Guinea pigs would probably win any contest for the cutest pet. With a docile nature and cute appearance, a pet guinea pig is a perfect fit for almost every family. There are many reasons why these critters are so adorable: they’re not expensive, they have sweet tempers, and they’re not destructive. Read on to explore all the reasons why your family should consider getting a pet guinea pig!
Why you need a pet guinea pig
Inexpensive pets
Purebred guinea pigs like Alpacas, Himalayans, and Abyssinians can be more expensive, but in general, it’s not expensive to buy a guinea pig. Often called cavies after their scientific name, Cavia Porcellus, guinea pigs are rodents native to the Andes Mountains of South America. So they’re not from Guinea and they definitely aren’t pigs.
They’re vegans
Cavies don’t consume meat or dairy products and mostly stick to pellets, hay, and fresh produce. Leafy greens like romaine lettuce and spinach are great for guinea pigs, and this should be the main aspect of their diet. You can give them other veggies like carrots, zucchini, and sweet potato once or twice a week.
They don’t need a lot of space
If you’re short on space, guinea pigs are an ideal fit for your family home. You can keep them indoors or outdoors as long as they have a roomy cage, safe bedding, a food bowl, a water bottle with a sipper spout, some hay, and pellets. They also love playing with small wooden chew toys and grass balls.
A pet guinea pig is low maintenance
Guinea pigs don’t do well with heat, so keep their cage in a cool area. You also don’t have to go all out with furnishing their cages. Just line it with old newspaper and hay or shredded newspaper as bedding. As long as they have objects like boxes or tubes to hid in, cavies will be perfectly happy.
They’re clean animals
Because guinea pigs are fastidious creatures, they can get sick if their living conditions are dirty. Clean their cages regularly and replace their bedding at least once a week. If you keep the cage clean, your pet shouldn’t really produce any odor. These animals also groom themselves, but they love a good brush with a soft-bristled brush. Bonus: guinea pigs can be potty trained!
Bright little sparks
If you’re patient enough, you can teach your pet guinea pig some tricks. And because they’re diurnal, you don’t have to stay awake just to socialise with your pet. They do, however, need TLC on a regular basis because they can get lonely. These smarties also have great temperaments. They are social creates that love having companions in their homes, but its often the females that are more sociable.
They love snuggles
Guinea pigs love to cuddle. You can place them against your chest and they’ll be perfectly happy to snuggle with you. Remember that cavies are prey animals, so they’ll always run when you try to pick them up but will quiet down once you hold them against your body. Experts recommend cuddling with pet cavies for up to an hour a day!
Guinea pigs are low-maintenance, unobtrusive, and affectionate animals that make great fuzzy companions for just about any family!
