OT: What do you feed a guinea pig

Long story short, neighbors moved out, abandoning their pets, including half
a dozen kittens.

I now have a rescued guinea pig in a cage in the garage. He has been
promised a home, but the future owners aren't home. What do I feed a guinea
pig, until we can get chow for him? He is very happy right now to have
water.

(Got the kittens to the shelter this morning. Can't catch momma or poppa
cat. Rabbit is running lose and hope someone can trap him before anyone's

Monique Y. Mudama...

Timothy hay!

"UNLIMITED Timothy Hay (or a grass hay) is recommended for cavies. For
young cavies under the age of 4 months and pregnant or lactating
mothers, alfalfa hay is also recommended. For those cavies, you could
mix half Timothy and alfalfa. Since alfalfa hay (a legume, not a grass
hay) is too high in calcium, it should only be given to adult cavies
as an occasional treat. Timothy and alfalfa are types of hays, not
brands of hay. Other grass hays include orchard hay or meadow hay."

You may want to read that whole page; very good info, especially on
why they should be fed unlimited hay.

Plus it smells really good.

This is reminding me of the guinea pig I had as a kid, Mauser. He
rocked. Albino. He would shake his head and give himself a mohawk.
Also would crawl up my chest and nuzzle my neck. What an awesome guy.
Ack, looking at the pics on this site makes me want to get one ...

Cheryl...

I love the cavies! I almost took some in, but I told them last
resort, and they got other homes. In addition to what you were told
by others, I hear they also need vitamin supplements in their water
bottle. If you have him short term, it probably isn't necessary.
If it turns into days, please look up what supplements they need.
Vit C is one, I'm almost sure of. Purrs for the bun bun and momma
and poppa cat to be caught soon.

sriddles...

I kind of remember something about supplements now. Maybe it was
something you put in their water? I do remember how they love alfalfa.
IIRC, the regular guinea pig food used to be available at Wal Mart.
I'd love to see a pic of the piggy.

Adrian A...

Humans and cavies are the only two species where vitamin C is an essential
part of the diet.

dogs get loose)

sriddles...

Guinea pigs love carrots and lettuce. It's easier for them to eat if
you can shred the carrots first. A steady diet isn't good for them;
they need regular guinea pig food soon as you can get some; and you can
also supplement with alfalfa hay. They love to munch on that, too.
I have a friend who keeps pigs. They are such cute little things.

jmcquown...

Lettuce has no nutritional value; it's mostly water. I'd try fresh spinach
or curly kale which contain vitamins and other nutrients until you can
purchase some 'pig food :)

"This list is neither comprehensive nor complete.

apples, bananas, bread (slightly stale & crunchy, but not moldy),
broccoli, carrot greens, carrots and baby carrots, celery (cut into small
pieces first), cilantro, cucumber, dandelion greens, grass, green & red bell
peppers, green leaf & romaine lettuce, kale, kiwi, mustard greens, oats,
oranges, parsley, raspberries, spinach, tomatoes "
Jill

Jo Firey...

Chakolate...

And they love peanut butter.

Glad to know spinach is OK. I was a bit afraid of that and there is quite a
bit in the mix. And that he can have a bit of tomato. Just picked some
ripe cherry tomatoes today.

sriddles...

Don't they have the cutest little noses? Is he a longhair or shorthair?
The longhaired ones look like little dust mops. And most importantly (I
can't believe I forgot to ask you this)...what do the kitties think
about him?
Sherry

jmcquown...

One of John's art patrons in Kansas has a guinea pig. Sadly, they bought it
for their pre-teen boys who paid attention to him/her for about a month.
The 'pig is now relegated to its fish-tank style cage up in their bedroom
where it gets no attention at all :( Last year when we went over there for
dinner and they were showing us around their house, I met the 'pig. Steve
took him/her out of the tank and I was just in love. He handed him/her to
me with the admonition, "It bites!" Well, I didn't get bitten! :) The
critter leaned up and licked my cheek as I cuddled it and then started
nibbling on my hair and making a sort of purring sound. Steve was
astounded. John said, "She has a way with animals." :) I felt so sorry for
the critter; no one ever plays with it or pays it any attention.

When we went back over for dinner this year after the show in June I asked
if they still had him/her. Yep. But it was sound asleep in its igloo house
so I didn't get to see it :(

Jo Firey...

He's short haired. Orange with some white. Kitties are far more interested
in the rabbits running loose. Although Jake is walking around the house
swearing, so maybe he did see or smell the guinea pig before he came inside.

polonca12000...

Thank you for taking such good care of the animals. Hopefully the
missing ones come back too.
Best wishes,
Polonca and Soncek

Marina...

Can't help with the guinea pig food, but purrs for all the pets to find
good homes.