what about you guinea pigs most surprised you?

[Laura M.]

For one thing, when I first saw them, I exclaimed "they're huge!"
I didn't realise how far they could jump and how fast they are, especially my Neville - he's a little athlete!
I didn't realise how much they wee!

 

[Eviolus-]

I was surprised at just how good their hearing is, they can hear the fridge door open from the other side of the house!

 

[Jesse's pigs]

I was surprised at how tame they can become. When people say guinea pigs, you often jump to the idea of skittish little fur balls running to their houses when you come and take a look- or I did anyway lol. But my piggies after some patience have been more like bloomin dogs!

 

[DMS260820]

Hearing aswell. Can hear the knife chopping veg from one end of the house to the other

 

[DMS260820]

And the difference between a single pig and two pigs being together. The difference is huge.

 

[VickiA]

The volume of wee output compared to the volume of water input was a shock to me at first. They are incredible.

 

[anyar.dris]

I was surprised how intelligent they are. They know the exact time for feeding, when we wake up, when is bed time, etc. I don't know about you but my piggies also respond to their names. This happens usually when they do something naughty. When I say his/her name, he/she would stop whatever he/she is doing but the other piggies don't respond.

 

[Betsy]

The amount of poops! Poop everywhere. I find poop where it shouldn't be I even found one down my bra!

 

[PigglePuggle]

We were surprised how different their individual personalities are, and what a complex social life they have- when I had guinea pigs as a kid in the 1980s I just remember furry sausages, but given proper enrichment and housing and friends they are very different from what I remember!

 

[Caris]

Just how interesting they are! Nevermind TV, I get so entranced just watching them potter about. It's kind of like "Hang on! How did an hour just pass!"

 

[piggieminder]

All of the above, the most striking thing though is how intellegent they are, if they were bigger they would be dangerous!
My piggies are in our living room so we are interacting with them all the time, every person who comes into the house and watches them for a few minutes comments on how different their personalities are and how interesting they are to watch.

 

[DMS260820]

The fact that they know which poo is the one they need to eat, this is actually my no.1. I can only guess that it feels different

 

[Swissgreys]

I was surprised that each one really is their own individual, and they have such huge personalities and lovely little quirks.
I was surprised that something so small could be so strongly opinionated (I am looking directly at you Miss Ruby).

 

[flowerfairy]

I am surprised by how impossible mine have been to tame. All my childhood guinea pigs would happily sit on my lap and eat dandelions. This lot run away and chatter their teeth at me when I pick them up and are not happy until they are back in their cage!

They will accept treats from my hand.

 

[Reenie]

The different personalities and the sheer volume of poop. I thought I could use all their poop in the garden, but I'd need a park!

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

What amazes me is how remarkably resilient they are. When Tonks had 2 operations within a week and then a massive infection with an egg sized hole in her abdomen she didn’t even seem to notice. She underwent invasive daily flushes and god knows how much medication but not once did she grumble or become aggressive even though I would have been terrified and bitten everyone if I’d been in her place. She was just the same happy go lucky pig she’s always been, she truly is amazing.

The other thing that amazes me is the empathy you see in pigs, Cissy was incredible when Tonks had her first op just after Cissy’s and when reintroduced Cissy groomed her and cleaned her up. Really took care of her. Drommy is a very sensitive girl who always makes sure poorly pigs are okay and sits with them. Often giving their face a little groom and just being there for them. Very different from my cats who were sisters, one became ill and the other tried to kill her. Seeing the love and compassion in the pigs is awe inspiring every time.

I realise that I’ve probably gone a bit deeper than originally intended haha so I’ll add that I also never realised how hot their pee is on the skin. Not even warm, it’s like lava!

 

[Reenie]

What amazes me is how remarkably resilient they are. When Tonks had 2 operations within a week and then a massive infection with an egg sized hole in her abdomen she didn’t even seem to notice. She underwent invasive daily flushes and god knows how much medication but not once did she grumble or become aggressive even though I would have been terrified and bitten everyone if I’d been in her place. She was just the same happy go lucky pig she’s always been, she truly is amazing.

The other thing that amazes me is the empathy you see in pigs, Cissy was incredible when Tonks had her first op just after Cissy’s and when reintroduced Cissy groomed her and cleaned her up. Really took care of her. Drommy is a very sensitive girl who always makes sure poorly pigs are okay and sits with them. Often giving their face a little groom and just being there for them. Very different from my cats who were sisters, one became ill and the other tried to kill her. Seeing the love and compassion in the pigs is awe inspiring every time.

I realise that I’ve probably gone a bit deeper than originally intended haha so I’ll add that I also never realised how hot their pee is on the skin. Not even warm, it’s like lava!

I laughed at the cat comment... although I don't suppose it's funny really.. just your turn of phrase.

 

[Sophie B]

How quickly I tamed them, I could just be a piggy whisperer but even before I joined the forum they were really, really tame, so I must’ve done something right!
They’re also very clever, Bacon likes to stand on his hind legs to get treats, and Smokey spins round in circles!

Also what personalities they have, which doesn’t need much explaining
And poop, lots of poop!

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

I laughed at the cat comment... although I don't suppose it's funny really.. just your turn of phrase.

Haha don’t worry I get that a lot! Apparently I have a way with words... Don’t feel too bad though, we separated them while Lily recovered and she got better! The hierarchy with the cats completely changed though, no sympathy or bedside manners in felines haha.

 

[gmsong]

Mine was their body shape. I thought they had a long tail with little ears like a hamster