One great reason to adopt a guinea pig is they are affordable. They don’t need much, just a nice sized cage with an exercise wheel, some hay and some tunnels for your new friend to run and play around. Because guinea pigs love exercise, you should invest in a ball they can wheel around in around your home once a day.
With proper attention and diet, guinea pigs are low-maintenance and relatively healthy animals. Obviously all animals are prone to disease, however, with enough leafy veggies, carrots, food and attention, guinea pigs don’t require a lot of medical attention. If you have more than one guinea pig, separate the male and female to avoid potential conflicts.
Guinea pigs are also great first pets for kids. Because they are social, they’ll bond instantly with a child. They are cuddly and affectionate, but you’ll have to set some boundaries with your child, so they don’t hug the guinea pig too hard. Other than that the easy care for a guinea pig is a great way to teach your child about responsibility.
Guinea pigs also live longer, on average, than some similar pets. Hamsters, gerbils and rats, for example, live about two or three years, while guinea pigs can live at least five to seven years. Some guinea pigs can live as long as a dog, however it’s rare they make it into their teenage years.
Guinea pigs are also a great pet for an apartment or small home. Most landlords will allow small pets like guinea pigs if you talk to them about it. Because guinea pigs enjoy being indoors they’ll live in a smaller indoor space for many years without the need for outdoor attention that a larger pet might crave.
Guinea pigs are also pretty clean animals. You don’t have to bathe a guinea pig. Sometimes you may need to brush the guinea pig if they have tangled hairs, but other than that you can expect hands off grooming with the pet. Giving a guinea pig a bath can actually cause them to catch a cold.
If you love cats but looking for a smaller pet, you’ll also love a guinea pig! Guinea pigs make similar purring sounds like cats, and are very vocal when they are happy and content.
For all these reasons and more adopt a guinea pig today! Local pet stores have guinea pigs, but you should check animal shelters first. Believe it or not many shelters have guinea pigs who need a new home asap!
