are guinea pigs the right pet for you?

i loveee guinea pigs sm <3 from one owner to another, here’s what u should consider before adding a gpig into ur family ❤️

note: do NOT buy on impulse! pets are adorable but tough work to take care of. consider if u have the time to not just take care of their needs, but spend time and actually bond w them ❤️❤️

guinea pigs are amazing pets, u can form very close bonds w them if u take care of them well ♥️

🥕 they eat a lot!

u wanna try to make sure that u have someone at home during the day to feed them often enough. they get cutely impatient for food; they wouldn’t respond to anyth but would jump up at a food bag crinkle.

🥹 they are shy creatures

gpigs can be shy, especially if you just got them. so if you’re expecting a pet like a dog that will run up to u for cuddles, this might not be the one for u! ofc they have diff personalities, so your exp may be diff. but just saying gpigs aren’t the biggest fan of humans (they’re prey animals), and you’d realize they may prefer food to u :”

WITH THAT SAID, u can still get super close w them! our gpig was so clingy w us that she would “force” us to pat her and ONLY eat when we pat her. she also wheeks for attention.

just setting expectations first that not all gpigs might be friendly, u have to love them at both their best and their worst and have to be ready for if they are very shy around u :”

⭐️ so don’t force them to play with u

we would open our guinea pig cage 24/7, but she prefers to hide inside rather than come out. we tried bringing her out but she’ll run back in. respect that they prefer the comfort of small spaces at times, but give them options!!

💑 consider getting them in pairs

guinea pigs are social creatures so it’ll be good for them to have friends. check w the place ure adopting at, maybe there’s some companions they prefer and will live tgt well with!

💰 vet fees can be expensive

again, make sure u have the finances for them bc although u may think u can afford their cage, food etc, at around 4-5 years they will age and potentially show health issues that you need to get treated at the vet. as they are small exotic animals, they can be expensive and difficult to treat.

💩 they poop a lot

eat a lot = poop a lot. prepare to change your cage lining often and clear their poop. and ofc as they are animals, there will be a smell. love them still!

🌪️ they can be noisy

they WHEEK when they want food, no matter whether it’s 3am or 3pm. our piggy loves wheeking at 4am ~~ so be ready for that.

🐽 study their “language”

guinea pigs react in diff ways when they feel diff emotions, so study their “language”. bc they’re prey animals, it may not be obvious if they’re afraid (they might wanna hide it) so u need to study their behaviors well!

chirp = scared. chattering teeth = angry/grumpy

don’t rub their belly, unlike dogs/cats!! rub from the front, don’t come from behind or you’ll scare them. things like that.

and there can be small differences; one type of vibrate = happy, another type of vibrate may = annoyed.

i really love gpigs and think they’re the most amazing pets <3 but defo get them only if you’re ready for them!! 💜

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