Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - Care for Your Guinea Pigs

Take time to select the right guinea pigs. Doing lots of research before you buy will help you to pick healthy animals.

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LEFT TO RIGHT: English; Abyssinian; Peruvian; Hairless.

Guinea pigs originated in South America and it is thought that they were first domesticated several thousand years ago. There are many varieties of guinea pig, or cavies as they are sometimes called. Three standard breeds were originally recognized: the English, which has a smooth, short coat; the Abyssinian, which has a rosetted or rough coat; and the long-haired Peruvian. Many more breeds and varieties now exist, and you will find guinea pigs with different-coloured coats and types of fur.

Some people may like a particular type of guinea pig because of their looks. Keep in mind, however, that you need to look beyond these generalizations, as every guinea pig has their own unique character and temperament. The way they behave will depend upon how they are reared, cared for and treated.

Guinea pigs have different coat types: smooth, satin, rough, long or hairless. They also have hair in many different coat colours, including white, red, tan, brown, chocolate, cream, golden beige, lilac and black. Some guinea pigs, called bi-colours, have coats in blocks of two colours. Guinea pigs with coats in three blocks of colour are known as tri-colours. Some have patterns, such as the Dalmatian, with its white coat and black spots. The Himalayan has white fur, with black or brown ears, nose and feet.

Smooth-haired guinea pigs have short, smooth, straight hair. Smooth-haired guinea pigs that are a single colour are called selfs. Some smooth-haired guinea pigs have bi- or tri-coloured coats. Varieties of smooth-haired guinea pigs include the English or American.

Top Tip

Whatever type of guinea pigs you choose, remember that they should not be kept with other animals, including rabbits, because their needs and diet are completely different.

These varieties include the Abyssinian, which has short, coarse hair in whorls or rosettes. Rex guinea pigs tend to have shorter coats with dense, rough fur they look quite similar to the Teddy, which has short, coarse, thick hair, but Rexes tend to have crinkled whiskers, whereas the Teddys whiskers are usually straight.

Peruvian guinea pigs have fine hair that grows very long and if it is not trimmed will trail on the ground. This may not be obvious when they are babies, so it is an easy thing to overlook when you are buying your pets. The Texel guinea pig has long hair in ringlets and curls all over the body that is very thick and needs particularly careful grooming. Long-haired guinea pigs are probably not the best choice for inexperienced owners or those with very busy lifestyles, because while all guinea pigs need regular grooming, those with long-haired coats need considerably more care and attention and it can be very difficult to tell the condition of the guinea pig underneath all the hair.

The Baldwin guinea pig is born with hair but becomes totally bald at the time of weaning. The Skinny pig is hairless except for the head and lower legs. These guinea pigs are susceptible to the cold and also at risk of sunburn, so are not recommended for inexperienced owners.

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Make sure that your new guinea pigs are healthy.