What Can I Do To Lessen Fears In My Family About Cats?

Mikknu

Mikknu

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi there, and good morning? I know it's pretty late(early?) over in the UK.

I need some advice on how to convince one of my family members that guinea pigs and cats can exist in the same house together. We'll refer to him as Harley from now on.

Harley's wife is at least willing to have the guinea pigs, and I have other family members who have had guineas in the past(And one who currently owns a hedgehog), but Harley is still against the very idea of having guinea pigs in the house. He's allowing it, but he makes his dislike of them pretty loud and blatant. He has two cats, Kiki and Jasper, both male. They're indoor-outdoor cats, and Kiki is an avid hunter of rabbits. Jasper will munch on anything Kiki kills. Kiki is very sweet towards other animals though, including the mastiffs and Jasper, and is very gentle around kids as well as an overall loving cat. Kiki has also met a few small dogs like a Havanese before, and didn't seem to have an issue with it. Jasper is just curious, and is a generally very lazy cat. I know that they will never really be safe around the guineas, but Harley thinks that them just existing in the house is going to be actual torture. As in, the cats will never be able to do anything except stalk to guinea pigs, or get irritated by the smell of them.

I am already planning to cat-proof the cage, and have told them as such, as well as everything I'm planning to do. The cage will be on a stand, likely a table or a desk with a piece of pegboard to extend size. There will be hardware cloth, pig-a-boo windows, a wire shelving reinforced lid, and spring clips on the cage to ensure that they can't open the lid or stick their paws in anywhere. I've also told him about the methods to familiarising a cat with the scent of guinea pigs, as well as all the information I can find on how cats typically react to guinea pigs- with fear, interest, and eventually- boredom or acceptance. I'm finding it difficult to convince Harley that the cats aren't going to be in agony over there being some guinea pigs in the house.

There also seems to be a repeated need for them to tell me that if a cat or dog kills a guinea pig, they won't get me a new one; I don't know where to start with what's wrong with just "getting a new one", let alone the fact that if a cat or dog got one of them, that would be a failure on my part as their owner to take care of them, and not their responsibility in any way.

I'm feeling a bit frustrated, as I've tried to convince Harley that the cats will eventually get used to the guinea pigs, and will grow bored of them when they can't get to them, but to no avail. I'm also not going to allow the cats on the cage while I'm around, so that the cats will also eventually learn that it's not okay to do that.

I'm hoping some of you have some resources you could share, or just personal stories about guinea pigs and cats yourselves that could help me convince him that the cats AND the guinea pigs will be fine.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give!


Here are a few of the materials I mentioned above:
Hardware Cloth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HHM11...olid=1ON0XE9M98STG&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Windows: Pig-a-Boo Window
 
I have no experience of this and I know some have cats/dogs that live alongside guinea pigs.. personally I would be very wary especially as you have described your cat as always hunting rabbits... maybe someone who has cats and Guinea pigs can offer some advice..
 
I run a guinea pig sanctuary and have a cat! However, Priya came to me, at the age of 10 weeks and has grown up around the guinea pigs. As a small kitten she did try and poke a guinea pig, through the bars of the cage, but instead of running, which she expected him to do, he turned round and faced her. She put her paw in again and he bit it! Since then Priya has shown respect for the piggies and although I would never leave her with unsupervised access to them, I don't think she would hurt them, but you can never be sure and it's not worth the risk. Although not a prolific hunter, Priya does occasionally catch live prey, which she eats! Our piggies are kept in a log cabin and are all in secure cages.
 
To be honest we see these sorts of questions quite a lot on the forum so it depends on the housing situation but... If it's their house then it's their rules and you need to respect that. If they don't want you having guinea pigs then maybe you need to consider saving up for your own place first.

Also you can't tell them that their cats will get used to, and bored of, the piggies. That might happen but with one being a prolific hunter of rabbits then it's a very real possibility that it might not and yes, the scent of piggies in the house could have the cat on high alert all the time. They have a duty to look after the well-being of their existing pets and, though you won't know how the cats react til the piggies are there, what would be your plan if his fears where realised?
 
If your family members don't want guinea pigs in the house then you need to respect that. It may be that he just doesn't want guinea pigs and is using he cats as an excuse or is genuinely worried about the cats because there probably are reasons that this may be an issue. Is there a way that the pigs could stay in your room where the cats are not aloud and you can lock them out when you're out? Or do you have a garden with a shed so that you could keep the piggies out there? Cat's are very territorial and introducing any animal into their space has the potential to spoil the peace and this simply isn't fair on the cats.

I don't have cats myself but I've accepted that because I have guinea pigs there are certain pets I will never be able to own no matter how much I want them and cats are on this list.
 
Is it possible for the guinea pigs to live in a secure cage and also in a room which had the door kept shut, so as not to get the cats interested?

