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Question
Do guinea pigs and kittens get along.Can they?
Hayley,
I would be VERY careful. A guinea pig is instinctively prey to a cat. The guinea pig and cat can get along, but the cat can play too rough for the guinea pig or even try to eat it. Have someone hold the guinea pig and another person hold on to the cat and let them sniff each other. If it doesn't go well, then they probably won't like each other. You do have a better chance of them getting along if it is a young kitten. But ALWAYS watch them and NEVER leave them alone together.
Here is a copy of an article about guinea pigs and cats from a very good website on guinea pigs (http://www.diddly-di.fsnet.co.uk/Guinea%20Pigs%20&%20Other%20Pets.htm):
"Cats are naturally predatory and are likely to instinctively want to 'hunt' down your guinea pig! In rare cases, especially if a cat has been introduced to a guinea pig while it is a kitten (or if it is a very laid back adult) they can get along OK, but I would never trust a cat unsupervised with a guinea pig. The guinea pig will more than likely sense a cats presence and this could result in the guinea pig suffering un-necessary stress.
Ensure the guinea pig's home has an extremely secure lid so a cat cannot get in. If at all possible do not let the cat into the same room as the guinea pig's cage.
Although I know it very much depends on the individual cat - I would never trust a cat with a guinea pig unsupervised."
I hope this helped.
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
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