The relationship between cats and guinea pigs can greatest be described as difficult. While many animal species can exist peacefully in the identical surroundings, pairing a cat and a guinea pig requires correct planning and persistence. Cats are predatory by nature and can see the guinea pig as prey. They additionally mark their territories. If a cat regards a guinea pig as a possible hazard and an intruder into its territory, it could possibly develop into aggressive and assault the guinea pig. On the opposite hand, guinea pigs are delicate and will not be capable to counter or face up to an assault from cats.
You might have already got a cat and wish to introduce a guinea pig into the image however questioning if they’ll stay collectively. To reply your query, let’s discover a number of factors:
Do Cats Fear Guinea Pigs?
Cats are sensible and develop into alert when a brand new species is launched into their surroundings. Guinea pigs, then again, act out of intuition. When a guinea pig is initially launched to a cat’s surroundings, the cat will, at first, be not sure of how you can deal with it and will even be afraid of it. You might imagine that that is your cat’s method of welcoming the guinea pig into its house. But don’t be fooled as a result of as time goes by, your cat will develop into aware of the guinea pig and start to see it as prey. The smartest thing to do could be to cage pet guinea pigs away from cats, no less than initially, earlier than the animals familiarize themselves.
How Do You Introduce The Pets?
The earlier the animals are launched to one another, the higher. This will permit them to develop collectively and forge a friendship. Cats are identified to simply work together with different species between the ages of two to 10 weeks as a result of that’s when they’re at their socialization stage.
It’s essential to begin the connection between a guinea pig and a cat via familiarization. When you deliver a guinea pig to your home, make certain it stays in a safe cage in a distinct room away from the cat. Then slowly begin to make your cat conscious {that a} guinea pig is current in the home with out letting it see the guinea pig. You can do that by placing the cat’s meals close to the door or the realm the place the guinea pig has been positioned. If the cat appears uneasy and displays predatory behaviour, take away it from there. Repeat this till the cat will get used to the guinea pig’s presence.
Take the familiarization a step increased by rubbing the guinea pig with a material and inserting the material for the cat to smell. Do this a number of instances till the cat will get used to the scent. Do the identical to the cat and let the guinea pig sniff the material till it additionally will get used to the cat’s scent. This ought to be performed in an affordable time.
Next, permit the animals to see one another briefly by inserting your cat the place it could possibly see the guinea pig however can’t attain it as you pet the guinea pig. You ought to thereafter have somebody pet the guinea pig as you calmly maintain and pet your cat. This ought to occur in the identical room in an effort to observe your pets’ behaviours whilst they get used to one another. When the animals get calm sufficient, cut back the gap progressively. When you get to the purpose the place the animals are docile sufficient to allow you to take a seat facet by facet, cross-pet, and even change the animals.
After a number of such periods, let the guinea pig transfer freely however don’t launch the cat but. If the cat appears to have gotten used to the presence of the guinea pig and stays calm when the guinea pig comes close to it, launch the cat to play with it. Let the animals work together freely, however depart the guinea pig’s cage door open simply in case it might have to sprint in, within the occasion that the cat will get aggressive. If that occurs, take away the cat from the guinea pig’s house instantly, no less than for that point.
The introduction part could be reasonably lengthy. It can take weeks of stare down periods and the animals making unusual noises to threaten one another earlier than they get used to one another. When you get stare-down periods and agitation from the animals, be affected person, it’s a part of the method. If you hurry the method, it’ll solely agitate the animals extra and lengthen the familiarization stage.
Word of warning, even when your cat will get to the purpose of being pleasant along with your guinea pig, by no means depart them alone unsupervised.
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Funny pets. Cat and guinea pig are greatest associates. Guinea pig sitting on the top of the cat
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How Do I Protect My Guinea Pig From My Cat?
As already talked about above, cats are hunters by nature, and in case your cat is left alone along with your guinea pig, it might outcome within the guinea pig’s tragic finish.
To shield your guinea pig out of your cat:
House your guinea pig in a powerful and safe cage the cat can’t entry. One with robust steel bars, a powerful roof, and a powerful backside tray shall be enough to discourage the cat’s advances.
The cage ought to be in a spot the place the cat can’t attain, ideally a excessive place and never on a desk. The presence of the cat close to the guinea pig, particularly when it’s attempting to assault it can trigger misery to the guinea pig.
Make certain the animals are avoided one another, if doable, in separate rooms. The guinea pig ought to be in a room the cat can’t entry.
Don’t let the guinea pig out of the cage with out supervision.
Can My Cat Attack My Guinea Pig?
Your cat’s behaviour will decide the course of the connection between it and the guinea pig. Cats develop temperaments which are decided by the surroundings they develop up in. Their traits are grouped into 5 character sorts:
Neurotic: This sort of cat is often on guard and is definitely scared. It’s suspicious, however as soon as it feels secure, it turns into assured.
Dominant: This cat is a bully and has the capability to make different pets’ lives tough. It’s dominant and makes certain the opposite animals know that it’s in management. It asserts its authority.
Agreeable: This one is loving and tends to make associates quick. It thrives in any surroundings.
Extraverted: Cats are identified to be naturally curious, however this cat’s curiosity is on one other degree. It’s additionally hyperactive however can get damaging if it doesn’t discover sufficient exercise to make use of up its ball of power.
Impulsive: This sort of cat reacts shortly to conditions and appears to be all the time on edge.
Cats introduced up in comparatively calm and secure environments develop good traits. They’re assured, affectionate and mild. Cats which are raised in unfavourable situations, then again, are inclined to show impulsive, neurotic or dominant behaviour. So as a substitute of getting an older cat and attempting to be taught its character, get a cat whereas nonetheless younger in an effort to affect its behaviour.
However, understand that no matter character sort your cat belongs to, it’s nonetheless a predator and nonetheless possesses the predatory intuition to hunt and kill. Cats are additionally comparatively tough in comparison with guinea pigs, and what your cat might take into account as taking part in might typically be dangerous to the guinea pig. The cat might even misread one thing the guinea pig does as a menace. This might trigger the cat to react to perceived hazard by attacking the guinea pig. You’ll solely ensure that your guinea pig is secure when it’s locked away in its cage or once you supervise its playtime along with your cat.
Can Guinea Pigs Make Cats Sick?
Even although each animals have the potential to go illnesses to one another, cats aren’t uncovered to any well being dangers from guinea pigs. It’s, nevertheless, essential to have the animals checked by a vet frequently in order that if both of them is unwell, their contact could be stopped for some time to reduce transmission.
Can Cats Be Allergic To Guinea Pigs?
Cats are often not allergic to guinea pigs. If your cat appears to get irritated each time it’s across the guinea pig, the issue may lie elsewhere. The guinea pig’s soiled furs or bedding and even the meals it eats could possibly be the reason for your cat’s allergic reaction. Guinea pigs must be cleaned frequently, and their beddings modified regularly to avert the unfold of germs and allergy symptoms, particularly from their shed furs.
Conclusion
The friendship between a cat and a guinea pig will not be essentially the most pure as a result of naturally, cats and rodents don’t co-exist. The cat would view the rodent as only a step away from the meals chain. But that doesn’t imply that they’ll’t work together in organized and supervised areas. Introducing them to one another at an early age could make issues simpler. With good planning and persistence, a cat and a guinea pig can get used to one another’s presence and stay collectively in the identical surroundings. However, only one act of carelessness in your half could make issues take an surprising flip, resulting in a tragic ending.
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