Guinea Pigs and Cavies are the same.  The term Cavy is more used in the show circuit, but they are both terms to describe these loveable balls of joy!

Guinea pigs live 5-7 years, so they are a pet that takes some commitment. 

One guinea pig: 7.5 square feet, or about 30”x 36”, is the minimum recommended, but bigger is better. Keep in mind that guinea pigs are highly social, so it is best to have at least two guinea pigs who get along with each other.  Guinea pigs are more likely to fight and injure each other if their space is too small.  Guinea pigs cannot jump very high, so their cage does not need to have a top unless you have other animals (especially cats or dogs) who might disturb them.

Guinea pigs are super social animals that live in a herd community in the wild.  They do not do well alone, even if they are loved on and held by their humans daily.  Females are more likely to get along with other females, while males do best if they have a bonded companion that they are introduced to early in life before reaching sexual maturity (brothers work best).  If the males do not bond early in life they still like to be in cages close to each other for socialization.

We have three staples to our guinea pig diet. 

• Pellet Food – it is best to select one that is just pellets. The fillers are often dyed and can raise your piggies blood sugar too high.
• Hay – we get a bale of hay from our local feed store for around $12.  Much cheaper than the small bundles they sell in pet stores.
• Fresh Fruits and Veggies.  GuineaDad has a great list of safe fruits and veggies here:  Some of their favorites include bell peppers, lettuce, kale, celery, cucumbers, blueberries, and tomatoes

We made fleece liners for our piggies that we change once a week, or more often as needed.  We shake off the droppings and hay, then put them in a mesh bag to wash so it doesn’t kill our washer and dryer.  We have done kiln-dried pine shavings in the past as well.

Our amazon recommendations can be found here: