Although your cat is friendly and relaxed, and spends most of its time simply sitting around your guinea pig’s cage and watching them with interest, it can still be more stressful for your guinea pigs than you can imagine.
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Can guinea pigs and cats live together?
It is recommended that you never keep a guinea pig in the same house as a cat. When your guinea pigs first appear, your cat may be scared of them because it is unsure whether they are a threat or not. However, over time, your cat will learn to recognize them as food sources and will no longer be afraid of them.
Simply because your piggies or cats did not experience an unfortunate incident when you first introduced them does not rule out the possibility of something going wrong later on.
Some people, however, have been successful in bringing them together in a shared play space, where both guinea pigs and cats can be seen playing together.
Does that imply that you should also experiment with something similar?
Most likely, not right away. However, with a few precautions and some training, you should be able to coexist peacefully in a common play area. Of course, only under your direct supervision. Housing them all together, on the other hand, can be extremely dangerous. As a result, be mindful of this!
To understand how to get your guinea pigs to get along with your cats, you must first understand the temperament and behavior of your cats. So, let’s start by taking a look at the general personality of a feline companion.
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Understanding Cat’s temperament
An investigation into the personality of domestic pet cats (Felis catus) is described in “The ‘Feline Five,‘” which suggests that the basic nature of a domestic pet cat can be characterized by five major aspects, which are as follows:
- Neuroticism
- Extraversion
- Dominance
- Impulsiveness
- Agreeableness
These are the five most important factors that, when taken together, define the cat’s fundamental character. Following that, as illustrated in the diagram below, this can be further split down:
The cat’s living environment, as well as the manner in which it is raised, will determine the characteristics that it will develop over time.
It is believed that if a cat is raised properly, starting at a young age, he or she will develop wonderful attributes such as affection, friendliness, gentleness, and intelligence.
While a wild cat may have high scores on negative qualities such as dominance, recklessness, and anxiety, it may not be as aggressive as other cats.
As a result, we may conclude that it is critical to adopt a cat at a young age and nurture it alongside other family members and pets in order for it to develop a sense of friendliness toward everyone.
When introducing an older cat to your other pets, such as guinea pigs, it can be more challenging than when introducing two kittens who were nurtured together from an early age.
While it is possible that your pet cat will get along with your guinea pigs, the wild ones will continue to be a danger to them because they are unpredictable.
Will my cat hurt my guinea pig?
In the event that your cats were grown with your guinea pigs and have a kind attitude toward them, there is a minimal chance that they will harm them.
If your guinea pigs run away or start popcorning or anything like that, your cat may instinctively grab hold of them with its paws, causing severe injury to the animals. Cats are known to be aggressive towards their prey.
The opposite is true if you have a new cat and the guinea pigs and cats have not been properly acquainted yet. In this case, the cat may become hostile and may scratch or otherwise harm the guinea pig.
Be certain that the pets are properly introduced before leaving them in one location, and that you remain present to supervise them when they are playing together once they have been introduced.
Introducing the cat & guinea pigs
The introduction of the cats and guinea pigs to one another is an extremely important step that must not be overlooked. It is a crucial feature because it is at this point that they will find out whether or not they can get along with one another in the future. If you don’t handle it correctly, you may never be able to keep them together or even allow them to play in the same space again. To ensure that your guinea pigs and cats get along well, make sure you follow all of the instructions we outline further down the page.
Introduction at an early age
Some owners want to maintain both guinea pigs and cats in their homes, and for these owners, the ideal decision is to raise both cats and guinea pigs together from a young age, which is the greatest option.
According to research, the optimal time to socialize a cat (kitten) is during the first few weeks of its life.
Felines socialize with their environment and other objects more readily during the time of 2-14 weeks after they have been born.
Increasing the chances of successfully keeping your cat and guinea pig together increases significantly if you can socialize the two animals throughout that period of time.
The same is true for guinea pigs as it is for humans. The cat that they have been raised with increases the likelihood that your guinea pigs will socialize with it and feel safe around it.
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However, if you try this later with an elderly cat, it is possible that your guinea pigs will get anxious and fearful, and they will not be able to socialize with your cats in the future.
Setting up a common play area
Have a shared play area in your home where you may leave both your guinea pigs and cats while you are away at work or on vacation.
This can be your drawing room, your living room, or even your bedroom, depending on your preferences. In order for this to work, the location must be distinct from where you normally keep your pets.
As a result, neither your guinea pigs nor your cats will have the impression that others are intruding their living space.
Cats, even more so than dogs, can become aggressive when they feel threatened. In order to ensure that the process ahead goes smoothly, setting up a shared play area is the most important thing you can do.
You may also go ahead and create some hiding spots for your guinea pigs in the room if you want to. Guinea pigs’ only means of defending themselves against predators is to flee and hide, therefore providing them with a safe and pleasant hiding spot is essential.
To provide some hiding room for your guinea pigs in the event that they become stressed or nervous, you can provide some hiding space near you. Furthermore, in the event that something goes wrong, you will be able to defend your guinea pigs from the cat.
Brief introduction at the play area
Having laid the groundwork for the introduction, you can begin by putting your cat in a kennel and bringing in your two guinea pigs to allow them to roam around in their new environment.
This will ensure that both parties are comfortable with the smell and presence of the other party. Guinea pigs, being prey animals, are also more secure when the cat is hiding behind the closed door.
