Cats and guinea pigs may get along, but you’ll need to prepare ahead. Keeping your guinea pig in a secure and predator-proof hutch, for example, is essential, as is ensuring that playtime is always monitored.
Unfortunately, because guinea pigs are smaller and more fragile than cats, even a playful paw might spell doom for all parties involved.
Yes, guinea pigs are eaten by cats. Some cats become friends with guinea pigs, while others regard them as possible food.
Even so, not every single one of them will.
If you acquire a guinea pig, your cat may not eat it, but that doesn’t mean it won’t injure it. Guinea pigs are rodents, and rodents are one of your feline companion’s favourite prey.
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Do Cats Get Along With Guinea Pigs?
Cats are natural hunters that are readily enticed by tiny moving creatures. No matter how well you teach a cat, it will always have a wild side. As a result, if it’s your cat’s first time encountering a guinea pig, she’ll likely attack and kill it.
This tendency is also why, if they don’t attack on sight, they may get interested and try to weigh the guinea pigs.
You should also keep in mind that cats are naturally playful. Your cat is not allowed to consume or damage your guinea pig in any way.
Nonetheless, keep in mind that they would still play with it. While it is unlikely to do bodily harm, it may cause anxiety in your guinea pig.
It might also lead to unwelcome injuries, such as scratches from a cat’s paw.
Finally, cats prefer rodents over all other creatures. While they are less interested in insects, they will pounce on any rodent they come across.
Expect the worst from your guinea pig if your cat, or any other cat for that matter, isn’t used to living with other pets.
You may now believe that your cat poses a threat to your guinea pig and that getting one is a bad idea. But don’t worry; both pets can live together.
Do Kittens And Guinea Pigs Get Along?
Kittens and guinea pigs get along fine because they are predators and preys to each other, it may appear strange.
Cats and guinea pigs, on the other hand, are domestic pets that can grow to view each other as family.
When opposed to their wild counterparts, house cats are generally less aggressive.
The reason for this is that they do not have to hunt for food. When wild and domestic cats are compared, wild cats are more likely to devour guinea pigs.
A guinea pig is a toy or a family to a wild cat, but a guinea pig is a toy or a family to your domestic cat.
Guinea pigs may live in a house with a well-trained cat if they are kept together.
Let’s keep going by making it feasible. A cat and a guinea pig may live together, but they must be properly introduced and supervised.
Are Cats Good With Guinea Pigs?
It’s preferable if you don’t keep a guinea pig with a cat without proper training. The cat may be afraid of your guinea pig at first since it is uncertain whether they are a threat or not, but with time, they will realise and may regard your piggies as a source of food.
So, just because your piggies or kitties didn’t have a mishap when you initially introduced them doesn’t rule out the possibility of something going wrong.
Some individuals, on the other hand, have managed to get them to get along in a shared play zone where both guinea pigs and cats may be observed playing alone.
With some careful planning, guinea pigs and cats can get along. Cats and guinea pigs have the misconception that one is a predator and the other is a prey species.
You may have both of them as pets without any trouble if you give them some training and care. However, it’s always a good idea to be cautious!
While some cats get along well with guinea pigs, others view them only as a food source.
Overall, they have a predatory nature, which is why you must exercise extreme caution if you want to keep them together. Guinea pigs are prone to becoming scared.
If you already have a cat and decide to adopt a new guinea pig, it may be difficult for them to acclimate to their new surroundings.
Even if your cat is calm and nice and does nothing except sit about your guinea pig’s cage, attentively watching them, it may still be a lot more stressful for them than you might guess.
It’s preferable if you don’t keep a guinea pig with a cat. The cat may be afraid of your guinea pig at first since it is uncertain whether they are a threat or not, but with time, they will realise and may regard your piggies as a source of food.
However, with little safeguards and practise, you should be able to persuade them to play together in a common space. However, putting them in the same place might be dangerous. So keep that in mind!
You must first study your cat’s temperament and behaviour in order to comprehend how to get your guinea pigs along with your cats. So, let’s start with a broad overview of a cat’s personality.
It is critical that you obtain a cat at a young age and nurture it with other family members and pets so that it develops a sense of friendship with everyone.
What features the cat develops over time will be determined by its living environment and how it is reared.
It is thought that if a cat is raised properly from a young age, they can acquire good traits like as affectionateness, friendliness, gentleness, and intelligence.
While a wild cat may have high ratings on negative characteristics such as Dominance, Recklessness, and Anxiety.
It can be difficult to introduce an elderly cat to your other pets, such as guinea pigs, as opposed to those kept together from infancy.
As a result, while a domestic cat may get along with your guinea pigs, wild ones remain a threat to them.
Will My Cat Kill My Guinea Pig?
