Guinea pigs bore me!?!

[popcorn_kirby]

I used to LOVE my guinea pigs, I'd play with them every day and take naps with them and enjoyed taking care of them. I read all about guinea pigs on the internet and memorized their animal classification thing (Kingdom Animalia, etc). I had dreams about them and thought about them all the time. A few months have gone by and I've stopped playing with them almost at all. I had to schedulize everything like cleaning cages and feeding as if it were a chore.

What do you guys do to keep your relationship with your guinea pigs lively and fresh?? I still love them but they are the LOWEST thing on my priorities list and they used to be #1. Any fun games or ....

 

[piggielover92]

There isn't much you can do. You should just love them no matter what. When you adopted/bought your guinea pigs you should should have thought about the commitment you are making. Guinea pigs are a lifetime commitment! Youn should never treat them like toys and ignore them when you get bored of them!

 

[dagwellismypigy]

do you give them toys or veggies? They aren't really as much "fun" as funny or amusing or cute, they are more of a specator sport. Some pigs will play with you during floortime but mainly you just see how they behave, and their cute quirks.

 

[Elliepom]

I really agree with both replies. I know that after a while, they seem like all work, but really, what I have found refreshes my relationship with them is just the realization that they are living beings, and they have thoughts, and feelings just like me. I actually found that really bonding with them whenever I can, to stregnthen my connection with them. They are SO soothing on a bad day. Always two little smiling faces to make me feel better. Also, like dagwellismypigy said, give them treats and toys to make them happy. They are funny, smart little pets. Embrace them for exactly who they are, and learning about them will be so much fun, and they are everchanging!
Have fun with them, the cleaning, and feeding and chores will fade away.

 

[Poohbear]

Do you have an interesting cage for them to explore.

 

[Marlania]

Indeed, as with any pet, upon deciding to take a pigger into your home, you should have already decided to remain committed to the animal's care and well-being until its final days. I get no enjoyment out of cleaning cages either, but I do feel good knowing that I've provided my pigs with a clean living environment, quality food, and a happy home. Everyone here has a long list of priorities, whether we have children, pets, spouses, education, whatever, but somehow everyone finds time to pencil in their numerous responsibilities into their schedules. Unfortunately, guinea pigs aren't the types of animals who will get in your face and demand attention like a dog or cat; therefore, they are much easier to ignore. It's up to you to make their lives worthwhile. Pets aren't disposable; please don't treat them as so.

Maybe you could change the location of your cage if it's not in a place where they can easily see you or hear you when you walk by. My cage is near the door of a room someone is always in, so they always know when someone is coming by, bringing food, etc. It seems that even the mere presence of having someone nearby satisfies them.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

I could never get bored of my girls. They bring me so much joy. It's not always fun cleaning up after them and doing cage cleanings, but that takes little of my time. I love seeing their wheeking little faces when I refill their pellet bowls every day and when I give them veggies and they dig into them wholeheartedly. Or watch how they explore the cage when it's clean and I have rearranged all their stuff in it.

There are days when I am very busy or gone most of the day and may not get to spend as much time with them as I want, but on the days when I am home all day, I have that time to play and interact with them.

Put your pigs out in a nice area like the kitchen floor where you can sit or lay on the floor near them and let them come climb on you or play with you, pick them up and cuddle them to remember how good it felt when you first did it. Or just give them something new in their cage and watch them interact with it.

 

[critterlover]

I noticed in your profile, it said you had a 30"x20" cage.

If this is still the case, your pigs are guaranteed to be way more entertaining to watch if you made them a bigger cage, such as a 2x4 C&C cage. Upper levels and ramps are fun to add too.

Cleaning can be a chore, I agree. What kind of bedding are you using? Maybe a different bedding will make cleaning easier for you. Or at least a change will break the monotony.

 

[agpiggy]

i love watching my pigs explore everything new and i think the noises they make are so cute and i no there is no way ill ever forget about them. even cleaning them out isnt a chore because i love putting them back in there cage after ive cleaned it and then watch them run through the clean bedding!!

 

[dagwellismypigy]

When I clean the cage I leave my pigs in and watch them slip and slide around the coroplast. There isn't anything I don't love about guinea pigs. Except actually doin the laundry for them, but It is about two hours of my life I don't have fun. I have less fun in school.

