Guinea Pigs

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Originally posted by JohanR:

My cat qualifies then.

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Off-topic, but we have two cats and when bored, there's nothing like watching the games of strategy they play. For instance, one will take up a position that has to be walked past by the other to get to the food bowl (which is regularly checked JUST IN CASE something has changed) and simply waits. The other cat comes in to check the bowl but sees that it has to walk right past the other cat, which involves a degree of risk...

Deane

What do you need to do with Guinea Pigs? - It depends, my sister (supposedly her daughter) has had them for nine years, the first one roamed around the kitchen and fed off scraps. The next four lived in a small cage in her small N. London garden and went into a guinea pig run every day rain or shine, except for severe weather when they were put in the shed. They were allowed out of the run and gradually disappeared and there is still one left.
On the other hand my now 14 year old got two for her 12th birthday and since then I have been kept fully occupied by the GP manager (my wife).
She has bought all the books and made me: –
1. Buy – Indoor cage, outdoor cage, + waterproofing paint, guinea pig run, special hay, and a regular supply of premium fruit and veg.
2. Make - Outdoor cage stand (made of wood to avoid ferrous effects on sonic performance) Collapsible indoor fun box.
3. Grooming – regular cutting of nails and hair around the rear end of the longer haired one.
4. Regular trips to the vet.
The books have told her to watch out for foxes, not allow them on wet grass to avoid pneumonia, keep them at an even temperature so they are now kept our unheated utility room at the side of the house and not allowed inside during the winter because they will not be able to cope with the change of temperature and to also give them plenty of exercise – hence the fun box which has been supplied with various toys to keep them happy and they scuttle around but can’t really climb up anything.
The 14 year old still mostly looks after them and they are the main topic of conversation in the house and I am unable to discuss proper subjects such as hifi, music, sport, cars and now only have a little free time to read the forum – but I do have a ready supply of compost for the garden.

CNC

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Do Guinea Pigs make good jumpers, so to speak?

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Well, most of the books will tell you they can't jump, but all ours did!

They are just about the perfect pet for children, they actually enjoy being petted (after the initial shock of being handled) as is obvious from huge vocabulary of sounds they make.

The wheeps when you rustle a plastic bag, or they hear the fridge door open (we want food!) through to the brrrrr noises that tell you they aren't happy and the contented purrs you get when they are really enjoying the attention. They are surprisingly vocal, our last remaining piggie, is pretty good at attracting attention when she wants something like water bottles refilled or fresh veg.

You should be aware though that they are part of a conspiracy to take over the world (see http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/5736/agpcfaq.html), being far more internet savvy than one might think. They are instantly recognisable by the mixed case typing as their little paws randomly hit the caps lock key, whilst scuttling over your keyboard communicating with the rest of their forces.



They do have a tendency, if they do get ill, to give up pretty quickly, but generally they live for years, our remaining one is 5 now, currently indoors getting some rest after some self-inflicted injury to a front paw.

Better than a Nile Crocodile anyway

Andy.

P.S. Zappa our rabbit used to try shagging Sandy, the cute (and music loving) guinea pig in the silly pic above. We found they lived fine together, but there is a risk that the rabbit could injure the pigs. We seperated them' cos of the shagging thing, I wonder what a rabbit / guinea pig cross would look like?

Anyway, the rabbits are in league with them too, I'm convinced...



P.P.S. Blame Barbara for the above silliness, not me

[This message was edited by Andrew L. Weekes on Thu 21 October 2004 at 22:06.]

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Anya's allergic to cats (apparently GP's are hypo-allergenic) and I just don't like them.

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I'd check if she is allergic to GP's as well. I manage to live with a couple of cats that I am mildly allerergic too and coincidentaly don't reall like, but gp's make my eyes bulge out on stalks and my throat close up in a very short space of time. Not nice at all

Ferrets get my vote as brilliant pets for indoors and out where as chickens can make excellent pets for those of an allergic to fur disposition.... Honest!!!!

Best not mix them up though.

Regards

Andy

Go for short-haired.

They should have a run, but simple folding ones are available for easy storage. I would advise putting the run up when you want to be in the garden, and keeping them in the hutch when you don't.

We made the mistake of leaving them in the run when we went out once. Did you know that foxes are really good at digging holes? We don't have 'pigs any more.

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Originally posted by Alex S.:
apparently GP's are hypo-allergenic, and I just don't like them.

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As a GP I can confirm my hypo-allergenic status, and would like to point out that I am looking for a good home.
I can quite understand Alex's point of view as we can be difficult if we don't get enough attention.

Doc,

Gizmo, where?

Beckenham's shops are a bit posh though.
Did you know that all tortoishell cats are female?

That's all right then. Know it well and go there about once a week.