You want a pet either a guiena pig a chinchilla a bunny or a gecko but you have a cat which one would do best with a cat and why?

In addition a Guinea Pig needs exercise outside it's cage either in a run in the garden or in a safe room. If you're not willing to pay for vets bills then don't buy and animal. No excuses, no buts.

Find a good vet who has experience when you first get your Guinea Pig and take them in for a checkup so that you have a vet you are happy with in any emergency. Vets bills for Guinea Pigs are rarely huge but there are some things that will require an operation, which is never cheap. Cats and Guinea Pigs don't mix well.

If you have a cat make sure that they cannot get to the Guinea Pig. Also watch out for neighbours cats when they are out in their run. Weight the run down so it can't be knocked over and always provide them with somewhere to hide.

Dogs can be as good as gold or decide that your pet is a rat - never, ever leave them unattended. Guinea Pigs like company. Guinea Pigs get lonely living on their own.

Two boars (males) can occasionally fight as they reach adulthood although most boars who grow up together are fine together their whole life. So if you are offered two adult males who have always lived together you'll probably be fine. The best bet is two sows (females) or a neutered boar and sow.

Many rescue centres will neuter all of the boars that they get or it is a straightforwards and safe operation for your vet to do. It is kinder to put a boar through a simple operation that to doom him to a life in solitary confinement - he can then have as many girlfriends as you can fit in. Introducing two females or a male and female guinea pig is pretty straightforwards but make sure they have supervised visits until you are sure that they are happy together.

Always give them separate nesting boxes to save squabbles over who gets to hide in there. Don't Breed Guinea Pigs. Please, please don't breed Guinea Pigs.

There are already many, many unwanted pets out there and because baby guinea pigs are born so large there is quite a high rate of complications. Only ever breed if you are willing to keep all of your babies if you cannot get good homes for them and even then if you have the room consider adopting rather than breeding. If you are thinking of breeding guinea pigs then read this page from Cavy Spirit first.

Don't Buy - Adopt. There are lots of rescue centres around the country with unwanted Guinea Pigs for adoption. Try the RSPCA for a start or try Guinea Pig Rehome.

Many of the guinea pigs have come from previously loving home and someone has done all of the hard work of getting them tame for you. Guinea Pigs make great pets. Guinea Pigs are lovely little animals.

They can be got very tame indeed and will come and chat to you. Once they are tame they are great lap pets and will happily sit and munch a bit of green stuff whilst you give them a brush. They are simple to keep and they are well known so you can get lots of information about them.

If you've read everything above and are willing to put the time and effort into caring for them properly then I cannot recommend them highly enough. I really miss my piggies and hope to have them again one day. If anyone would like to add anything to this list please feel free to e-mail me.