Should I enter the world of guinea pigs?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Janey.M
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Janey.M

Hi.

I've recently been thinking about getting a couple if guinea pigs. I've never kept guinea pigs before, although I have a fair bit of experience of keeping other rodents - currently having rats and a chinchilla. I also have four cats, (and an African land snail who's on his own at the moment). I met some guinea pigs at a farm park recently and was really taken with them!

All my animals are rescues, and I'd only consider taking on rescue animals who needed a home.

My four rats and chinchilla have their own secure room, where they live in their cages, and have time out. I'd envisage the guinea pigs moving in to the Rodent Room, and living indoors for the most part, but spending some time outside in a run for a couple of hours each day when there is someone in the house to make sure the cats aren't terrorising them.

I have a cage at the moment; this model:

http://www.k9capers.com/shop/proddetail.asp?prod=15825

which although is billed as a guinea pig cage, I think is probably too small, so I was considering putting it inside a bigger run, with the cage door open, so they would have more space.

I'm not bothered about them being particularly friendly, as we're an adult only household, with interation always on their terms, and I've had experience handing 'nippy' rats. I do lead quite a busy life, but I always make sure my animals are cleaned, provided for, and have time out to play. They wouldn't be living in a house where they got hours and hours of attention though

Am I a suitable home for guinea pigs?
 
Hi! welcome to the board!

As you may have noticed, we are all piggie nutters on here. They are the chattiest of all the rodents, though they "body talk" as well. Usually, they are not nippy. If you have them outdoors, please be aware that they are not as cold tolerant as other rodents and need extra protection in winter and on cold nights.

I would get at least two guinea pigs, and they need a floor space of 2x4 ft minimum, ideally with access to grass. They haven't got as flexible a spine as rats, and do generally not like steep ramps.

This forum is attached to a rescue website. Here is the link: http://www.guineapigrehome.org.uk

There you will find a list of specialist rescues. I would recommend that you contact one or two near you and have a chat with the people who run them to see whether they might have some piggies that suit your home and situation.

Thank you for considering rescue piggies! I have four at the moment, and wouldn't change them for anything in the world!

Vicky
 
Hi, welcome to the forum :)p

Good luck in finding your new additions, I'm so pleased you will be rescuing. There are several people on here who are involved in rescue and I'm sure they will let you know what they have available soon :)
 
Hi, I am also in Birmingham and If you see anything you like in the rescue section a Piggy train can be arranged from either Honeybunnies or Sokel rescues.
 
There is also Hopper Haven rabbit and guinea pig rescue centre in Redditch.
 
sorry to say it but i don't think your lifestyle wold suit guinea pigs,
1.Guinea pigs are quite delicate with stress so with that many cats i think would stress them out alot.
2.they are very sociable animals and require more attention than most rats and other little furries,some will get upset if not taken out for good amounts of time each day.
3.They also require a large cage,because they love to run and play games,therefore there cages take up more floor room than rats who can have smaller multiple level cages.
4.I have also had most rodent animals but have found guinea pigs are much more delicate and have alot of different requirements with diet/housing/interaction/health.

If you think you really are ready for them then welcome to the world of guinea pigs,but i cannot stress enough how much care these guys can take,most people on here devote alot of time to there piggies and most of us tend to treat them like our kids.xxxxx
goodluck with what ever choice you make,this post also wasn't to deter you from piggies just that even doing all the right things these little furries can be quite time consuming when ill ect xxxxxxx
 
PLEASEHELPSAVEboris said:
these little furries can be quite time consuming when ill ect xxxxxxx
Click to expand...

In my house, my dad is around in the day to feed/interact/talk to the piggies! They are very sociable animals. As it says in the quote, it is time consuming having a poorly pig. I have a piggy with an abscess at the moment and although it's not 'serious' (is to me and him!), it takes a good while for him to have his medicine, for me to bathe his wound and then to spend a little cuddle time with him after to make sure he's happy. I've given up on making lunch for myself to take to work in the mornings because all my spare time is taken up sorting out my piggy and then making sure the other four are clean/fed/watered too. It really is like having kids!

