Enrichment Question

[BasicallyBB]

Heya! I've had my guinea pig, Penny, for almost a year and a half now and I am concerned. I am constantly putting toys in her cage but she never seems interested in any of them unless I put food on it. Even then after the food is gone she won't really touch it, all she wants to do is sit in her little house all day. Is this normal behavior? Is she just an introvert or is this something else? I really want her to be happy and healthy, and I am very concerned about her, any advice would be appreciated! I should note that she lived in two other homes before me, I only know that the second living arrangement was less than ideal for her.

 

[DMS260820]

You need another pig for her to be with if she hasn't, she's probably depressed with being alone. It's a must do with Guinea pigs and most other rodents

 

[Sweet Potato]

Does she have a cage mate or is she a lone piggie? piggies that don't have anyone of the same species to interact with will get bored and lonely which can cause them to act like this.

most guinea pigs aren't usually to enthusiastic about toys anyway unless they involve food or hay but a range of hides and tunnels, the occasional foraging toy and time spent exploring areas outside the cage (floor time in a run or free roaming, or time in a secure outside run) should provide plenty of enrichment for your piggie.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I completely agree with the others. If she is by herself, then she is likely lonely. Piggies must always be kept in pairs (although sows can also be kept in larger herds where space and experience of bonding and dynamics allows)

My two aren’t interested in toys. Their enrichment comes in the form of playing in a hay pile, I hide their veg or pellets within a hay pile and they spend time foraging through it. They do like running through tunnels though.

Companionship
Single Guinea Pigs - Challenges and Responsibilities

 

[BasicallyBB]

Heya! I've had my guinea pig, Penny, for almost a year and a half now and I am concerned. I am constantly putting toys in her cage but she never seems interested in any of them unless I put food on it. Even then after the food is gone she won't really touch it, all she wants to do is sit in her little house all day. Is this normal behavior? Is she just an introvert or is this something else? I really want her to be happy and healthy, and I am very concerned about her, any advice would be appreciated! I should note that she lived in two other homes before me, I only know that the second living arrangement was less than ideal for her.

I forgot to mention she did originally have a cage mate but she killed it. I don't know the details, as this happened in one of the previous homes.

 

[Hannah_xx]

I forgot to mention she did originally have a cage mate but she killed it. I don't know the details, as this happened in one of the previous homes.

Guinea pigs don’t kill other guinea pigs. It’s more likely that the other pig died of another cause and the uneducated previous owners blamed it on the other pig.

please do find her a female or neutered Male to be her friend. She sounds very lonely.
Also what is your cage like, and what do you feed her?
Photos would be great

 

[Sweet Potato]

I think it's rather unlikely that she killed her cage mate but if she did this is because there personalities didn't match and they fought as a result not because she is aggressive by nature. If you are worried speak to a guinea pig rescue once this whole lock down thing is over and they will be able to help you find a suitable cage mate for her. She really does deserve a friend whatever happened to her previous cage mate.

 

[Piggies&buns]

 

[Eriathwen]

When my Ebony lost her last cagemate, she tried so hard to wake her back up that by the time I went up there, Treacle was covered in saliva and little nibbles, and her hair had been quite ruffled up. A scene like that could very easily lead a newer owner to believe she had killed her. As the others have mentioned though, it is very rare and unlikely that this was the case.
Even if she did kill a cagemate however and cannot live with another piggy, one or two more could be in the room next to her cage so she can see and speak to them.

In a time when most of us are in isolation, I hope this brings forward the importance of being able to see and hear a member of your own species even if you can't physically touch them, there is a lot of concern about a mental health crisis after this is over as we are naturally a very social species, the same goes for guinea pigs really, they are just better at hiding how they're feeling in order to avoid being eaten by a predator until it's so bad they cannot hide it anymore.