Guinea Pigs are friendly animals and make one of the best pets for children. They like to be handled and groomed, are less likely to run off, active during the daytime, and are a good size for young children to handle. Guinea Pigs are also sociable pets so it’s best to buy more than one. Same sex pairs or father/son, mother/daughter combinations will live happily together.
Guinea Pigs are commonly available from breeders, rescue centres, and pet shops, in long or short haired varieties. The longer haired varieties will require more grooming. They also come in many different colours, and can be kept in an indoor cage, or outside in a hutch. You’ll also need to buy a good size run they exercise and graze in, cleaning equipment, gnawing blocks, nesting material, and food, which can be supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetables. Children can help clean out the hutch, replace food and water, and groom their guinea pig. It is however important that they’re gentle and patient with their guinea pig when it first comes home, and they take the time to get to know it and vice versa.
If your guinea pig has plenty of care, attention, space, and is kept occupied, there’s no reason it shouldn’t live a healthy life for up to 8 years.
