Is it worth getting a guinea pig: the pros and cons of keeping an animal

A guinea pig is a pet that seems attractive to many due to its endearing appearance, calm nature and unpretentiousness in care and nutrition. People who decide to take a cute animal into the house do not always appreciate the shortcomings of such a pet, among which there is a specific smell of wool, regular cleaning of the aquarium (cage). Before buying a rodent, you should evaluate all the pros and cons of guinea pigs, especially if the animal is bought for a child.

brief information

A medium-sized rodent eats plant foods: cereals, vegetables, fruits, freshly cut grass. A cute animal is kept in a spacious cage or aquarium. Every day, the pet is allowed to walk outside the cage, carefully watching so that it does not run away behind the closet or under the bed.

These rodents are clean, but if you ignore the regular replacement of the litter in the cage (aquarium), they acquire a disgusting smell.

The guinea pig does not make noise, but sleeps at night, so it does not cause trouble for the owners. But while awake, the pet is noisy. By squeaking, he expresses not only discomfort, but also pleasant sensations.

Bouncing, butt wagging, and squeaking are expressions of popcorning, a behavior characteristic of an animal rejoicing at its owner, relatives, or delicious food.

The life expectancy of an animal receiving quality care is 6-8 years, and this is a good indicator among rodents kept at home.

Content pros and cons

The guinea pig is a popular pet as it is easy to keep and feed.

Advantages

Benefits of keeping a guinea pig:

• the rodent itself and its “house” do not take up much space in the living room, which is convenient in a small apartment;
• the pet can be fed inexpensive natural food of plant origin;
• litter for an aquarium or cage, represented by sawdust, is inexpensive;
• if this is a representative of the smooth-haired variety, then there is no need to comb out his coat;
• the rodent washes itself, which is why there is no need for bathing.

One of the advantages of the animal is its cute appearance.

Disadvantages

If you get a cute and kind rodent for a small child, then it is recommended to take into account that most of the worries about the pet will fall on the shoulders of the parents. A guinea pig for a child will become a suitable pet if the small owner is of primary school age (6-7 years old).

Guinea pig can cause allergies.

When thinking about whether it is worth starting and keeping a guinea pig in an apartment, you need to consider that this is still a rodent. Without supervision, a pet gnaws on furniture, communications, wallpaper and other things. Unlike their fellow chinchillas and rabbits, the guinea pig does not cause significant damage to interior items. Nevertheless, it is better to prevent possible damage to household items by building a corral of the required area.

Read about who is better to buy in our articles: “Who is better: a decorative rabbit or a guinea pig?” and “Who is better: a chinchilla or a guinea pig?”.

Before you get a guinea pig, you need to consider the disadvantages of caring for her. The owner of the animal should be prepared for the fact that the bedding in the animal’s cage will have to be changed almost every day, since the rodent often urinates and empties the intestines. If you ignore this, the pet and its housing will acquire an unbearable smell that spreads throughout the apartment.

An important minus of the guinea pig is that it is susceptible to many diseases, most of which rapidly lead to death.

If an adult takes a pet to the house for children, then in case of illness, the quick death of a pet will become stressful for small households.

A small animal running around the room leaves behind feces and urine. The feces do not have an unpleasant odor, but if there are children under two years old in the house, you need to ensure that the feces do not become an object of increased interest from the kids.

Important! Some people are allergic to rodent hair, in which case this animal should not be kept.

Should a child get a guinea pig?

Any pet is not a toy, but a living being that requires a responsible approach. Before getting a guinea pig as a pet for a child, you need to not only weigh the pros and cons, but also determine who will take care of the little friend if the baby loses interest in him.

If predatory pets live at home, you need to make sure that the cage with a small pet is in a place inaccessible to potential offenders. If the baby walks outside the “house”, he should be monitored very carefully.

A domestic animal needs daily feeding and a change of bedding, so it should not be left for more than a day at home. When leaving on vacation or a business trip, you will have to look for a person who can regularly care for a pet while its owners are not at home.

A guinea pig at home is the absence of noise and a lot of trouble. If the owner takes care of the pet, this small and cute animal will always give a great mood to the household!

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