Piggies new to grass?

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Beautifulmess

Beautifulmess

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hi guys,

I've just moved into a house and finally after years have a garden. I'd like to let my guinea pigs enjoy it too but unsure on how to introduce them so they don't get upset stomachs? Plus we have cats next door, (I'd never leave them unattended but I'm thinking of the cats peeing, I already have seen they use my garden as a toilet!) I heard or read a rule about grassing cutting too, like don't put them out on a freshly cut lawn or something?

Any tips or advice would be much appriciated...


Also any advise on how to deter the cats from pooping in my garden too! It seems to be on bare soil areas.
 
Hi, how lovely you now have a garden!

The best way to introduce your piggies to grass is slowly! I would cut them a little each day, starting with just a few bits, then a very small hanful for a pair to share and feed it along side pleny of hay but not at the same time as veg or dry food. Give them a little bit more each day so long as they are ok with it and then start introducing them to going out in a run.

Regarding grass clippings from mowers these must NEVER be fed, they are bruised and will cause bloat in guinea pigs. A newly cut lawn will have clippings scattered about so piggies should not be put on it. I have a small section of lawn I mow for my use and the rest is never mown (except by the pigs!)

As to the cats, the more you use your garden and are out and about in it the more cautious they will be about coming in. If the previous owners didn't use it much it could well have become the local cat toilet! It sounds a little unkind ( and i speak as a cat owner) but don't be friendly towards the cats as this will encourage them to come and visit. There is no need to be unkind tho. A little spray with a water pistol ( not a great blast or soaking) will send them running and make them warey the next time they see you. Often fixing them with a stare and moving very slowly towards them will have the same effect.

When your piggies are out I would have them in a secure run and not free ranging, have houses in it that they can go in if they are spooked by a cat, or by anything else so they can feel safe and make sure it is shaded so they are protected from the sun.
 
Thank you, atm the entire garden is mowed because our contract on the house states we must keep the Garden in a presentable state heh. However there is a section right at the top near the fence I could let overgrow a bit, we're yet to get a run as we need one that folds completely away to be put in the shed. We have no space in the house for anything, even the cage is pushing the space haha. I think it's just an odd layout so they lose alot of extra space they could have.

So I'll let some of it grow a bit and then snip some every now and again to get them used to it. Washing good, yes? It'll properly be more that the house was empty for a while, once I start pottering about hopefully they'll learn to leave my dirt alone lol. Although I'm going to plant in the bare spots so hopefully they will ignore it. It does make me angry but then I remember their animals and I think cats enjoy bare dirt to poop in, not sure where i heard that. I shout at them btw in a jokey, Oi you, stop pooping in my garden you lazy pillows! lol they just run back to their garden and watch me.
 
I agree with Pound Shilling & Pig about how to stop the cats coming in as frequently - when I was a kid, my neighbours cats (they have 3) used to come in our garden allll the time. Mum and Dad don't like cats and would rather they didn't come in the garden because they just poo everywhere, plus I used to have rabbits which they scared. So whenever Mum saw one she'd go out and scare it away, or if they were out there Dad would, etc, and now they don't come in anymore because they know they'll just be shooed off. And the poo has stopped!

When I had lovebirds (I don't anymore because my allergies got too severe) I even used to be okay putting them in the garden in their cage without cats lurking because they'd gotten so used to being scared off, and the birds were very loud so no cats would have missed the fact they were there.
 
I saw the same cat this evening so I shoot her/him away before collecting my laundry from the line. I've let my partner know to do the same, so hopefully it'll be good. I'm going to plant big flowery things over the patches they'ev recently been using so theirs no bare patches of earth also. xx
 
Getting a dog was the only way we managed to stop the cats using our garden as a toilet :( if i stared at them they came over to me for fuss!?!
 
tigernin said:
Getting a dog was the only way we managed to stop the cats using our garden as a toilet :( if i stared at them they came over to me for fuss!?!
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You probably looked too friendly :)) You have to look right into their eyes and fix them with a stare and not look away and ever so slowly start to move your body like you are going to stalk them. If you get the body language right they will feel threatened and not want to hang around, it can be tricky tho, as you don't really want to do them harm the might just see throgh you :)
 
Found lots more poop patches as I work around the flower beds deweeding. It looks old though, nothing new so far unless they're using my front garden more now. xx
 
If you're looking for a good foldaway run that is fully enclosed to stop cats & birds of prey. These are ideal & they fold flat & also include free sunshade. They have 2 ways of selling them either fixed price of £24.99 + £6.99 p&p at Amazon:-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rabbit-Guin...?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1370366204&sr=1-9

Or on auction on eBay at £xx with free postage:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/46-RABBIT...et_Supplies_Small_Animals&hash=item3a8114f4a9

The above one ends in less than 2 hours but if you miss it just search "46" RABBIT GUINEA PLAYPEN WITH METAL ROOF ENCLOSURE RUN FREE SUNSHADE"

Our piggies love it on the lawn, they get 60 to 90 minutes a day when the weather's like it is at present. I've got to sit with them because we only have a front lawn & the garden is open plan.
 
Thank you hun, it's just what we're looking for.

I am very unwell today, 2 days of hot weather, my shoulders are sore and apparently (according to my boyfriend) suffering with hay fever but it feels more like a head cold, I've not had hay fever since I was in high school. Nearly 10 years ago.
 
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