Guinea pigs?

[~CourageousSurvivor~]

Hey there,

So I was looking into getting a guinea pig or two because I read that they like to be kept in small groups. Anyway I was wondering what you all think of guinea pigs as pets and what not. Are they hard to care for? Loving? Etc.

One thing I was wondering is has anyone ever had a guinea pig as well as a cat? If so how did that work out?

Thanks for any advice you can give me

[Lizzie]

I <3 my guinea, and I think they are wonderful little pets. You should only get two if you don’t plan on spending a lot of time with your guinea. One alone is enough to take care of, but if you really don’t spend on taking him/her out at least once a day you should probably get them a friend. If you get them as babies you can get two males or two females, but I you buy them as adults you are going to have to get two females, because two male adults will not get along (unless they were raised together). And you don’t want male/female because I am assuming you don’t want to take care of a preggers pig all the time.
Their cages can be pretty big, two-three times the size of a hamster cage. So you are going to need somewhere to put it, preferably on a table of some sort, they don’t like their cages on the ground, they will get depressed. Like also like to be in areas of high traffic, somewhere you will pass by them often during the day.
They have a diet of hay, pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables, and yes they need all three daily. (This is why getting one is best because they eat a ton.)
They are very social, and will start talking to you when you enter a room. You will learn what their different sounds mean. And when you pet them, they purr back with affection.
You can’t not love them! Let me know if you have any other questions.

[~CourageousSurvivor~]

They sound wonderful and I have heard that they are pretty good pets. Thanks for the info.

Something that crossed my mind(because two does sound like a lot) was would it be hard to introduce a new guinea pig to an old one after a while? Because as of now my schedule is lax and I should have a lot of time to spend with the little guy but if my schedule were to change I wouldn't want it to get lonely so could I then introduce it to a friend? I don't know if that makes sense and I am pretty much planning on getting a girl(Is one gender better than the other?)

Lastly, I don't know if anyone can answer this(I know I mentioned it already so sorry for the repeat :P ) Has anyone had a cat and a guinea pig? If so how did that work out?

Thanks again everyone

[Pour the Teapot]

i used to have a guinea pig, their mantenince is pretty easy, and they love when you hold them. as for cats with guinea pigs, i had cats when i had my guinea pig, and as long as we kept him either in the cage or in someones arms, it was fine. it was actually really funny because one of our cats would stick his paws through the cage and steal the vegetables from his bowl. so a guinea pig is definetly a good pet.

[~CourageousSurvivor~]

Hey thanks and sorry for asking so many questions I am just really interested in getting a guinea pig but have never had on and I know it can be a big comitment and I want to make sure that it is the right one to make. So far it sounds worth it and as for the cat I could handle keeping them seperated and I have heard that the younger the cat the easier the time it has acclimating to a guinea pig etc and my cat will be pretty young.

Thanks for the help

[Fucking Done]

My cats like my guinea pig, they lick him aha.

[Dasha]

They are pretty easy to care for in my experience. Just gotta make sure they have enough room to run around and be happy, and a friend to be with. Take a look at this site for their cages. They are really easy to make, don't take up much room if you build it to fit whatever area you want it in and they are much happier.

[SnowKitten]

Take a look at the site Dasha reccommended. That is the only suitable type of home for your guinea. Since you have a cat, I reccommend putting a lid on it. REMEMBER--guinea's must always have fresh hay available, or they will die. only feed 1/4 cup per guinea of commercial food a day. Lots of leafy green veggies, and occasional fruit. The best bedding is a fleece blanket on top with layers of towels and newspaper underneath.
HOPE I HELPED!!!

[~CourageousSurvivor~]

Thanks for the cage info; I actually found that website and found it to be helpful. I think I might just get two guinea pigs so it will have a friend because every website I read suggests that a friend is a pretty good idea. Some adoption places won't even place the guinea pig in a one animal home. It might be more work for me but I want the animal to be happy as possible.

Some of the cages on the website look so elaborate...I wish I could do that but really they just need room to run. I think I will just order the alread made ones though. I am going to have to get the topper though so that will be extra money but it will be worth it in the end. I still have to do more research but I really think it sounds like a rewarding animal.

Thanks Carey that was helpful. I am hoping that I will be able to get a little more info from the store I buy the animals from. I was researching and some pet stores aren't the greatest to buy from but I think the pet store I go to is good because they are known to only deal with rescue animals and what not. I am hoping to check the pet store out and get some more info from them and then go from there.

[Lizzie]

Females do tend to be a little bit more to take care of them, they make strange sounds during their menstruation period, and also tend to have more medical problem than males. Just something to think about.

[~CourageousSurvivor~]

OOO thanks for the information. I found a guinea pig rescue somewhat near my house and I am looking into that place. I could probably ask them question about which gender is better and what not. The weird noises is a little off putting but I could probably put up with it.

[thegirlnextdoor89]

Hey there!
I've had a total of 4 guinea pigs. I only have 2 right now (Hershey and Mandy). I definitly think that girls are better. They do get PMSy, and chase each other and squeak when it's that time of the month; but males don't really get along *that great* with other males.
I know some people who have had great experiences with their guinea pigs, but I just have a hard time with mine. Mine don't really like to be held, and Hershey actually bites when I try to hold her. They like to run in circles to avoid being picked up. You have to clip their nails every couple of weeks, otherwise they get too long and their toes actually start to curve. It's easier if you have someone else hold them while you clip their nails, because they like to squirm and if you clip too far you'll hit the quick (which is a vein that runs through their nails), and they'll start to bleed.
Guinea pigs are ravenous eaters. They need vegetables and fruits every day, and well as pellets formulated for G-pigs, and Timothy Hay. You can get Timoty Hay in bulk for cheap at feed/farm stores. Guinea pigs also need Vitamin C drops (in their water or directly on their food), because Guinea Pigs can't produce their own Vitamin C and they can get Scurvy without it.
They also need pretty big cages. Since you have a cat, I would definitly get one with a lid. They like to have houses to hide in in their cages, as well as toys close to the ground like balls with bells in them, toilet paper tubes, PVC tubes to run through, and wooden toys to chew on.
As long as you have a secure cage I wouldn't worry about your cat. I have cats and they leave my guinea pigs alone.

Here are a few links to things you might find useful! The first one is an informative video, but funny and cute. ;-)

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/guineapig

http://www.treenspigs.com/

http://jackiesguineapiggies.com/piggycare.html

http://www.guineapigfun.com/playtimecoolcavyblocks.html

http://www.pet-expo.com/cgi-bin/FULL...?PARTNUM=PR522

http://www.cavyspirit.com/care.htm

http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?ID=67

If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask! =]