CavyMadness is designed to be an introductory site for guinea pig enthusiasts. These care pages serve as a basic overview of guinea pig care, and once you get to know the basics, you’ll find more in-depth guinea pig care websites listed on my Links page.
Would you like to chat with and learn from other cavy enthusiasts? join us on Facebook! We have two active pages: the main CavyMadness page, and the CavyMadness discussion group.
a new cavy.
Portia was an impulse purchase at a pet store. I saw this tiny little animal with pleading eyes, hiding in the corner of the cage, and I was instantly smitten. Less than a week old, terrified, and infested with mites, Portia is one of two pet store guinea pigs I bought while still a beginner in the guinea pig world. At the time, I thought I had rescued her from a bad situation, but the reality is that guinea pigs are little more than retail store inventory. Portia was likely replaced with another inventory item – another unfortunate piglet.
We all start somewhere when it comes to our experience with guinea pigs. Perhaps you, like me, found your first guinea pig in a pet store, and now you’re realizing that you really don’t know that much about this critter who seems to be more “complicated” than a mouse or a hamster.
With Portia, I was lucky enough to know some very experienced guinea pig friends, who helped me give her proper care and a long, healthy life. My experience with Portia led me to create CavyMadness, since I often felt overwhelmed by learning about all of the specific needs of guinea pigs. (Honestly, though, it’s not that complicated!)
Consider this care guide as your new friend, here to help you with the basics. These pages will introduce you to the care and culture of guinea pigs, and will help you become a responsible guinea pig person. And don’t forget about Facebook, where there are many, many other caring guinea pig friends who are happy to help answer your questions.
first things first.
Before you adopt a new guinea pig, shop for supplies so you have everything you need before you bring your guinea pig home.
Shopping list: Items for your guinea pig’s home.
- a pet carrier for transport;
- Newspaper and bedding;
- Hay rack and water bottle holder;
- Heavyweight food dishes that are un-nibble-able and untippable;
- Nesting items, such as tunnels and shelters;
- Things to climb onto or tunnel under;
- Storage bins for hay, pellet food, bedding, and other supplies;
- An appointment at a vet, for an introductory well-piggy checkup;
- Medical needs, including toenail clippers, styptic pencil, mineral oil and cotton swabs
The pet carrier will come in handy right away — your new piggy needs a dark, calm place to hide, since he or she is probably going to be a little scared of all the new sounds and smells. You will also need this container for vet visits and any trips in your car; a small cat/dog carrier is often perfect for a couple of bonded piggies. Place a towel or a small blanket in it so your cavy can burrow and feel safe.
One very important aspect of bringing guinea pigs into your home is the location of the cage. Guinea pigs need human contact and a stimulating environment. We’ll discuss cage placement and necessities in more depth on the Habitats page.
cavia porcellus
Guinea pigs, or cavies, are part of the Rodentia order. Many pet care books will list guinea pigs as rodents, but this isconfusing and often debated. Many other animals fall under the Rodentia order that we don’t consider rodents: degus, jerboas, pacas, beavers, chipmunks, woodchucks, squirrels, prairie dogs, porcupines and capybaras. These animals are generally herbivores, with long incisors. Guinea pigs have the long incisors typical of rodents, as well as a diet similar to that of rodents. However, I always differentiate guinea pigs from rodents simply because their care and lifestyle is more closely aligned with rabbits instead of rats, mice, hamsters and gerbils. Guinea pigs need horizontal space for running, much like rabbits. They also require a diet with Vitamin C, and cannot have nuts and seeds as part of their diet. They cannot use the typical “hamster wheels,” since they are not known for agility. While they can climb to an extent, they cannot scurry up steep slopes like rodents. Both rabbits and guinea pigs need space, and lots of it.
Still, the rodent debate rages on. Read a New York Times article about their classification.
Domestic guinea pigs (cavia porcellus) are quite different from their leaner cousins in the wild. The Caviidae family represents South American rodents with one pair of teats, and four digits on the front feet, three on the hind feet.
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Histricomorpha
Family: Caviidae
Genus (Species) — Common Name:
- Cavia (anolaimae, aperia, fulgida, guianae, nana, porcellus, tschudii)— Guinea Pig
- Dolichotis (patagonum, salinicola)— Patagonian Cavy
- Galea (flavidens, musteloides, spixii)— Yellow-tailed Cavy
- Kerodon (rupestris)— Rock Cavy
- Microcavia Microcavia (australis, shiptoni)— Mountain Cavy
- Microcavia Monticavia (niata)— Mountain Cavy
The guinea pig does not come from Guinea, nor is it a pig. The “porcellus” in its name is from Latin, meaning “little pig.” They do have some piggy characteristics: their WHEEEEK, for example, sounds a lot like pigs to trough! The sexes are referred to as sows and boars, as in pigs. The “guinea” part possibly comes from the fact that, when they were introduced to European aristocracy in the 1500s, they were sold for a guinea — a very valuable sale. Another theory for the “guinea” portion of their name is that Spaniards mistakenly thought guinea pigs originated in Dutch Guiana.
