Are guinea pigs good house pets?
Guinea pigs make great pets. They live for several years, so you can enjoy them longer than most other rodents. They have different personalities and are very vocal, making it easy to know their individual identities and get attached.
What do I need to know about having a guinea pig as a pet?
Nine facts you need to know before getting guinea pigs
- Guinea pigs are active for 20 hours a day.
- Guinea pigs are not agile – they’re hiders, not climbers!
- They’ve gotta get their greens!
- Guinea pigs are very sociable – they’re social butterflies!
- Guinea pigs are explorers – and they can see you from most angles!
Are guinea pigs difficult pets?
Guinea Pigs Are Generally Easy to Tame While guinea pigs may be nervous or skittish at first, with consistent gentle handling, they usually become tame very easily. Careful handling is a must, and children should be supervised with them, but they are unlikely to bite even when stressed.
Are guinea pigs noisy?
Guinea pigs also make noises similar to the “purr” of a cat – but this noise tends to sound a bit more like a grumble. Associated with happiness or contentedness in your pig, it’s often heard when you’re bonding with your pet, like when you’re grooming or patting them.
Do guinea pigs scratch a lot?
Typically, a guinea pig will have a good scratch when he wakes up from a nap, or he might scratch himself after grooming. An occasional itch during the day is usually nothing to be concerned about either, and changing bedding or hay may provoke some scratching due to dust or other irritants.
Are guinea pigs smelly?
In a nutshell, guinea pigs shouldn’t smell. If they are giving off an unpleasant odour, it’s usually a sign that the cage isn’t clean, their diet is wrong, they’re sick, or they’re struggling to groom themselves. Also, boars may smell more than sows because of an oily buildup around the grease gland.
Can you potty train a guinea pig?
Guinea pigs can be trained to go to the bathroom in a litter box. Some get the hang of it quickly, while some never learn. That’s just how it is. Just remember that it’s not your guinea pig’s fault if they poop outside the litter box – sometimes they can have accidents or simply forget.