I'm sure you would take very good care of any piggies you had, as you clearly do with your other animals. I'm just worried that with your lifestyle not allowing you much time at the moment and the fact that you already spend time caring for your other animals, additions to the family may stretch your time too far.:)
 
I didn't want to mention it at fear off upsetting anyone but if you look at my threads about Boris you will see he has required full time care for around 8-9 weeks now all from a simple accident,so if they do get ill you would have to be prepared for anything xxxxx
 
PLEASEHELPSAVEboris said:
sorry to say it but i don't think your lifestyle wold suit guinea pigs,
1.Guinea pigs are quite delicate with stress so with that many cats i think would stress them out alot.
2.they are very sociable animals and require more attention than most rats and other little furries,some will get upset if not taken out for good amounts of time each day.
Click to expand...

I know I'm still fairly new to Guinea pigs, but I just wanted to suggest that the cats may not be an issue if there's a dedicated rodent room. I have two cats and they don't actually bother with the pigs, they'd much rather play outside.

As for pigs needing more care and interaction than rats, I completely disagree; I have three rats and three guinea pigs and both types of animals have equal attention from me. Both need free ranging, both need cuddles, both need daily spot cleaning and a weekly full clean, both need a variety of food, both need huge amounts of care if they become ill.

After saying all that, it is very hard to juggle two types of demanding pets. I can just manage, but I only work two days each week and my partner is as involved with our pets as me.

Good luck in whatever you decide and well done for choosing rescues!
 
Having a special room for your rodents is a good idea, but your cage is definitely too small! Guinea pigs are grassland roamers; they like hides, but don't build their own sets. They live in groups; so with a very few exceptions, they shouldn't live on their own. It is worth mentioning, though, that guinea pigs are not the "easy" pets as they are generally known; and they have their own requirements.

As for sick animals - any sick pet needs care and attention. And you get out of any pet what you put into it in terms of care and attention!

In any way, it is better to think about these things before you go and get yourself some piggies - we have too many of those ending up in rescues... You sound pretty responsible, so you should be well able to judge whether you have the capacities to take on a new commitment.

As you are living in Birmingham, I'd recommend you contact either RSPCA Walsall http://www.rspca-walsall.org.uk or Hopper Haven in Redditch http://hopperhaven.org.uk . I have rehomed guinea pigs from both places and can recommend them warmly.
 
Hehe, it's really a personal choice. You won't know whether your cut out for piggies untill you try them. Maybe look after a friend for the weekend, and imagine it on a day-to-day basis. My dad offered me a pet, I said yes, he got me two piggies, I joined here, and now I feel like their my kids, and I'm twelve!

Good Luck!

Deanna xx
 
Thanks for everyone's advice so far.

It is mad how places sell cages that are far too small - it's the same for rats. I bought the spare cage I've currently got as a convalescence cage for one of my rats, who had a tumour removal recently, and needed some time out of the main cage for a couple of weeks (Things got complicated because he chewed several of his stitches out which couldn't be re-stitched, so he needed antisceptic treatment on twice a day, and he couldn't be in with the others).

As far as accommodation goes, I could of course buy a larger cage, but I was considering just using the cage as a bedroom/dining room, and leaving it open inside a run like this one, seeing as they'd need a run for outside anyway:

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/The-Rabbit-Hutch-Shop/items/item.aspx?itemid=506419

The rodents have a vinyl floor in their room, so mess isn't an issue - they could just have some bedding directly on the floor if that's appropriate.

The cats don't go in the rodent room, so it's a safe, quiet environment in there. It's all mod cons. Heh - they even have an air cooler in there!

There is just the concern about whether I can give them the best home they could have. I don't like animals being treated like comodities, and I believe it's important to think seriously about the addition of new furry faces.
 
seems to me like you've got it all sorted.

