As in any pet care, the wild origins dictate a lot of what is important in Guinea Pig care. The guinea pig is a species of rodent that is also known as the Cacy. They are not in fact pigs, as their name would have suggested.  They come from the Andes, and studies have shown they have been breed from closely related species such as Cavia aperea, C. fulgida, or C. tschudii, and do not exist as a wild species.

They play an important role in both the folk culture of many Indigenous South American tribes and more importantly as a food source (how could they?). It was domesticated 5000 years ago for nourishment and have appeared in the history and culture and are frequently used in metaphors.

They came to Europe in the 16th century by European traders and has since enjoyed widespread status as a household pet.  In the early days they were seen as an mysterious pet and even Queen Elizabeth I had one. The metaphor “guinea pig” comes from their use in biological experimentation from the 17th century.

They are very docile easy to look after and are responsive to handling and feeding and are therefore popular with pet sitters. They hate exploring and will not try to escape, even if the cage door is left open (no promises!). Guinea pigs will often whistle when interested, like for when the owner comes – or they hear the food container opening.
There are many types of domesticated guinea pigs, which vary in hair and color differences. The most common breeds are the shorthair (or American shorthair), the Abyssinian with a ruffled coat. More unique long hair types include the Peruvian and the Sheltie (or Silkie) and the curly long hair Texel.

So should I choose a Guinea Pig?

Guinea Pigs are very sociable pets – so you need to be able to dedicate enough time for them, or else they will feel lonely and this might cause them to be stressed and go ill. This is especially important if you are buying one for the kids, on the understanding that the children will look after the guinea pig. Noting they typically live for four or five years, but may live as long as 8 years and the Guinness Book of Records has the record age for a guinea pig at 14 years.
Guinea pigs are relatively big for rodents, weighing between 700 and 1200g (1.5-2.5 pounds), and measuring between 20 and 25 cm (8–10 inches) in length. So they need quite a large cage. Though as a tough pet, this could be located in a shed or a sheltered corner outside. They will deal with cold better than excessive heat. Try to avoid wire mesh floored crates, as this can damage their feet and lead to infection.
As for many animals you should not put two males together as they will fight  together when they become mature at about 6 months for leadership. Females can however be grouped together. Guinea pigs breed easily, so do not add a male to the females.

Grass is their normal diet in the wild, so they have a very long colon to help the digestion. This is however not long enough, so if they are eating a lot of grass you will see them eat their faeces. Like us they cannot produce vitamin C and will need to acquire this through their diet, otherwise scurvy will kill them. Scurvy is often identified by sluggishness.  So give them often fresh, raw fruits and vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli, apple, carrot, spinach and celery). Alternatively, but not a preferred option through dietary vitamins. They are fussy eaters when older, so with a young one feed a varied foods. They like to eat continuously, so ensure there is hay in their cage for them to eat.

They, as well as scurvy, can also suffer from respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea,  abscesses due to infection (often in the neck, due to hay embedded in the throat, or from external scratches), and infections by lice, mites or fungus.

They are energetic throughout the day and will sleep on and off, waking for some activity. Guinea pigs like to groom themselves and will groom others.