When I was a kid, I had two guinea pigs, at separate times. And now that I am a college student, it was time for me to have a pet of my own. I wanted one that could stay in my dorm room with me and it had to be easy to care for between all of my responsibilities. So I went back to the tried and true guinea pig. I named him Leonard and he is my child, I love him dearly and couldn't imagine a better pet. So here are ten reasons that guinea pigs, and Leonard in general, are amazing pets.
1. They are cute.
Kayla Resler
Who wants a pet that is ugly? No one, that's who. Guinea pigs are so adorable, with their floppy ears, little mouth, small and fuzzy body, they are perfect for any occasion.
2. They talk!
Kayla Resler
Guinea pigs squeak and purr to communicate. Leonard is a chatter box, especially when he is being held!
3. They cuddle.
Kayla Resler
If you want a pet that will love you as much as you love them, a guinea pig is a great choice. They absolutely love to cuddle up to their owner and will stay with you as long as you allow. Just make sure you use a towel for when they have to go potty.
4. They love hay.
Kayla Resler
Guinea pigs have to eat a lot of hay. It has to be the main thing in their diet. That being said, they love the stuff. I definitely recommend a hay bag to keep it in, it keeps the cage from getting super messy and gives them more space to run around. Plus they love to climb in and hang out inside, even if it is filled with hay. I can't tell you how many times I have walked in on Leonard inside the hay bag or on top of the bag and eating down.
5. They are adventurous.
Kayla Resler
Guinea pigs have no fear. Exhibit A being the picture above. The dog, Crowley, is more scared of Leonard than Leonard is of him. He always sniffs him out and tries to get as close to him as possible. That is just one thing about Leonard that makes him adventurous. He also likes to explore my new dorm room.
6. They love veggies.
Kayla Resler
Guinea pigs absolutely love veggies, they are to them what candy is to us. Leonard's favorites are carrots and spinach. He will rip carrots out of your hand if you are trying to give them to him. That isn't to say that he will eat everything, he is very picky about his veggies. If there is a piece of spinach he doesn't like he won't eat it, he will snub it because he doesn't deem it good enough.
7. Guinea pigs are unique!
Kayla Resler
Each guinea pig is different, no one guinea pig has the same colors and pattern or personality. There are some traits that can be found in most, if not all, but each one is their own person.
8. They are relatively low maintenance.
Kayla Resler
While you have to make sure that they get hay, veggies, and vitamin C, the hardest thing that you have to do to take care of a guinea pig is clean its cage. Usually, you can clean the cage once a week, and it really doesn't take super long. But other than that, guinea pigs are super easy to take care of.
9. They don't cost a lot of money.
While it may be a little much to get started, mostly because of the cage, in the long run, guinea pigs are a lot cheaper than other more mainstream pets, such as cats and dogs. They don't usually have to go to the vet a lot so you don't have to worry about those bills. The most you would have to pay is for the bedding and hay when you run out.
10. It is impossible not to love them!
Kayla Resler
They are so cute and cuddly that it is impossible to not fall in love with a little guinea pig. I mean, look at that face!! ^^
