Kids just love having pets, but unfortunately animals in the household can be a big headache for parents. Pets can be a nuisance, they make a mess, they’re expensive when you have to go to the vet, and what do you do with them when you go on holidays? But even so kids still love having pets. So if you’re a parent and you’ve had your children pestering you for a pet what options do you have?
Have you considered buying your children a guinea pig?
Guinea pigs make great pets for children. They’re small, if they poop on the carpet it’s not a problem, they’re rarely sick and you can leave them outside. They won’t tear the furniture to pieces and they won’t bark at the neighbours. They’re cheap to house, cheap to feed and you can usually find one for under $20.
In fact you can’t get a better pet for children or parents than a guinea pig. They don’t live so long so you’re not committing yourself to pet ownership for more than 15 years. In fact a guinea pig usually lasts no longer than 5 years.
A guinea pig will sit on your child’s lap for hours while they are brushed or stroked. They very rarely bite and are easy to turn into your child’s best friend.
However it’s also true, as with many animals, that you should supervise young children, even when handling guinea pigs. Guinea pigs do not take kindly to being dropped.
They are social animals and are happy to be in the company of human beings that treat them well. They also like being with other guinea pigs and so if you are buying some pigs for the family it’s better to get two. It is possible to keep one piggy on his own however he may become lonely so it’s important to spend more time with him.
It’s not expensive to feed your guinea pigs, all they require is some simple food such as some grains or commercial pellets and some grass or vegetable scraps. It’s wise to supplement their diet with a little vitamin C from time to time.
However you need to give some thought to buying a good guinea pig hutch.
Housing your piggie is something you need to think about before you buy him. Most commercial guinea pig hutches sold in pet shops are too small. They need space to run around and exercise, as well as some space for toys to play with. It is not difficult to build your own hutch and it’s a good project for dad to share with the kids.
Or why not consider building the guinea pig house yourself. With a few pieces of treated outdoors timber, a little wire and a few clasps and hinges and you can make a cage that will be ideal for him to live in. It’s fine to house your guinea pig outdoors however care should be taken on particularly cold or hot days. They need a dry draught free area in the hutch for them to sleep and you can put hay on the floor of that for a bed.
So if you’ve been searching for the perfect solution to a pet for the children you ought to consider giving them a guinea pig.
Tags: guinea pig cages, guinea pig hutches, guinea pigs cage, guinea pigs hutch