 

[Piglet]

I agree, the cleaning of the cage can seem like a chore but its worth it! I love seeing my pigs exploring the cage, running about and sniffing everything once I've cleaned it. Feeding time should be fun! Its so cute to see them beg and stand on their hind legs. Or when one snatches food from the other when he's not looking. I've had mine for 6 months now, and they still enterain me everyday

 

[citronsoul]

Phoebe is fun to play with when I'm cleaning the cage. I take her out when I remove the old litter, but sometimes put her back when I'm about to put bedding in. I'll sprinkle wood shaving on her & she'll go wild & popcorn all over the place. Then she'll sniff at my hands & the new bedding.

She'll also play tug of war with me when I do spot cleaning. I use one of those shovels for kitty litter & she'll sometimes grab onto it & try to pull it out of my hands.

 

[Piglet]

aww, see even cage cleaning has its perks. Also, when I spot clean with a dust pan and brush, they always come over and sniff my hands or they'll walk into the pan!

 

[citronsoul]

they'll walk into the pan!

LOL! I can picture it!

 

[Love_my_piggies]

I don't think I could EVER get bored with my girls. They make me laugh and smile even after the long, hard days. I agree that the cleaning the cage part sucks, and it can definately used to get me heated when I had to spend so much time cleaning up the shavings, but since I switched to fleece and finished their cage, I think it is all worth it. I love when I hear them squealing from the bedroom each time a bag is opened. It makes me so happy to see them popcorning or running laps around their cage and up and down the ramp. My piggies don't like to be held much but I know that they have fun and are well cared for. I dont look at them as "toys", I look at them as my kids and I love them just as much.
I think that if you let them run around during floor time or make them a bigger cage with more toys, you'll find that your piggy will take on a totally new personality and do things that make you laugh. I put my girls in the kitchen when I clean their cage and they have fun exploring in there. Then when the cage is clean and I put them back, they have so much fun running around the fresh bedding and they tell me loud and clear that they like their clean cage. It makes it well worth the sweating. I hope that you don't stay bored with your piggy because it needs your love and attention.

 

[pennick]

I dont know how long you have had them for but if thats the way you feel now, most likely you will feel more burdened down the road. Maybe you can find someone to adopt them. If you decide to keep them great. Maybe you think that you have to spend each and every day with them. You don't. As long as you have a nice size cage and there are 2 with the appropriate necessities they need they will do fine with an occassional lap time and talking to them. You can still love them and care for them in your own way. Just make sure they are well taken care of. Go about doing the things you enjoy. My piggies have each other and a great cage to entertain them. When I have the time they get attention from me. They have a great life whether I can spend time with them or not.

 

[cinn&sprinslave]

Even if they bore you, you need to give them the best possible care. You were the one that accepted them as your pets and as your responsibility. So you need to care for them, and give them love no matter how boring it seems. There are some days when I don't want to clean cages or even see my piggs because I am in a bad mood or just lazy (hence the cage cleaning). But I do it anyways because they are my responsibility.
If you have no desire to care for them and give them love (which is the right thing to do) then I would have to agree with Pennick. Finding a new home may be something to think about.

 

[kurzon]

I just wanted to add that you should remember that your pigs are living beings and not toys that you can ignore (not that you are). Just like having brothers and sisters (and even your own children), you will not always have fun taking care or being around them. You live with them and look after them, no matter what for the rest of their lives.

That aside, what you can do to rekindle your joy is to change their enivironment, like others have said. Make them a new cage or do something that is different with them.

 

[AngelsCavies]

I never get bored with my piggers. I have 22 piggies and they all put a smile on my face when I walk in the room. They all do funny things and you can't resist them when they popcorn into eachother. I do not how you can get bored with them. I never get bored with them. I love picking on some of my piggies and they would get mad at me and start bitting my shoes because I was picking on them. When Im down and out they all start wheeking to wipe away tears too. You should make the cage bigger and give them floor time. You will learn alot more when you do that. Also give them some toys like cozies, cuddle cups and cat balls.

 

[CavySpirit]

Let's not waste anymore emotions on this poster. I'm close to being convinced this person is a troll. I base this on the other 6 posts this person has made along with what and how they chose to put in their public profile. She has not responded to this thread. There are plenty of great suggestions, so I'm closing it.