Good luck, whatever you decide.
 
You've certainly thought through things.

Before you buy anything, it would be good if you contacted the rescues and asked for their requirement or whether what you want is acceptable. that way, there won't be any costly mess-ups.
 
If I knew then what I know now would I have had a first guinea pig?
I can never give a 100% answer, whether it be yes or no. My pigs, 26 in total, are all rescue pigs. I am glad to say that with one exception, they are all in good health. The exception is a boar who has been syringe fed for six months. It takes longer to feed him than it does to feed the other twenty-five. Thankfully he has just started to try and feed himself again, even though he can still only eat "syringe-food" off a plate.
In the past there have maybe been three or four who needed hand feeding, a case of lining them up on a table and working down the line!
I am fortunate in that I can treat most of their ailments myself. You only have to read what some people spend on vet bills to realise that "small animal does not equal low cost". Many vets and, unfortunately some owners, regard guinea pigs as disposable pets. "Guinea pig ill? Let's get it killed and go out and buy a brand new one, it will be cheaper"
Think very carefully about entering the world of gps, it does become addictive, in spite of the problems and grief they bring, (as well as pleasure, of course)
 
There are definite joys!

But, yes, health costs can quickly escalate, so it would be advisable to put a regular amount aside every month for medical emergencies. Same as for rats, I guess.
 
Welcome to the forum! Oh Guinea Pigs are so addictive! I got my first one in June 2007 a boar called Sunshine who is such a lovely friend. I have 18 in total 3 Petshop pigs, 7 that I have taken in for people and 7 rescues from Sokel in Cumbria and 1 from Cornflower Cavies (Rescue) in Notts.

Be prepared for heartache along the way, and for putting the pigs needs first which I am sure you will. They are wonderful pets to have! :)
 
Vickyt said:
There are definite joys!

But, yes, health costs can quickly escalate, so it would be advisable to put a regular amount aside every month for medical emergencies. Same as for rats, I guess.
Click to expand...

This is what I do, I have a direct debit setup so that an amount goes into the guinea pig fund each month to cover any medical emergencies ;)
 
Hi, I rescued 2 piggies who had been living in a cage very much like the one you are looking at and I'm afraid it was nowhere near big enough for them. Two pigs twice that much space. I had a look at cages and there are a few that would be big enough but you could always look for a wooden hutch which per square foot would probably be cheaper if money is an issue. As for the cats, I also have four cats and yes they are curious about the my piggies but the piggies are also curious about them. They touch noses through the bars sometimes but usually the cats watch the piggies from a distance, realize they can't get them, get bored and go off to catch flies.:))
 
Hello! I'm also new to Piggys & to this forum ;)
We have recused 3 beautiful pigs and spent months reading up on EVERYTHING. I LOVE having them in our family they are truly amazing. Good Luck x
 
my piggys are fine, we have 4cats 4 dogs, 2 rats and a snake, the pigs run up2 :)):))the cats when they are in their run on the lawn..
 
alcesterpigs and Vickyt - regarding vet fees...heh, yes. I'm on first names terms with my vet... I have a "vet credit card"... It's the same with rats and people viewing them as disposable. Some people can't understand why I'd pay for surgery on a rat to remove a tumour when I could "buy a new one for £5" - horrific!

My partner and I had a chat last night, and we think we are going to look into adopting two or three pigs. I'll be doing some reading up, and getting in touch with a couple of local rescues in the next few weeks.

Looking forward to the idea of a couple of new furry faces joining us!
 
So good to see that you have a good idea what you are about and what you might be getting into!

If you consider adopting three guinea pigs, may I strongly recommend Hopperhaven in Redditch.

