- Australian Cavy Sanctuary
Northern Suburbs, Sydney
Contact: admin@ozfairs.com
Website: https://australiancavysanctuary.org/ - Liberty Foundation – Rehoming animals from research
Throughout NSW
Contact: hello@libertyfoundation.org.au
Website: https://www.libertyfoundation.org.au/ - Furry Friends Forever Rescue
Throughout NSW
Contact: Via website
Website: https://www.furryfriendsforeverrescue.com/all-about-us/ - Firefly Animal Rescue Inc.
Campbelltown
Contact: fireflyanimalrescue@gmail.com
Website: https://www.fireflyanimalrescue.com/ - Animal Welfare League NSW
Throughout NSW
Contact: helpingpets@awlnsw.com.au
Website: https://www.awlnsw.com.au/
Buying or Adopting Guinea Pigs
Guinea Pigs make great pets and are perfect for young families especially where backyard space and budget restraints make owning larger pets too expensive.
Many breeders, pet shops and vets offer Guinea Pigs for sale but it will help you make the best decision if you have some knowledge about what to look for in a Guinea Pig and how to take care of their needs.
Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus, also known as cavy) are not actually related to pigs but are a species of rodent originating in the Andes of South America.
First imported to Europe in the 16th century, they have since become incredibly popular around the world as pets thanks to their gentle friendly nature and the ease of looking after them.
Where Can I Adopt Guinea Pigs?
Adopting Guinea Pigs is a great way to purchase your new pets. Many homeless Guinea Pigs are euthanized each year and you can help reduce this senseless suffering by adopting one.
Adoption offers many advantages including:
- Vet health checks
- Up to date vaccinations
- Correct pairing and sexing
- Neutering completed
Adoption agencies (such as Australia’s Cavy Sanctuary) even offer many pure breed and show Guinea Pigs so it’s an ideal way to find the right animal for your home.
GUINEA PIG RESCUES, SANCTUARIES & SHELTERS
- Australian Cavy Sanctuary
Outer north-east of Melbourne
Contact: acsmelbourne@gmail.com
Website: https://australiancavysanctuary.org/ - Australian Animal Protection Society (AAPS)
South-eastern Melbourne
Contact: office@aaps.org.au
Website: https://www.aaps.org.au/
- Miss Piggy’s Guinea Pig Lair Inc
Eudlo
Contact: bethakins@live.com.au
Website: https://www.misspiggyslair.com/adoptable-piggies - QLD Guinea Pig Refuge
Bracken Ridge
Contact: qldguineapigrefuge@live.com
Website: http://www.qldguineapigrefuge.com.au/ - Gold Coast Guinea Pig Rescue
Gold Coast
Contact: 0408 263 455
Website: https://www.gcgpr.com.au/ - The Fox Residence Animal Sanctuary
Cotton
Contact: thefoxresidence@gmail.com
Website: http://www.thefoxresidence.com.au/ - A Little Bit Iffy Animal Sanctuary
Gatton
Contact: info@alittlebitiffyanimalsanctuary.com
Website: https://www.alittlebitiffyanimalsanctuary.com/ - Animal Welfare League QLD (AWLQ)
Coombabah
Contact: info@awlqld.com.au
Website: https://www.awlqld.com.au/
- Don’t Go Astray
Perth
Contact: dga@dontgoastray.org
Website: https://dontgoastray.org/
- RSPCA Northern Territory
Berrimah, Darwin
Contact: reception@rspcant.org.au
Website: https://www.rspcant.org.au/
Buying Guinea Pigs from a Breeder
Buying from established (registered) breeders ensures you get healthy animals that have been carefully selected to bond well together.
Some of the exotic breeds carry known genetic mutations that can cause serious issues. Established breeders are aware of these problems and will be careful to avoid them.
Where to Buy
Guinea Pig Breeders in New South Wales
NSW breeders offer a wide variety of show and pure bred Guinea pigs including:
- Agoutis
- Himalayan
- Abyssinian Rex
- American Crested
- Texel
- Roan
- Malibu Cavy Stud
Northern Beaches, Sydney
Types: Black Roams, Self & Crested Buff
Contact: malibu_cavy@hotmail.com
Website: http://malibucavies.webs.com/
- Sathra Cavy Stud
Narellan, Sydney
Types: Chocolate & Black Himalayan, Abyssinian Rex, Self DE Golden & American Crested
Contact: 0416 147 849
Website: N/A
- Rising Star Cavy Stud
Blighty
Types: Purebred Rex & Sheba Mini Yak
Contact: risingstarcavystud@gmail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/RisingStarCavyStud/
- Montane Cavy Stud
Sydney
Types: Self and Crested black and Rex
Contact: montane.cavystud@hotmail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/montanecavystud/
- Moonshine Cavy Stud
Sydney
Types: Alpacas, Merinos, Texels and Pe Whites in self, satin and crested
Contact: moonshinecavies@outlook.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Moonshine-Cavy-Stud
It’s important to spend time talking to breeders about their animals and to make sure that the personality and behaviours of their breed will match your home environment before making any purchasing decisions.
