Behold the guinea pig: small, furry, unassuming. These little animals are seen in pet stores everywhere, but are they good pets? The short answer is “yes.”

Guinea pigs are small members of the rodent family. A guinea pig is a native of South America, but has been domesticated for several hundred years. They were popular lap pets in European courts, and their names have become synonymous with “test subject.” However, the guinea pig makes an excellent pet for a home or apartment.

A guinea pig is often thought of as a good pet for children, and this is true, but as with all pets, parents must make certain the child is old enough to be gentle with the animal and mature enough to care for it properly. A guinea pig is a sociable animal and needs a home where it will receive attention and affection. Being left in a cage and ignored is a harsh life for the guinea pig. They are affectionate animals that love to be held, and owners should be prepared for this.

A prospective owner should get a good book on guinea pig care and read it carefully. A guinea pig’s needs are not elaborate, but include a roomy cage, safe bedding, a ceramic food bowl, a water bottle with a sipper spout, guinea pig pellets and timothy hay. These are the basics.

Some people put a little plastic or wooden shelter inside the cage, but this is not recommended for the first week or so at home. The guinea pig may retreat inside the shelter and refuse to come out, except to eat. A shelter should only be added after the guinea pig has become accustomed to its environment.

Guinea pigs are strict vegans. They do not eat any kind of meat product, and do not need dairy products or sweets. A nugget of corn or wheat cereal once in a while may be a nice treat, but these should not be given regularly. Pellets formulated especially for guinea pigs should compose the bulk of the diet, along with timothy hay.

Some cages have ricks where hay can be placed for eating at leisure, but most piggies do not nibble on hay throughout the day. They will eat an entire rick-full and wheek for more. Incidentally, the “wheek!” is a noise that the guinea pig does not make in the wild. It is a call reserved for humans opening the refrigerator — and a guinea pig knows exactly what is in the fridge — treats.

Are guinea pigs intelligent? Limited might be a fairer assessment. Within their limits, they are fairly bright. As mentioned above, they know what the fridge is for, or at least that opening the door means a treat might be in their future. They seem to respond to their owners coming in from being absent, and they certainly relish being picked up and loved. They return affection with nuzzles, head butts and gurgles of contentment.

The guinea pig is a prey creature, and so will mask illness. An owner should look for any nasal discharge or diarrhea and notice if the guinea pig is not drinking water. These are sure signs of illness, and time is always of the essence when treating a guinea pig. If possible, the animal should be taken to a veterinarian specializing in exotic pets for treatment.

The animal’s cage should be kept out of direct sunlight and draughts. The room temperature should be fairly consistent to help keep illness away. Loud noises should be kept to a minimum, when possible.

One great advantage of the guinea pig as a pet is that it is quiet. Yes, it will wheek and squeak and gurgle, but not loudly. They rattle their water bottles and bang items around in their cages, but do not create much commotion.

When their cages are kept clean, guinea pigs also have very little odor. Also, people are rarely allergic to them. A guinea pig is also generally a fastidious little animal and keeps itself groomed, although gentle brushing with a soft-bristled brush is also appreciated.

Guinea pigs are packed with personality and friendliness. They rarely bite and are sociable, likable little animals. As such, they make excellent pets.