sapphirechaser
New Born Pup
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2015
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 3
- Points
- 40
Hello, I am new to the forum and I am looking to potentially be a guinea pig owner in the future. Before acquiring a piggy I do want to do thorough research to make sure that they are suitable for me and that my living conditions are suitable to them. I have read a lot of care pages and watched youtube videos and I absolutely love these creatures and their appearance, personalities and everything about them!
I do have some concerns that I would like actual guinea pig owner's input on from experience! So here goes!
1) Litter training.
I understand it is near impossible to litter train a guinea pig although this would make my life so much easier. Regardless, I looked into using fleece and I love that idea instead of bedding. I am planning on using fleece as well as a corner litter box with Yesterday's News litter hoping to potentially try to train the guinea pig. My questions is how do you clean the fleece? After a couple days it will be covered in poop. Do you just toss that in the washing machine or do you scrape the poop off or would you recommend using bedding?
2) A single pig.
I know that it is recommended that pigs be kept in groups or in pairs as they are social creatures. As I am a university student, I believe I could only provide adequate space for one guinea pig in my little room as well as plenty of outside cage enrichment. I know that they prefer a companion of their own kind however I was hoping I could get some input of owners of single housed guinea pigs. Apart from going to class I am home a lot of the day so I would be there to cuddle and allow them to explore and hangout outside of their cage. Would this be suitable and what are signs of a guinea pig that would be better off alone or a less social pig?
3) Shelter and Adoption.
I went to my local animal shelter and went to look at some piggies as they recent had an overflow of guinea pigs. I noticed that almost all of the guinea pigs were very skittish and mostly hid in their houses. There were 2 out of 8 that slightly perked up when they saw you and very carefully stepped out of houses to see what was going on but were still petrified when they were touched or picked up or held. My question here would be how friendly would guinea pigs get in a crazy, loud, hustling and bustling environment like an animal shelter? Would even the most friendly guinea pig be skittish and scared because they're prey animals? I do not want to sound heartless, but I am looking for a guinea pig that specifically doesn't mind being pet and cuddled so that we can suit each other's lifestyles. What should I look for in an animal shelter guinea pig that would suggest it doesn't mind cuddles even though it's currently in a hectic environment. Additionally, am I better to go with a certain breed due to temperament?
4) Noise.
I watched many youtube videos about guinea pigs and the various wheeks, rhumbles and purrs that they make. For a university student is it not a good idea to get a guinea pig if I live in student housing with other people? I also read that single housed guinea pigs will be quieter because they won't be wheeking among themselves. Is this true? How is the noise during different parts of the day? How loud does it get? What are signs in the animal shelter that would point to a louder or more vocal guinea pig?
I was hoping someone wouldn't mind giving me some advice about these points and sharing ideas or links to other threads about other things to consider. I know they have a long lifespan and I am prepared to continue caring for this animal even after I am finished school and moving into an apartment.
Thank-you in advance for your input.
I do have some concerns that I would like actual guinea pig owner's input on from experience! So here goes!
1) Litter training.
I understand it is near impossible to litter train a guinea pig although this would make my life so much easier. Regardless, I looked into using fleece and I love that idea instead of bedding. I am planning on using fleece as well as a corner litter box with Yesterday's News litter hoping to potentially try to train the guinea pig. My questions is how do you clean the fleece? After a couple days it will be covered in poop. Do you just toss that in the washing machine or do you scrape the poop off or would you recommend using bedding?
2) A single pig.
I know that it is recommended that pigs be kept in groups or in pairs as they are social creatures. As I am a university student, I believe I could only provide adequate space for one guinea pig in my little room as well as plenty of outside cage enrichment. I know that they prefer a companion of their own kind however I was hoping I could get some input of owners of single housed guinea pigs. Apart from going to class I am home a lot of the day so I would be there to cuddle and allow them to explore and hangout outside of their cage. Would this be suitable and what are signs of a guinea pig that would be better off alone or a less social pig?
3) Shelter and Adoption.
I went to my local animal shelter and went to look at some piggies as they recent had an overflow of guinea pigs. I noticed that almost all of the guinea pigs were very skittish and mostly hid in their houses. There were 2 out of 8 that slightly perked up when they saw you and very carefully stepped out of houses to see what was going on but were still petrified when they were touched or picked up or held. My question here would be how friendly would guinea pigs get in a crazy, loud, hustling and bustling environment like an animal shelter? Would even the most friendly guinea pig be skittish and scared because they're prey animals? I do not want to sound heartless, but I am looking for a guinea pig that specifically doesn't mind being pet and cuddled so that we can suit each other's lifestyles. What should I look for in an animal shelter guinea pig that would suggest it doesn't mind cuddles even though it's currently in a hectic environment. Additionally, am I better to go with a certain breed due to temperament?
4) Noise.
I watched many youtube videos about guinea pigs and the various wheeks, rhumbles and purrs that they make. For a university student is it not a good idea to get a guinea pig if I live in student housing with other people? I also read that single housed guinea pigs will be quieter because they won't be wheeking among themselves. Is this true? How is the noise during different parts of the day? How loud does it get? What are signs in the animal shelter that would point to a louder or more vocal guinea pig?
I was hoping someone wouldn't mind giving me some advice about these points and sharing ideas or links to other threads about other things to consider. I know they have a long lifespan and I am prepared to continue caring for this animal even after I am finished school and moving into an apartment.
Thank-you in advance for your input.