Guinea pigs are very interesting and fun animals that brighten up our day. My guinea pig makes noises of joy every time I come home from work because he sees me again.
At the same time, I feel happy and joyful, but sometimes I think about how long my guinea pig will live. So I did some research on how long guinea pigs live indoors.
How long do guinea pigs live indoors?
Indoor guinea pigs live about 5 to 7 years, but living conditions can affect their lifespan. The better you keep them, give them regular food and drink water, and the more activities they have indoors improve and increase their life in your home.
In today’s article, you will also learn how to take care of guinea pigs so that they can live longer indoors, whether it is better to keep them inside or outside, and similar questions.
How long will my guinea pig live indoors?
Guinea pigs live an average of 5-7 years, which is significantly longer than other rodents such as hamsters. Of course, whether their average life will be longer or shorter is influenced by several factors such as:
- breed
- health state
- what kind of cage do they have
- do they have enough activities
- do they have enough toys and objects in the cage
- the diet
The better you keep the guinea pigs and provide them with better living conditions, the more the chances increase that they will live longer indoors.
Is it okay for guinea pigs to live indoors?
Yes, guinea pigs can live indoors and there are benefits for them that they don’t have if they live outdoors.
Indoor guinea pigs always have enough food and water to drink that they may not have if they live outside in the open.
In order for guinea pigs to be happy and satisfied in a closed space, they need to have enough stimulation, toys, and other objects to be able to function normally.
When they have all these comforts, there will be no problem with their life in a closed space, otherwise, diseases and problems in their behavior may occur.
Once a day for about an hour you can take them out of the cage and let them run and play in your room, which will be a moment of happiness and pleasure for them.
How to care for guinea pigs living indoors?
When keeping a guinea pig indoors you need a cage big enough for them to feel cozy and comfortable, the cage and its size are one of the most important things.
A guinea pig needs a cage with a size of 7.5 square feet, or 30″x 36″, that’s the minimum, and if you can provide a bigger cage even better.
There should always be enough bedding in the cage so that the guinea pig can feel comfortable and more natural, it is best if the bedding is made of hay.
There should always be enough food and drinking water in the guinea pig’s cage.
Hay is their basic food represented by 80 percent of the diet, and the rest should be vegetables, fruits, and seeds.
You should clean the cage once a week, and you should change your pet’s food and water daily.
Indoor guinea pigs do not need to be bathed, they groom themselves unless your pet has diarrhea or is too dirty to clean itself.
However, bathing is not recommended for guinea pigs. The nails of guinea pigs should be trimmed once every two months, or sooner depending on how much they have grown.
Guinea pigs’ teeth should not be trimmed, but they should therefore have enough toys and objects with which to reduce them since they are constantly growing.
Keeping a guinea pig in a cage requires paying attention and playing with your pet daily, and letting him into your room at least once a day for an hour.
Is it better for a guinea pig to be kept indoors or outdoors?
Guinea pigs can live both indoors and outdoors, so it is up to you to decide where you will keep your guinea pig.
That’s why we’re going to look at both options so you can familiarize yourself with the benefits and dangers for your guinea pig.
Keeping inside
When you keep guinea pigs indoors they are safer and protected from the weather and are protected from predator attacks.
If you keep them inside, they should have a comfortable and large cage so that they do not feel uncomfortable and it is not cramped.
If you, as the owner, have an allergy to hay or to guinea pigs, then you will not be able to keep them indoors.
Sometimes guinea pigs can be noisy, especially when they are hungry and therefore they may mind you if you keep them in your bedroom.
Keeping them indoors allows them to always have enough food and water that they may not have outside.
Keeping out
Keeping guinea pigs outside is worse when it comes to weather conditions, as they can get cold, wet, and sick.
When you keep guinea pigs outside they are at greater risk of being attacked by predators such as cats, snakes, and foxes.
If you decide to keep your guinea pig outside then you will need to have a very strong and closed cage to prevent predators from getting to your pet.
Keeping it outside can also mean neglecting the guinea pig because you will be inside the home more often and won’t be playing with it as much.
In any case, keeping them outside will remind the guinea pigs more of their natural way of life, which is the biggest benefit of keeping them outdoors.
When is the best time to keep your guinea pig outside?
if you keep your pet outside then you will have to be careful that it is not exposed to rain or snow because it will get wet and then it can get sick.
In the summer period, the guinea pig should be in the shade so that it does not get too hot.
When it’s cold, you shouldn’t take the guinea pig out at all, because, in a short time, they will be very cold and may get sick.
When guinea pigs are outside you should always keep an eye on them and never leave them alone.
How do you move guinea pigs from the inside out?
If you decide to move your guinea pigs indoors then you will have to take care of their safety and protection from the weather.
The cage should be well-made and strong so that there is no danger of predator attacks.
When you decide to move guinea pigs from indoors to outdoors you will have to do it gradually for an hour each day to get them used to it.
Gradually increase the time they spend outside and eventually let them sleep outside completely at night.
If you decide to move the guinea pigs outside, then you should not bring them back indoors, as this will be stressful for them.
Do guinea pigs like to live inside or outside?
In the past, guinea pigs certainly preferred to live in open spaces, but things are changing.
They are getting used to living indoors, as long as they have good conditions such as:
- enough food
- always clean water
- hay for bedding
- toys to have enough activities
If you mix these conditions and occasionally let the guinea pig play in your room for an hour, there is no reason why your pet should not want to live indoors.
Should guinea pigs be in a quiet room?
Yes, guinea pigs should live in a quiet room, although a living room or bedroom is fine as long as it has a quiet environment.
Guinea pigs don’t like:
- loud environment from outside
- other pets
- playing loud TV or music
As long as the area around the guinea pig is quiet they will not mind keeping it in your room.
Conclusion
Indoor guinea pigs live for about 5-7 years, but it all depends on other factors that affect their lifespan. Guinea pigs can live indoors and this gives them greater safety from predators.
Keeping guinea pigs indoors allows them to always have enough food and water and is not exposed to bad weather.
Keeping guinea pigs outside is only good so they can feel more natural, and in every other way keeping them indoors is better for them.
Finally, indoor life is perfectly fine and with proper care for guinea pigs, they can live longer than they would in the wild.
Read more: Can Guinea Pigs Live Alone? Let’s Find Out