As a child we always had cats and also mice, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits. The cats did seem to get bored looking at them in cages, the cats didn't get stressed or stalk the cages for too long.
(The guinea pigs' outdoor enclosure was not secure enough though and they were all killed by one of our cats or a fox). 😔
 
I have to disagree I'm afraid but only from my own experience and I'm not suggesting it won't work but I'd put your personal desire aside & focus on the practicalities. If you have one cat that is used to hunting prey (which is a natural instinct anyway) and the other who is happy to eat prey then I don't think they will hesitate in seeing the piggies as prey. As you say, you are prepared to go to great lengths to secure them but then you have to ask whether your piggies will have any freedom at all or be cooped up in a secure cage. The smell of cats may be unsettling too.

I had a piggie killed by a neighbours cat many years ago now, from a secure run but he still managed to get to the pig. Having dogs next door actually deters the cats in our neighbourhood but only last week a cat was sitting on top of the piggie shed & has been hanging around. I would never put cats & pigs in the same living space as there is always a risk and not one I would personally take. But thats purely my view.
 
Thank you all for your replies.

To begin with, I would like to clarify that if I were not being allowed to gave the guinea pigs, I wouldn't be asking for advice. There are multiple people in the house(4 adults total), and this family member in question is the only one who has any qualms or issues with the idea of guinea pigs. It is not an issue of him not allowing them; It's an issue of him being vocal and, frankly, disruptive every time they're brought up at all around him. It's putting everyone else in the house on edge, and it has made discussing plans for the guineas difficult, and it is impossible for anyone to talk about being excited for their arrival.

That being said, I'm not 5. I understand the concept of "not my house, not my rules". There's not a rule; He's just complaining. And because he feels it necessary to tell me his dislike at every turn, his Wife has to try and walk the tricky middle ground of being on his side, but also being on mine. She let me talk logistics and guinea pig behaviour/bonding/food/etc. for two hours yesterday, but the second he got home, the verbal aggression started and it made the whole situation uncomfortable. I understand that some communication/familial dysfunction is the primary issue here, but that's why I was seeking out something physical I could show him beyond my word that it's not a 100% guarantee that his cats will be driven mad.

Now, as for addressing the actual concerns. I will continue to persevere with my goals of guinea pigs, despite the cats in the house. I know these cats, and have known them since they were a kitten. They also have lived in this house to date with a Chiweenie puppy, a Pomeranian puppy, three mastiffs, newborn mastiff puppies, human newborns which are in the house regularly for babysitting/family get togethers, toddlers, and also a hedgehog. All of which they have been fine with, and have never been seen doing anything more than following, sniffing at, and watching. Maybe an occasional bop or a poke. Even though Kiki hunts rabbits, I truly believe that the guinea pigs while in their cage will be safe, and that the cats won't be bothered by them beyond curiosity. Both cats are also not adolescents; they are 7 and 8 and are well past their feisty teenage years. They are also neutered.

I have done a good amount of research, and I know there is a relatively well-used method of slowly acclimating both cats and guinea pigs to each other's presence, so that they will at very least tolerate each other. As aforementioned though, I don't personally believe the cats will be an issue.

Addressing Guinea Pig safety- The cage will be well-protected, yes, and I know that this could be a little stifling. However, as Kiki and Jasper are indoor-outdoor cats, it would be reasonably simple- and not an issue at all- for me to put them outside so I could give the guinea pigs floor time anywhere in the house that I wanted. There are no cat doors or dog doors they could get back in through. The mastiffs have a room all to themselves, but that is the only spare bedroom not currently in use. The guinea pigs will be in the basement, which has tile floors and is mostly empty. They will have nearly that entire space to roam while I'm home to supervise them, once it has been pig-proofed.

We don't have a shed, and I wouldn't put them out there anyways. There are foxes around here, and in the winters, it can easily get into digits of negatives in Nebraska. In the summers, the humidity and heat might boil them. I'm of the opinion that if the weather isn't comfortable for me, then it wouldn't be comfortable for a smaller furry friend.

There will be air purifiers near the guinea pig cage(natural charcoal ones), which will help reduce any odour the pigs make. Unfortunately, the basement has no door, and there is a railing that goes around the top of the stairs and down the stairs themselves. It would be incredibly difficult for me to block access for the cats. I can and will try, but I highly doubt much would work. I also want to respect that any cat-proofing measures may be met with opposition, as they won't exactly look beautiful.

Now, onto worst case situations- Should the cats become increasingly stressed, or should the guinea pigs become increasingly stressed, there is a plan for that. There is a small side room attached to the basement. Should I need to relocate them to this room, it is possible, but I would not consider it a viable long term option. The room is very small, and is technically a washroom. It has only a sink, a tile shower area, and a small door that leads to the area under the stairs. A 2x5 and a table or desk stand would fit, but it would be a very tight squeeze, and it may become difficult for me to clean the far corners. Also, the only people that would ever go in and out of that room if the door was shut to keep the cats out would be me, and me alone. I wouldn't be able to hear them as well if they started screaming either, nor would I be able to spend time in the room with them doing general things as it would be quite cramped with a big cage in there. I feel it would be difficult to keep the guinea pigs in this area, space wise at least. Something just doesn't sit right with me either when I think about basically sticking them in a closet, even though I know that the cage itself will be spacious when mixed with floor time.

