Why Guinea Pigs Make Great Family Pets

A favorite family pet, the Guinea Pig!  Adorbs.

We have a couple of new family members in the Worthington Household, and we’re all in. LOVE.

There’s adorable and full of personality and cuddly and endless entertainment. In fact, sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. So without further ado…here are some beautiful Guinea Pigs growin’ up in the heartland.

So now you’re in love, too, right?

Well, let me give you a few facts about guinea pigs before you head out to expand your family, too.

1. Guinea pigs aren’t pigs. They also aren’t from New Guinea. They are actually native to South America and are members of the rodent family. They tend to be larger than their little buddies the hamster, but not as big as a bunny or small cat. 
2. They like to move around, so the bigger the cage, the better. I’ve read that at least four square feet per furry friend is best. The cage should be kept in a place that  your family will be frequenting a lot daily…not in some spare bedroom that people rarely enter. Guinea pigs also really need to get out of their cages daily…floor and lap time are important!
3. They tend to live from five to seven years. So it’s not a short-term commitment; but then again, they won’t last an entire childhood. For some people that’s a big consideration; some families might want to wait until kids are older. 
4. Guinea pigs are social. Like our Bella and Diane, they usually get pretty squeaky and excited when their people enter the room. Females prefer to have another female guinea pig friend or two with whom to share a cage. It’s more fun that way!
5. Each of your guinea pig family members will need about 1/8 of a cup of commercial food (Yum! Pellets!) supplemented by hay and alfalfa , and be sure to include some veggies (leafy greens, parsley, and carrots are best). The food isn’t too pricy, which makes them a more economical pet from that aspect.

image via buzzfeed

Thinking of adopting a guinea pig yourself? Or do you already have a beloved Bella or Diane of your own? I’d love to hear about it…share your stories (and photos!) over on our Facebook page!

Here’s a few more tidbits about our friends:

8 Things your guinea pig is trying to tell you.