comes down to the time and care you invest in them. What goes around comes back around, and that’s very true for piggies. If you research their needs, give them the right care, and spend time with them, they’ll give you so much in return. But if you’re not sure you can commit to cavy care, it’s best to do some more research.
If you’re wondering what exactly your future floofs need, these 5 points are the most basic piggy needs:
- Furry Companions: guinea pigs need to live in pairs or herds as they're very social creatures.
- Balanced Diet: piggies need lots of hay, fresh veggies, pellets, and enough vitamin C in their diet.
- Large Living Space: the right indoor guinea pig cage size keeps them entertained and healthy, as it gets them moving around.
- Quality Bonding Time: piggies are smart, and they like to be kept busy or they could easily get bored. Quality time with their human, as well as toys and boredom breakers are key to happy guinea pigs.
- Healthcare: guinea pigs are prone to getting sick, so weekly check-ups and annual trips to the vet help prevent serious piggy illness.
If you can provide your future pigs with all of these needs, you’ll have happy and healthy guinea pigs that brighten your home for years to come!
Frequently Asked Questions about Guinea Pigs as Pets
Are Guinea Pigs Good First Pets?
Guinea pigs can be good first pets if their new piggy parents do plenty of research before they commit to their cavies. The furry friends aren’t as easy to care for as many people think, so it can help to speak to experienced cavy carers.
Are Guinea Pigs Good Pets for Kids?
Guinea pigs can be brilliant pets for kids with their loving, friendly personalities. However, it’s important to note that they’re best suited to older children because of their fragile spines that can get damaged easily.
Parents should always supervise their kids around the piggies.
Are Guinea Pigs Good Apartment/Indoor Pets?
Yes, guinea pigs do much better as indoor pets than outdoors. They can absolutely live in an apartment, though it’s important to remember the sweet floofs need a lot of space, so piggy parents should make sure they have the room their pets need.