At the top of the stairs, there are also ways to deter the cats, or separate them; there is a baby gate I could try building up, and I could attempt to thread something through the rails to block their ability to go through. There are also many types of cat-deterrents for a variety of things- mostly commonly scratching, but there are ones here that can be used to deter stray cats from entering your yard, and a few have even been used to deter raccoons. These would of course go at the top of the stairs, and would not be placed any closer than 55 feet to the guinea pigs. If I do this, I may also set up a small fan or mechanical air purifier to get rid of any harmful smells, and to not allow the smell of guinea pigs to reach the upstairs area.

I appreciate all of your responses, I really do. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to my initial posting.
 
Sounds like you have a difficult situation here, but to me this reads like instead of worrying just about the cats, personally I would be more worried about the person who seems to dislike guinea pigs intensely and wont afford them any love and respect and would resent them being in the house- it sounds like an argument you cant win here if he won't listen, then I would worry about what may happen to your piggies when you aren't home and this person who dislikes them and is "sure" the cats will eat them is :(
Piggies get stressed very easily and humans can be much meaner than cats... I know this is disappointing if you have your heart set on getting them but I would never trust someone with that attitude to be around my pets :(
 
It seems as though you've thought of everything just make sure they get some natural light or a light on a timer if they are living in a basement. I've not read anything relating specifically to guinea pigs on this topic but most animals especially diurnal species require a day night cycle of light and often benefit from UVB lighting that most of our piggies get from sunlight if kept in a well lit room or outside. obviously many basements have some windows and without knowing your set up I can't say anything more than that but it's just something to bare in mind especially if hey have to be moved into the smaller room.

I hope my previous comment didn't offend you we are all to familiar with stories of young people who are not financially independent persuading family members to get them a piggie and then not being able to care for them properly or pay for health care and the piggie/ piggies suffers as a result but as I said you seem to have this pretty well planned out

hopefully when you get them home he will learn to love them too. be sure to keep us updated and show us lots of pictures once you have your new furry potatoes.
 
I tend to agree with @PigglePuggle

The real issue here is not the cats (it does seem like you have fully prepared for any issues regarding them) but the person who owns the cats.
It sounds like introducing guinea pigs into your home will cause a huge amount of stress for at least 3 of the 4 adults there.
Sometimes backing down over an issue - as unfair as it seems - is actually the best way forward.

On a personal note I was in a similar situation many years ago after I first moved in with my DH.
I was adamant I wanted a dog and he disagreed. After a lot of arguing he compromised and finally let me get a dog.
I got a dog, and then another, and then fostered a dog that never left....
He was tolerant and respectful of my choices up to a certain point, but that 3rd dog caused a lot of stress and almost ended our relationship.
The resentment, arguments, and constant bickering totally ruined my enjoyment of all of my pets, and in hindsight it was a mistake on my part.
Maybe now is just not the right time to get guinea pigs.
You may find waiting until you are in a home with people who are more willing to consdier them as welcome pets is a lot better for everyone concerned.
 
Humans can indeed be very, very troublesome sometimes. I do have a small worry about that, but I would like to believe that as a sane adult, he would never try to intentionally harm my guinea pigs. I also think that he's a genuinely good person at heart, or at the very minimum, I don't think he's cruel enough to intentionally ever allow harm to come to a defenseless animal. I truly believe that the cats will be more than likely be fine, and that he will learn to like them once he realises that no harm will come to his cats. It helps that the basement is not a space that he specifically goes into a lot; it is mostly there for me, guests, and as an additional storage area. There is always at least one person beyond him in the house though, which is good for assuaging any fears about pig safety in general. His wife has a stay-at-home job, and runs a treat bakery on the side. Mostly for dogs, but I'm hoping to convince her to help me make some hay treats too!

That being said, I was already considering buying or finding a baby camera for when I'm out of the house. I'm a worrier by nature, and I know I'd feel much better if I could check up on my guinea pigs during the day even while I'm not there. The dangerous toys and accessories forum could make anyone paranoid :yikes:


I didn't even think about need a UVB light... I had a bearded dragon throughout my youth, so I'm pretty familiar with the concept, but I guess I had sort of just assumed a big lamp by their cage would work. I might make another thread about that, as the only "window" in the basement is just an escape window.

It's no offense, I know that there are a lot of people who get guinea pigs without the proper know-how, nor the money. One of the reasons I am waiting so long is so that I can have a vet fund saved up and get moved before I get the pigs, to minimize any stress and to be able to afford it if something were to go wrong sooner rather than later. I wouldn't say I'm super rich in finances, but all the money to get the pigs and their supplies is my own, and the monthly maintenance for food/pellets/bedding/detergent shouldn't interfere with my ability to pay bills, save for emergencies, commute, or anything else.
 
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