If your cats were reared with your guinea pigs and have a nice relationship with them, there is a low chance they may harm them.
Cats, on the other hand, have an impetuous character, and if your guinea pigs flee or start doing something similar, your cat may grip your guinea pigs tightly with its paws, which can severely injure your guinea pigs.
On the other side, if you have a new cat and the guinea pigs and cats have not been properly introduced, the cat may become hostile and scratch and injure the guinea pig.
As a result, make sure you introduce the pets thoroughly before leaving them in one location, and that you remain present to supervise them while they play.
Cats, believe it or not, prefer to hang out with guinea pigs. Even if this is correct, you can’t count on your predator pet to be gentle with your prey.
To avoid problems, you’ll need to know some suggestions on how to avoid it, but first and foremost, you’ll need to understand their habits.
To begin, you must remember that in the natural, cats are predators and guinea pigs are prey animals. You should be conscious that no matter how nice you want your cat to be, instincts will always be present. Your guinea pig might get injured if you don’t pay attention to their interaction for even a second.
When they meet for the first time, there’s a good chance the cat will be the one that becomes terrified. Unless the guinea pig is in the cage, they will most likely be terrified. When the young guinea pig is in the cage, they occasionally try to assault him.
The cage is a little place where the cat may feel secure enough to attack. Otherwise, the cat would most likely be afraid of the guinea pig if it is outside the cage.
Another thing to bear in mind is that, while the cat may be afraid at first, it will gradually become accustomed to the guinea pig.
How Do I Protect My Guinea Pigs From My Cat?
The safety of your pets is paramount, and given the present situation, guinea pigs may be a victim, therefore ensuring sure they are secure is critical.
If you decide to have other pets in your home, here are some suggestions to keep your guinea pigs safe
1. Separate Them
As much as possible, keep your cat and guinea pig in separate rooms. Place the guinea pig cage in an area where your cat is not permitted.
Primary instincts never truly go away, so putting a predator and a little prey species in the same room might be disastrous.
Keeping them as far apart as possible is a safety precaution to avoid any sort of conflict between your pets.
To protect the safety of your guinea pigs, separate your guinea pigs from your cats in various sections of your house.
Even if your guinea pigs and cats are well-acquainted with one another, there are times when things might go awry.
2. Build A Strong Cage
You may purchase a guinea pig cage lid. As previously stated, cats feel secure attacking guinea pigs while they are in their cages. Keeping this in mind, you should cover the cage with a lid.
They wouldn’t have an issue with the top of the cage, but you may. It’s possible that having no cover on the cage will make cleaning easier for you.
Keep in mind that your cat is capable of injuring your guinea pig without meaning to. You can do whatever you believe is the safest solution, but I can assure you that putting a cover on the guinea pig cage is the most dependable and best option.
No other animals, especially cats, should be able to approach your guinea pigs and harm them, thus the cage must be completely covered and locked on all sides.
Most pet stores do not sell such cages, and they will tell you that a standard pen would suffice, but I highly advise you to ignore their advice and get a solid and safe cage instead.
It is advised that the cage bars be as close together as possible. This prevents the cat from poking its paws through the bars and attacking the guinea pig. This is a simple and safe technique to keep your adorable dogs from fighting.
3. Never Leave Them Alone
Never leave your cats or guinea pigs alone – this is the most crucial rule to follow. Cats are predators, and part of their nature includes being cunning, devious, and extremely intelligent.
They always know when to attack the target animals, and I don’t think you should take any chances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cats get sick from guinea pigs?
Cats may make guinea pigs sick, and vice versa. Bordetella is a common respiratory infection that may be transmitted from cats to guinea pigs and even people. It’s essential to constantly wash your hands after handling them to avoid illness transmission. If one of your animals becomes ill, we recommend keeping them separated until they recover.
How Do I Introduce My Guinea Pig To My Cat?
It will take some time and effort on your side to introduce your guinea pig to your fluffy kitty. It is, nevertheless, worthwhile. Keep in mind, though, that even with all of your patience, there’s always a risk they won’t get along.
Are Guinea Pigs Scared of Cats?
Guinea pigs are tiny creatures that can be preyed upon by a variety of larger predators, so it’s understandable if your cavy is wary of your cat. There’s also the fact that your guinea pig sees your cat as something utterly alien. They don’t look, smell, or act like your cavy is used to.
Final Words
To summarise, having a cat and a guinea pig at the same time is not difficult. There are a few things you should be aware of. The most essential distinction is that cats are predators, whereas guinea pigs are prey.
I cannot emphasise enough how dangerous things may get if you leave them alone in the room or leave the guinea pig unattended.
Feel free to ask your questions in the comments section below!
