Guinea pigs make wonderful pets, but sometimes it can be hard to know exactly what makes them happy and how to provide the best care for them. Read on and check out the video below for how to make your guinea pigs happy and be the best possible owner! Try these tips and you’ll be well on your way!
DID SOMEONE SAY FOOD?
Food is a big, big deal to guinea pigs. In fact, they rely on continuous movement of food through their gut to keep them alive. And whilst all food is appreciated, guinea pigs have a special love for anything fresh juicy and leafy, we’re talking things like:
- Veggies (wheek!), but especially leafy lettuces and fresh herbs
- Fresh grass and forages from the garden
Feed fresh treats during the day (and work on hand feeding and bonding at the same time!), as well as at feeding time. Your pigs will show their love by squeaking loudly and obnoxiously and fighting over the tiniest scraps.
Gib! Lettuce! 
We love lettuce, and coriander (cilantro) is one of our favourites!
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAY
Guinea pigs are thrilled by hay in a way no human can possibly understand. To get happy with hay, you can try getting some other types to offer alongside their staple brand, or if you usually tuck hay away in a hay bag or holder, try putting some in a litter tray for them to play/lounge in. Signs of hay-themed happiness are:
- Squeaking whenever the hag bay is rustled
- Dashing crazily in and out of piles of hay
- Settling down for a nap in the hay, knowing that when they wake, they can start eating straight away
WE JUST LOVE HIDING ALRIGHT!
Happiness can be fulfilling your natural instincts. Guinea pigs are prey animals, hiding and knowing they have a safe place to retreat to is very important. Try to:
- Supply a range of hideys for them
- During floortime, make sure there is somewhere safe they can retreat to, this could be as simple as a cardboard box
- For laptime, fold over a bit of blanket for your pigs to snuggle up in
You will know when your guinea pig is happy when they are hiding – they will truly relax and you may start to see them drift off. This is so rewarding to see if you are a new owner!
I’m so hidden right now. 
Lyra’s favourite hiding place!
TUNNELS ARE SIMPLY WONDERFUL
There is just something special about a good tunnel that humans don’t get. As a guinea pig, sometimes we must go in the tunnel, come out the other side, think “that was good!”, then turn around, go back in the tunnel, come out the other side, think “that was fun!”, then turn around, go back in the tunnel… (aaand you get the idea!). Try using all sorts of different tunnels for your piggies, from simple DIY ones, to bought ones, to fabric tunnels!
SPACE TO PLAY
The bigger the cage, the better. A large cage will give more room to put fun beds, tunnels, toys and other things to get your piggies stimulated, especially when there are no pig slaves around to entertain them! If you don’t have a large cage right now – take this as your starting point to look up how you can improve and create a larger home for your guinea pigs. Check out these two new 2020 YouTube videos on cages for all the details!
The Three Best Indoor Pre-Built Cages
Guinea pigs will show their happiness and appreciation of large cages by:
- Repeatedly running laps round and round
- Making cute little ‘chutting’ noises as they explore
- Getting excited when you clean the cage and rearrange their furniture!
CLEAN AND TIDY
As pig-slaves, we need to be on optimal cleaning duty. Whilst some piggies love nothing better than sitting in their own filth, I wouldn’t recommend this as a good strategy for long-term happiness. Clean out the cage (or litter tray) every day. Guinea pigs love to see their pig slaves at work. They show their happiness by:
- Watching on smugly
- Refusing to move out the way of the dustpan and brush
- Pooping as soon as the cleaning operation is complete and all cleaning equipment has been tidied away.
FRIENDS FOREVER
You may already know this: I am a firm supporter of guinea pig living in pairs or groups. This is how guinea pigs live in the wild and as prey animals, guinea pigs who have others for company will feel safer and are more likely to let their true personality shine through. As an owner, you also get to see them interacting. Look out for things like:
- Adorable piggie-trains when they follow eachother around during floortime
- Stealing food off each other
- Talking to each other in cute little squeaks
Lyra and Willow, having a gossip! 
CUDDLE BUGS
Especially as guinea pigs become fully grown and older, they start to love laptime and cuddles. What’s better than full body massages and the opportunity to pee unexpectedly and cause drama?! In all seriousness though, to have your guinea pig snoozing away on your lap means they trust you and feel safe in your company.
Willow sleeps a lot! As piggies get older, they become more and more tame. 
Having your piggies fall asleep on your lap is very special!
We hope you enjoyed the video and this post! Are these tips useful? Please check out the video if you haven’t watched it already! And don’t forget to subscribe to my channel for new videos!
Thank you from Sarah! Piggie kisses from Lyra and Willow! <3