Following that, you can confine your guinea pig to a tiny, secure cage while allowing your cat to roam freely around the area.
This will assist you in better understanding your cat’s personality, as well as their reaction to your guinea pigs, and so on.
If you have a suspicion that the cat is going to scratch or injure your piggies, separate them as soon as possible.
Also keep in mind that the initial engagement should be brief, lasting no more than a few minutes. If necessary, repeat the procedure for a few days, progressively increasing the duration of each session. Please do not leave them alone at any time, as the safety of our pets is our number one priority at all times.
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Letting them free under your supervision
Once you are completely satisfied and certain that your pets are getting along, continuing the above method for a few weeks will allow you to eventually introduce your pets together freely to one another.
If your guinea pigs feel the need to run away, make sure they have a safe place to hide. It is preferable if you are really attentive and focused on how your cats and guinea pigs are acting at all times.
You should separate them and try them again later if you notice any strange behavior. If all goes according to plan, you can let them to run around under your supervision for a bit.
Remember to keep both your cats and guinea pigs within sight and attention at all times during this era of their development and growth. If something goes wrong, you might find yourself in serious difficulty.
As a result, make certain that nothing is diverting your attention. Also, keep in mind that cats are opportunists, which means that if they have anything in mind, they will hunt for an opportunity to strike.
It does not follow that just because nothing happened wrong on the first day, you may be more relaxed on the second day as well.
Maintain active monitoring for at least a few months until you are confident with your decision. In any case, you should never let your dogs alone on their own.
Housing them separately when you are not around
Separate housing for your cats and guinea pigs is the most sensible decision you can make. Take precautions to ensure that your cats do not gain access to the area where your guinea pigs are kept.
This is the most effective method of ensuring that you do not arrive home to find your pet injured or blood spilled throughout your home.
You should never let your guinea pigs and cat alone together when you are gone from home.
The best course of action will be to keep your guinea pigs in a room where your cats will not be able to even enter the room, let alone get into the cage.
How do you keep cats away from guinea pigs? (Keeping your piggies safe around other pets)
In this day and age, the safety of your pets should be your main priority, and given the possibility that guinea pigs may become a victim, making certain that they are protected is critical.
Listed below are a few guidelines you can take to ensure the safety of your guinea pigs if you decide to bring additional pets into your home.
Keeping your guinea pigs and cats separate
It is critical to separate your guinea pigs and cats in various areas of your home in order to safeguard the safety of your guinea pigs and cats.
The possibility exists that your guinea pigs and cats will get into a fight even though they are already familiar with one another in a certain environment.
As a result, maintaining the safety of your dogs should be your primary priority in all situations. When it comes to housing your guinea pigs, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Make certain that your guinea pig cage is located in a busy area where people are passing by or going about their business. They should not feel as if they are being abandoned or abandoned in some way.
Make certain that the temperature in the room remains steady, as guinea pigs do not do well when the mercury fluctuates.
I would recommend that you read our guidelines to learn more about housing your guinea pigs, whether or not you should have them in your bedroom, and other topics of interest.
Getting a secured and sturdy cage for your guinea pigs
You must guarantee that your guinea pig’s cage is strong and durable if you plan to keep it with other animals in the same space.
The cage must be completely enclosed and locked from all sides in order to prevent other animals, such as cats, from getting to your guinea pigs and harming them.
Because such cages are not readily available in most retail pet stores, most staff will tell you that an ordinary pen will suffice. I strongly advise you to disregard this advice and instead get a solid and safe cage.
If you only have a pair of guinea pigs, a Living World cage is a wonderful choice; however, if you have more than that, you may need to invest in a bespoke C&C cage with a top to keep your piggies secure.
How to Make A C&C Top Cover That Works!
Providing hiding spaces
The presence of hiding spots in a guinea pig’s cage is absolutely necessary. Guinea pigs are prey animals, and as such, they require appropriate hiding places in order to feel secure and protected.
Providing your guinea pigs with a plethora of hiding places can help to guarantee that they remain safe from the cats, even if the cats manage to get into your guinea pig’s enclosure.
Yes, the solid cage will hold up on its own, but guinea pigs require a safe environment or they will become afraid very fast if they are not given one.
Check out some great hiding spaces for your guinea pigs.
Making sure to lock the cage before leaving
It is possible to keep your guinea pigs secure from cats by doing something as easy as properly locking the cage doors.
Yes, if you leave the cage door open, even by accident, and your cat manages to get into your guinea pig’s cage, the situation might become critical very quickly.
Always double-check that the sides of your guinea pigs’ cage are properly closed, and that everything is in working order before leaving your house or apartment.
Conclusion: Cats and Guinea pigs
So, is it possible to keep a guinea pig and a cat at the same time? Is it feasible to find a way to make it work in some way? Yes, it is possible to keep a cat and guinea pigs together, and the fact is that if you plan ahead of time, you may even be able to get them to get along.
You should be aware, however, that every animal, just like humans, has a distinct personality of its own. Two cats’ personalities might be quite different from one another, and the same is true with guinea pigs.
Make sure you exercise caution and follow the measures we stated previously, and we hope everything works out for you. It doesn’t matter if it does or doesn’t because no two living things are same.
You should expect your guinea pigs to have a difficult time getting along with cats, and that’s perfectly normal. However, if you follow our safety precautions, you can still obtain them.
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