Is Midnight Lonely?

[lexi468]

Hello everyone!
I hope you're all doing well.

I have a bit of a concern about Midnight. I heard about the new law in Switzerland that you cannot own just one guinea pig. I think it is a great law! However, it got me thinking about Midnight.
He lives alone and has for most of his time with me. At one point I had gotten him a cage mate, when he was much younger, and he was horribly mean to the other pig, who ended up passing away from illness about a week after I got him. Losing him was really hard for me and I haven't since wanted to go through it again, nor did I feel like Midnight really liked the other pig. I know they butt heads at first and that's normal, but Midnight was horrible to the new little guy. Midnight still eats totally normally, popcorns often, he's extremely chatty and he sleeps stretched out and seemingly happy. I take him out often and let him have floor time. He seems content to me, but I worry that he IS lonely. Also, he doesnt run around as much as he used to (probably since having surgery). Considering he can't talk to me, what do you guys think?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone!
I hope you're all doing well.

I have a bit of a concern about Midnight. I heard about the new law in Switzerland that you cannot own just one guinea pig. I think it is a great law! However, it got me thinking about Midnight.
He lives alone and has for most of his time with me. At one point I had gotten him a cage mate, when he was much younger, and he was horribly mean to the other pig, who ended up passing away from illness about a week after I got him. Losing him was really hard for me and I haven't since wanted to go through it again, nor did I feel like Midnight really liked the other pig. I know they butt heads at first and that's normal, but Midnight was horrible to the new little guy. Midnight still eats totally normally, popcorns often, he's extremely chatty and he sleeps stretched out and seemingly happy. I take him out often and let him have floor time. He seems content to me, but I worry that he IS lonely. Also, he doesnt run around as much as he used to (probably since having surgery). Considering he can't talk to me, what do you guys think?

Guinea pigs should ideally not be kept as singles, not just in Switzerland! they are group animals and not wired to live on their own. However, now that you have got an adult single piggy, things are not quite as straight forward.
Companionship

It sounds like Midnight was full-on dominant with the new piggy when he was younger. It is difficult to say whether he has lost the ability to see himself as a guinea pig or rather as a human after several years, and whether he has retained the knack of interacting with them. If you can, I would rather consider another single guinea pig as next door neighbour with interaction through the bars, or trying him at a good guinea pig rescue if you can get to one that allows meet&greets to see where you stand. How old is Midnight now?

It is normal for adult guinea pigs to calm down compared to hyperactive youngsters; old piggies tend to sleep a lot.

Here is a list of recommended good standard guinea pig rescues in your wider area; can you get to one in NY or a neighbouring state? Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations

When acquiring a guinea pig (please not a shop baby in dire need of a companion) informally, all the risks are on your side, unlike when adopting from one of these recommended rescues that will only rehome healthy/quarantined and properly sexed guinea pigs; you have to keep that in mind, re. vet cost.
Importance Of Quarantine

Take your time to research your options and don;t rush out to get another guinea pig, only to find that you have created more problems than you have solved!

Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations

 

[lexi468]

Thank you so much!
I know they're meant to be in pairs which is why I got him a mate when he was younger. I got him from a shop having not known about rescues and he is now about a year and a half old. I have looked into rescues. I found one near me that is not on that list and have been considering it for a while, but I don't have the soace right now for another large pig cage. When he as younget he spent a lot of time with cats and seemed to REALLY enjoy playing with them. Believe it or not, he could hold his own with them and I NEVER left him alone fot even a second with them. I often wimder if he misses them though.

 

[Freela]

I've got sows, so have very limited experience with bonding boars (my understanding is that it can be more difficult.) Hopefully someone else can give you better advice there. My experience is that I had an only pig as a child (at the time, not much attention was paid to their social needs, etc.) I think her life was fine, she got attention from the humans, food, treats, and lived to good age. That said, I didn't see her exhibit a lot of the behaviors I see in my pairs of pigs and I can't help but feel that her life was less fulfilling than my current pigs, who clearly have a relationship with each other that I just can't duplicate. I think it's great that you're considering the options and if you are able to speak to the rescue and come to some sort of agreement (i.e. perhaps they could take back the new arrival if bonding does not go as planned) it might enable you to see if things work.

 

[lexi468]

I've got sows, so have very limited experience with bonding boars (my understanding is that it can be more difficult.) Hopefully someone else can give you better advice there. My experience is that I had an only pig as a child (at the time, not much attention was paid to their social needs, etc.) I think her life was fine, she got attention from the humans, food, treats, and lived to good age. That said, I didn't see her exhibit a lot of the behaviors I see in my pairs of pigs and I can't help but feel that her life was less fulfilling than my current pigs, who clearly have a relationship with each other that I just can't duplicate. I think it's great that you're considering the options and if you are able to speak to the rescue and come to some sort of agreement (i.e. perhaps they could take back the new arrival if bonding does not go as planned) it might enable you to see if things work.

That's excellent advice! I am definitely going to talk to them. Thank you!

 

[Swissgreys]

As silly as it sounds, I actually sometimes compare the life of a single guinea pig to my own life as an expat.
I was born and raised in Australia, and now live in Switzerland.
After many years here I speak reasonable German (although the local dialect is still a bit of a mystery).
I have a nice life, a good place to live, lots of friends, etc.
Overall I am happy, but I do also sometimes feel lonely.
I see and interact with people on a daily basis, but they don't speak my language.
I speak their language, but I don't speak it as well as I speak my own mother tongue. We communicate effectively, but it is often more basic than I would like.
Plus they don't always understand my background and culture, and it isn't the same.
I miss my own 'species'.
Thankfully I have a few great ex-pat friends who I get together with so we can speak in English, talk about stuff that only we get, and share things.
I run an English speaking book club so I can have in depth discussions about topics that I just couldn't have in German.

I think being a single guinea pig must be like living in a country when you don't speak the language fluently.
You can communicate your basic needs, and you feel loved and safe, but you do miss connecting on a deeper level with someone who really understands you.

 

[lexi468]

As silly as it sounds, I actually sometimes compare the life of a single guinea pig to my own life as an expat.
I was born and raised in Australia, and now live in Switzerland.
After many years here I speak reasonable German (although the local dialect is still a bit of a mystery).
I have a nice life, a good place to live, lots of friends, etc.
Overall I am happy, but I do also sometimes feel lonely.
I see and interact with people on a daily basis, but they don't speak my language.
I speak their language, but I don't speak it as well as I speak my own mother tongue. We communicate effectively, but it is often more basic than I would like.
Plus they don't always understand my background and culture, and it isn't the same.
I miss my own 'species'.
Thankfully I have a few great ex-pat friends who I get together with so we can speak in English, talk about stuff that only we get, and share things.
I run an English speaking book club so I can have in depth discussions about topics that I just couldn't have in German.

I think being a single guinea pig must be like living in a country when you don't speak the language fluently.
You can communicate your basic needs, and you feel loved and safe, but you do miss connecting on a deeper level with someone who really understands you.

Wow, that is an excellent interpretation. You're probably exactly right. I'm definitely going to look into getting another. Thank you so much!