Guinea pigs – or cavies, to give them their proper name – are fascinating, intelligent and, when handled correctly, friendly. They originate from South America and there are eight species, but only one – the domestic cavy – is kept as a pet. Guinea pigs live for around four to eight years, so their care is a long-term commitment. Males are known as boars and females are called sows. Guinea pigs need company of their own kind and can be kept in same sex groups or in pairs. Don’t forget, if you’re planning to keep a male and female together, it’s essential that the male is neutered to avoid unwanted babies. It takes around four weeks for a male to become sterile after being neutered.
Learn more about guinea pigs This website was built by Valerie Vliegen