They have some stunning threesomes (1 neutered male, two femeales) that have been desperately looking for a good home for a long time now! Most people only want two piggies or (like me) one new companion. They also have lovely twosomes. Cross gender pairings are very stable. Their website is: http://www.hopperhaven.org.uk
 
Good luck with finding your new piggies. You'll not regret it for a minute. I really had no idea what I was letting myself in for when I got my first one, then I got another and soon I will be getting two more, they are quite addictive :)) They are very loving creatures and they love to shout at you if you don't hurry up and get their breakfast / tea ready :))
 
I think you sound great for keeping pigs! you have experience of rodents and with regards to pigs needing lots of interaction, having had friends with rats, they love as much interaction as guinea pigs and also if you have 2 or 3 piggies, like everyone says here, they need to be around other piggies so as long as they get handled as much as you can then fine...
ONe thing i would say is that they do take some time to settle and get used to their new surroundings... Rats are a bit more nosey than piggies so they need some time to settle and get used to having you around...:)

Good luck! PIggies are great additions...
 
No piggies after all...

Well, we went to a local rescue last weekend and talked to someone there about the animals we have got at the moment, and the setup we'd thought of for the guinea pigs. It all seemed fine, and keeping the guinea pig in the same room as the rats wouldn't be a problem. So we had a think about it over the week, and decided to go ahead. Stuff from the resulting online shopping frenzy arrived yesterday morning, so we went back to have another look.

Unfortunately we were told yesterday the the rats would be a problem as they kill guinea pigs, and the setup wasn't suitable, so we failed the homecheck. Obviously I'm not just going to go out and buy some as I only adopt rescues, so I won't be entering the world of guinea pigs. Quite sad about it, particularly as we'd got to the stage of reserving, but I'm sure they'll find a lovely home somewhere else.

I've enjoyed reading these forums for the past few weeks. Perhaps at some point in the future, if I haven't got rats, I might adopt some pigs.
 
Janey.M said:
Well, we went to a local rescue last weekend and talked to someone there about the animals we have got at the moment, and the setup we'd thought of for the guinea pigs. It all seemed fine, and keeping the guinea pig in the same room as the rats wouldn't be a problem. So we had a think about it over the week, and decided to go ahead. Stuff from the resulting online shopping frenzy arrived yesterday morning, so we went back to have another look.

Unfortunately we were told yesterday the the rats would be a problem as they kill guinea pigs, and the setup wasn't suitable, so we failed the homecheck. Obviously I'm not just going to go out and buy some as I only adopt rescues, so I won't be entering the world of guinea pigs. Quite sad about it, particularly as we'd got to the stage of reserving, but I'm sure they'll find a lovely home somewhere else.

I've enjoyed reading these forums for the past few weeks. Perhaps at some point in the future, if I haven't got rats, I might adopt some pigs.
Click to expand...

hi i have been keeping up with this thread,i was a little rude at the start so i apologise as i realise you really do have the animals best interests at heart,

i recently aquired 2 rats and solved the problem by putting the rats in he study instead of the piggy room,so maybe you could look into that in future;)Just a tip i learnt from other members as well hence the reason mine are in a different room, as you know rats can have lots of respiratory problems and i was told that if i happened to get a dusty lot of hay it may be dangerous for the ratties.Maybe have a look in the cage and hutch gallery for some ideas as well, x

Mine are also 3 doors and half a house from the piggies and bothe the piggy room and rattie room have locks on the doors so there is absolutely no way they can come into contact,maybe if you tried that i would think the rescue may reconsider? x
 
Last edited:
I am upset about your experience, because you did all the right things and spoke to the rescue people beforehand! Was it just the rats or the size of the cage that was not right?

Perhaps you might reconsider your decision and have a talk with another rescue? Some rehome nationally.
 
KingBoris&HisFollowers said:
hi i have been keeping up with this thread,i was a little rude at the start so i apologise as i realise you really do have the animals best interests at heart
Click to expand...

Hi

Thanks - I didn't feel you were rude at all - I thought it was really helpful constructive critism. It was really useful to get a range of opinions, as it gave me lots of stuff to think about, which is why I asked here. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top