Cavies are natives of the Andean region of South America, where they are generally found in the mountainous regions of Peru. Their high reproductive rates and accessibility make them an ideal source of meat; guinea pigs have been domesticated since 5000 B.C. by Andean tribes. In the sixteenth century, Dutch merchants brought them to Europe, where they became pets for the upper class. Europeans began to develop different breeds of guinea pigs, and some guinea pigs were brought with immigrants to America and other countries.
Wild cavies are generally found in grassy plains, in abandoned burrows or rocks. They even live in the Andes Mountains, where they withstand lower temperatures. They are very alert and fast, as they are hunted by many other animals, especially snakes, foxes, and birds of prey. They are most active in the morning and evening, when predators are less active. Domestic guinea pigs instinctively jump when surprised; the species has an excellent defense mechanism against predators. In fact, when running from a predator, a colony of guinea pigs will first crowd together and stampede, and then suddenly explode into a scatter, running every which way in hopes of confusing the predator. Colonies of guinea pigs become very familiar with their area, and escape routes are second nature to them. Paths to food and shelter are ingrained in guinea pigs from birth.
Guinea pig colonies generally consist of a dominant male with his harem. A social structure exists even within the females of the group; one alpha female will preside over a court of lesser females. If you adopt a pair of guinea pigs, you will notice this hierarchical structure as one becomes the dominant piggy. Two adult males, however, may fight viciously if a female is nearby, or even if one wants to claim his territory. Males can be happy in pairs or groups, but be aware of their instinct to be the only male in a colony.
Guinea pigs generally stay very close together, often seeking contact when resting or walking about. This stems from their social behavior patterns and need for protection. If you browse through Pignic photo albums, you’ll see guinea pigs instinctively snuggling together.
The gestation period for guinea pigs is rather long, about 60-70 days. Guinea pigs are born fully furred, with teeth and eyes open. In the wild, pups need to be able to run quickly along with the rest of the colony to avoid getting eaten. Baby guinea pigs are adorably goofy, with ears and legs that are too big for their little bodies. They are up and running about in no time.
Guinea pigs communicate with a large array of sounds, and keep close together for warmth and security. They constantly assess the dangers around them and alert the others if needed. You may notice your guinea pig stretching up, nose high in the air to check out what’s happening nearby. These are very sociable animals, and need lots of attention to be happy. They will actually feel lonely, so if you are thinking of adopting a guinea pig, understand their needs, including the need for companionship.
types of guinea pigs
The humble guinea pig comes in a wonderful array of textures and colours in its coat. The wild cavy would have a short coat with an agouti coloring, meaning that it would light and dark bands of colour on each hair (much like our Titania at the top of the page). Breeding has wrought a whole assortment of beautiful coats – the guinea pig at right is a Satin, which means a shiny coat.
Fabulous bedhead: Abyssinian
One of the oldest breeds; a “bedhead” piggy with rosettes, which are cowlick-like hair patterns that radiate from a center point. Breed standards require the rosettes to be in a specific formation; Winnie, our model Abyssinian, is not likely a “proper” Abby. The variations of the Abyssian coat can be pretty to downright hilarious.
American
The most common breed, and usually what comes to mind when someone mentions guinea pigs. The smooth coat lies flat against the body. The colouring on the coat can be solid or patterned; a white stripe around the middle is a common pattern, and is often referred to as a Dutch coat. Nutmeg (the American, at right) shows an imperfect white band, and you can also see the Agouti colouring in her coat, which is a solid colour with black ticking among the hairs.
Long hair: Peruvian, Silkie, and Texel.
Peruvians often remind Star Trek geeks of Tribbles, for their hair grows forward from the face, often obscuring it to the point where front and back are not easily identifiable. The hair grows from a center part down the back, and requires extensive grooming (and trimming, for comfort). Peruvians’ hair can grow long enough to drape several inches from their body; show-quality Peruvians often spend their days in hair rollers! Silkies (also known as Shelties) are often confused with Peruvians, but their hair only grows back from the neck, and have softer hair. Texels (pictured below) appear to be a Silkie with a perm; their long hair grows in coarse ringlets.
Rex / Teddy
The Teddy is the result of a mutation, and has a dense, coarse coat that can be either soft (often referred to as a plush coat), or rough, often with kinks in the short hairs. Show-quality Teddies are rubbed from back to front to keep their hair poufy. Titania, our Teddy model at right, has a silver agouti pattern, which is the coat of wild guinea pigs.
the naked ones:
Baldwins and Skinny Pigs
Baldwins and Skinny Pigs have no coat, save for patches of hair on Skinny Pigs (Baldwins have no hair whatsoever). Their loose, thick skin needs additional care from sun and irritation. Despite their somewhat prehistoric appearance, their temperament is still docile and cuddly.
The Crested
The white crested is a difficult breed, because the rosette of a Crested guinea pig must be centered between the ears, and no other rosettes can be present. Many guinea pigs will end up with a rosette on top of their head, which gives them this distinctive “stern” look.
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