Do guinea pigs need interaction.

[Piglet]

Do guinea pigs actually need daily attention and interaction, or is lap time more for humans?

 

[weezer007]

I think they do need it. Because I read somewhere that guinea pigs normally live in herds and are very social. If you deny them, they will become lonley and could possobly get sick from to much stress!

 

[weezer007]

Maybe this will help.
(broken link removed)

 

[Piglet]

I read on GL that they don't really need it and I sort of agree.... although I'm not going to deny them. I like giving them lap time, but I don't think its necessary for their health or well being. They have other piggy friends to keep them company

 

[weezer007]

Well, you are very lucky. However that is not the case with my piggie. There is only one of her!

 

[puzzle]

Do guinea pigs actually need daily attention and interaction, or is lap time more for humans?

I think it's 50/50 I'm sure the guinea pigs enjoy it, (especially if they get food!) But why would us humans get piggers if we aren't going to hold them? And I think some pigs like it more than others.
That's my idea.

 

[Piglet]

I don't really trust that link you gave me. 2 square feet? Males don't need to be neutered to live together! Sorry, just skim read it, there might be some decent info though

 

[Piglet]

Well, my parents understood that you need two. They always worry now that if one dies then the other will be VERY lonely.

 

[Jess1ca]

i'm a pretty busy person so i dont have time to hold my pigs everyday, but before i go to bed every night i pet them and talk to them.

 

[pennick]

I think piggies would do just fine with minimal interaction if there are more than one. Of course getting them use to you in the sense that you are always walking by their cage, your voice, your waving hands when your busy with their cage will make for a less stressful piggy. If you never take them out to begin with I dont think it would matter as long as their cage is very adequate. Sometimes just catching them is too stressful and not worth the effort. I think it matters more to the owner than to the piggy. My piggies are very happy with each other and their cage. they seem very happy when I give them lap time also but I dont think they would care if I skipped a few nights. I would like to think I am wrong and that my piggies are sitting there hoping I will come and capture them but until they tell me I will never know.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

My personal opinion is I think laptime is used as a bonding process. I too believe the more we interact with and hold our pigs the tamer they will become over time. I often sit on the kitchen floor when my girls are out for floortime and they will come up to me and climb in my lap for a snuggle now. I feel they are trusting me when they do this. It took them a long time before they did it but it makes me happy that they feel secure enough to do it.

 

[John4216]

Any animal that is a "social/herd" animal will need interaction if it is solitary. Does that mean it will die if not, no probably not. But people can be kept in solitary and not die either. Interaction is a crucial part of any social/herd animals state of being.

 

[ChadWPB]

We don't handle our pigs too much, but they live three to a cage, so there's always plenty of piggie company.

 

[critterlover]

I think what they really care about is food (veggies!) and the company of other pigs. I don't think lap time is necesary for the pigs. I mean, would wild guinea pigs need lap time? It's more for the humans, but if the piggies enjoy it, I think it's great.

 

[Piglet]

Its just that sometimes I don't have the time. But then I feel guilty for leaving them, but then I sometimes think that they don't need lap time...

 

[Poohbear]

I don't think that guinea pigs need laptime I think people just do it becuase they want to do it or the cavy is still getting use to them. I have to hold my cavies a lot becuase they are still babies and I want them to get use to me. Honey already is but Coco is not.