Cavies - 3 Important Tips For Handling Guinea Pigs

Not many animals are as easy and fun to own as cavies. They really love to be petted and handled, which makes them ideal for children and adults looking for a responsive, affectionate animal.

Below you will find 3 pieces of important advice that you must bear in mind whenever playing with your pets:

1. Keep Them Safe

A great thing about cavies is that they are much more content to sit still than many other small pets such as hamsters and mice. Having said that, sometimes they might attempt to jump out of your hands, and this can lead to you dropping them. Obviously, this could potentially be harmful to your pet's fragile body.

In order to minimise this danger, you should hold your guinea pigs above a soft surface, such as carpet, your lap, or a table with a towel on it. That way if they do fall, they shouldn't be harmed.

2. Don't Let Children Handle Them Alone

Guinea pigs are relatively big animals, which can make them more awkward to hold than other, smaller pets. Children especially can find them tricky to hold, and may be more likely to drop them.

If your children have guinea pigs but cannot handle them easily, it is a good idea if you handle their animal for them, and let them pet it. This allows your kids to spend quality time with their cavies until they are big enough to handle them alone.

3. Put Them Back When They're Tired

Cavies are on the whole quite calm creatures, and are perfectly happy to saty put on your lap being petted for long periods of time. However, they will eventually become worn out and want to return to their cage to have some time to themselves.

You might find that your animal's attitude changes from docile and relaxed to slightly jumpy. For example, they may attempt to escape your arms or jump onto the ground. When they get like this it is important to put them back in their cage.