A Few Things to Consider before Adopting a Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs make great pets! They are interactive in a way that fish are not, and require less space than either dogs or cats. However, caring for them does require time, money, and space, and some of their needs and personality quirks are not obvious to first-time adopters. If you aren't sure whether guinea pigs are right for you, you can e-mail questions to [email protected].

If you plan to give a guinea pig to a child, there are a few things to consider:

• Is the child old enough to be responsible for a sentient being? (Parents should supervise pet care until the child is at least 18 years old.)
• If the child is a teen or pre-teen, who will care for the guinea pig if the guinea pig is still alive when the child, all grown up, leaves home? With proper care, a guinea pig can easily live 5-8 years, so this can be a consideration with children as young as 11.
• If the child isn't yours, have you checked with the parents to see if they are willing to add a pet to the family?
• Does the child even want a pet guinea pig? Don't assume the answer is "yes" just because the child has occasionally admired a friend's pet! Shelters are full of animals whose young guardians quickly tired of them.

Other recommendations:

• Many landlords and condo associations forbid pets, so check to make sure that guinea pigs will be welcome in your home. These animals can be very noisy, so don't count on keeping them a secret from your neighbors in an apartment or condo building!
• Most guinea pigs will be happier living with others of their species. Consider adopting a pair or small group, making absolutely certain that all the animals are the same sex. (Opposite sex pairings are acceptable if one of the animals has been spayed or neutered.) Do be careful when introducing guinea pigs who have previously lived apart. Guinea pig discussion groups on the Internet are a good source of advice on introductions.
• Every year, hundreds of guinea pigs in this area are surrendered to animal shelters because their owners are unable or unwilling to care for them. Save a life (or two, or three!) by adopting from a shelter or rescue organization.
• Prepare for your new arrival by learning all you can about guinea pigs. One excellent resource is the Guinea Lynx web site, http://www.guinealynx.info/. Another is the book A Grown-Up's Guide to Guinea Pigs by Dale L. Sigler.
• The larger your cage, the happier your guinea pigs will be. Large cages have space for igloos, pieces of PVC or cardboard tubing, and other cage "furniture" that guinea pigs can enjoy interacting with. This also makes them more entertaining to watch. Cages should have at least seven square feet of floor space. It can be difficult to find large cages in some pet supply stores, but excellent cages can be constructed at home using instructions found at http://www.guineapigcages.com/. Construction of these cages doesn't require any tools or carpentry skills, just materials found at office supply stores.
• In addition to a cage, you will need to purchase grass hay, guinea pig pellets, a water bottle, and other supplies. If you adopt from a foster program, your guinea pig's fosterer will probably be able to recommend good supply stores close to your home. In the meantime, check out the House Rabbit Society's list of supply stores. One store not on the list is Pet Pantry, which doesn't sell good "starter supplies" like cages, but does carry Oxbow's Cavy Cuisine (pellets for adult guinea pigs) and CareFRESH (a soft bedding suitable for guinea pigs). Pet Pantry is at 4455 Connecticut Ave NW, one block north of the Van Ness Metro station.

Ready to adopt? Return to the main page for information about guinea pigs available for adoption in or near Washington D.C.!

This page was last updated on September 25, 2007.
Questions or comments? Write to [email protected].
Thanks for your interest in adopting guinea pigs!