Guinea Pig Care: The Complete Starter Guide

Guinea pigs - or cavies - are the social butterflies of the small-pet world. They wheek with excitement at meal time, purr when content, and absolutely refuse to do well alone. Here's everything a new owner needs to know.

Always get two (or more)

Guinea pigs are herd animals. In many countries it's illegal to keep one alone. A bonded pair is the minimum - they groom, sleep and chat together. Same-sex pairs, or a neutered male with females, work best.

Housing

• Bigger is better: minimum 2x4 ft (C&C grids are ideal)
• Bedding: fleece liners or paper - change regularly
• Indoor only - they're sensitive to drafts and heat
• Hidey houses and tunnels are essential for confidence
• Floor time in a safe, enclosed run every day

Diet (they need vitamin C!)

Guinea pigs can't make their own vitamin C - and deficiency causes scurvy. Fresh veggies daily are non-negotiable.

• Unlimited hay (timothy/orchard) - the main diet
• Fresh greens daily - bell peppers and parsley are vitamin C powerhouses
• 1/8 cup pellets per pig per day
• Daily vitamin C from veggies, not drops (drops degrade fast)
• No iceberg lettuce, no citrus, no avocado

Daily care & personality

• Spot-clean the cage daily, full clean weekly
• Handle with a support hand under the rear - never squeeze
• Nails grow fast - trim every 3-4 weeks
• They're chatty: learn their sounds (wheeking = food, rumbling = happy males, chirping = rare)
• They live 5-8 years - a real, joyful commitment

Give them a friend, fresh veggies, and a roomy home, and guinea pigs are the most rewarding small pets going. The daily wheek of excitement is worth it all.