Guinea Pigs And Cats?

[CecilieDK]

I really like the model with "open cages" for the guinea pigs, but we have cats! So i don't think that would work, maybe if the door always was closed, but still a bit risky.

But that made me think about what your experience is with guinea pigs and cats?

Our youngst cat Tiger was only a kitten when she first met a guinea pig, i fact it was Cirkeline. It was just before Cirkeline was bigger than Tiger. And she just looked with big eyes at the thing that was saying "squek squek"

But I thought it was importen to show her my guinea pigs and that they where a part of the family.

And Tiger always came and look and maybe sat down with us when I had them out, she really enjoyed looking at them. I never let them alone thought, she is and will be a cat with instincts

But it was fun to see, that Tiger had this kind of "relation" to my guinea pigs because our oldest cat Molly, has never show interest.

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

Cats would see guinea pigs as a bit of food. Just like mice, no different.
If you want guinea pigs, then you should have a cage with a proper cage cover, or you will be risking your piggies' lives!

 

[Julesie]

I think it depends on the cat.

this lady I knew with a home rescue had a cat and the cat completely ignores all the guineapigs even when the piggies are running lose around the house playing. She just threw an odd glance now and then and that was it

 

[Claire W]

I have two cats.

The cats generally ignore the pigs. Harrison was brought up around them and isn't bothered by them at all. Dexter shows an interest when they are free roaming.

The pigs are in a secure cage on a table and I have no problems letting the cats in the same room as the pigs when we are not around but I would never leave the cats in the same room as the pigs when they are free roaming unsupervised.

I sincerely do not think the cats would intentionally hurt them but I think Dexter would try playing and pouncing on them if he was allowed.

I think it is down to the personality of the cat(s) but it isn't worth taking unnecessary chances as at the end of the day, cats are predators and guinea pigs are prey.

 

[gizmo01]

from experience the bigger the pig the less likely the cat will go for it. our Rocky (RIP) was more than up for a rumble when it came to feline invaders and the neighbours cat used to walk round him. at the end of the day a cat and a guinea pig is like living with someone from mars. wrong culture and they wont be able to read each other. ultimately dont leave them unsupervised

 

[Azi]

I have a lid for my C&C cage, but I have never used it even though I've got a cat. My cat certainly does not treat them as mice. When I still had my hamster she was much more interested, she doesn't care about the guinea pigs when they're in the cage. When they have floor time she sometimes gets excited when they run around all over the place, but she hasn't tried anything. I close the door to the piggies at night and when I'm out, and when they have floor time I shut the cat out of the room. I have had no problems whatsoever, but it's up to you knowing how much you can trust your cat and what its personality is like.

 

[Stewybus]

I think it definitely depends on the cat. If they've lived with guinea pigs since they were kittens they could be perfectly OK but personally I would treat them like dogs & young children, never leave them alone together!

 

[the boys]

My cat isn't bothered. The boys like her but she keeps away from them.
I trust my cat completely she has never gone for my boys or my fish
as said before it depends on the cat...you know your pets at the end of the day

My boys escaped the pen in the lounge and I didn't realise and Holly was in there as well curled up on the sofa watching them.