Guinea Pig Breeders in Queensland
Queensland breeders have on offer a number of special Guinea Pig varieties including:
- Abyssinian
- Sheba mini yak
- White Crested
- Rex
- Texal
- Agouti
- Short haired Guinea Pigs
Many breeders will deliver Guinea Pigs across regions or even interstate but you may want to visit the breeder in person to make sure this is the right Guinea Pig for your home.
- Walters Cavy Stud
Brisbane
Types: Satin Self PEW, Satin Crested PEW, Self PEW, Self Black, Crested PEW, Crested Black, Sheltie, Coronet, Texel & Merino
Contact: 07 3208 161
Website: http://walterscavystud.com/
- Sirocco Cavy Stud
Brisbane
Types: Various breeds
Contact: eleb2000@hotmail.com
Website: http://emmasguineapigs.blogspot.com/
- Ohana Cavy Stud
Brisbane
Types: Shelties and Texels
Contact: talisha4221@hotmail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Ohana-Cavies
- Parkland Cavy Stud
Maryborough & Brisbane
Types: Rex & satin gold agoutis
Contact: parklandcavystud@gmail.com /
Website: https://www.facebook.com/parkcavystud/
Guinea Pig Breeders in Victoria
Melbourne is home to Australia’s Cavy Sanctuary, the largest Guinea Pig adoption agency in the country, they also have a branch in Sydney.
Guinea Pig breeders in Victoria offer a wide range of beautiful Guinea Pig show breeds.
- Karkalla Stud
Lower Plenty
Types: Buff, Buff Roan, Self, Crested & Satin DE Whites & Rex
Contact: karkallakv@gmail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/karkalla.cavies
- Xcalibar Cavy Stud
Melbourne
Types: Self and Crested Black, Self and Crested Golden, Golden Roans and Red Dutch
Contact: margbooth@msn.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Xcalibar-Cavy-Stud-1260034670754190
- Aussie Magic Cavy Stud
Mornington Peninsula
Types: Rex, Alpaca and American Crested PE Golden
Contact: 0447 720 307 or goldenbrumby_8@hotmail.com
Website: https://aussiemagiccavystud.webs.com/
Also check out the Cavy Council of Victoria, a club for Cavy lovers. The RSPCA is always a great source of information and will help you locate an adoption agency or breeder near you.
If you’re looking for Guinea Pigs for sale then Coops and Cages is a great place to start.
We have all the Guinea Pig care essentials and can offer helpful advice on where to buy Guinea Pigs and what to look for.
Guinea Pig Breeders in Western Australia
- Brenmyre Cavy Stud
Serpentine
Types: Self Black, English Crested Black, Self Slate & Gold/Slate Agouti
Contact: brenmyrecavies@gmail.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Brenmyre-Cavy-Stud
- Pigs on Snook
Perth
Contact: LeeAnne Thwaite via Facebook
Website: https://www.facebook.com/PigsOnSnook/
Guinea Pig Breeders in Tasmania
- ABCD Cavy Stud
Ulverstone
Types: American Crested, PE White, Golden, Lemon Agouti & Lilac
Contact: Latassa Family cavy@yahoo.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ABCD-Cavy-Stud
How Much to Buy a Guinea Pig?
Guinea Pigs typically cost between $10 to $40 to buy. Some exotic show breeds will cost a little more.
You may get a Guinea Pig from an adoption agency for free but they may need to charge something to help cover any medical and vet fees they’ve incurred.
Grooming
Guinea Pigs need regular grooming to remove twigs and dirt and to keep their coats in good condition.
This is especially important for long-haired varieties.
Fortunately, Guinea Pigs enjoy being handled if they have become used to it from a young age and will almost never bite.
Brush hair in the direction it’s growing using a soft bristled brush.
If there are densely tangled patches of hair then it may be better to use a pair of scissors to trim off the matted patch.
Guinea Pigs may be nervous the first time you try to groom them so hold them gently but firmly to reassure them and prevent harm.
Wrapping the Guinea Pig in a towel is a very effective way to hold your pet safely.
The area around the bottom will also need attention from time to time to remove any matted or dirty hair.
Nails will also need to be trimmed from time to time. It’s best to let a professional do this or to show you how to do it yourself.
Guinea Pigs are Social Animals
Guinea pigs are social animals. This means you really need to have two or more so they can communicate and socialise with each other.
Guinea Pigs display a wide range of behaviours and noises to indicate mood and strengthen social bonds.
It’s important to learn about these displays so that you can better understand what your Guinea Pig is telling you.
Here is a good article on common Guinea Pig sounds.
Guinea Pigs – Sex, Size, Short or Long Hair
Guinea pigs can live as long as 7 years so it’s important to choose the right variety to avoid problems later on.
Either sex Guinea pigs make equally great pets but avoid mixing males and females unless you’re planning on breeding them.
If you keep more than one male Guinea Pig ensure they have adequate space (at least 2.5 m2) so they can work out any dominance issues.
Keep male and female Guinea pigs separately and out of sight from each other.
Guinea pigs come in a wide range of short-haired, long-haired and even hairless varieties. Colourations also vary with each breed.
Which will suit you best comes down to personal preference. If you choose a variety of sized Guinea Pigs be aware that the larger varieties will tend to assert dominance over the smaller.
Buying Guinea Pigs as babies allows them to become familiar with other pets in your home and to develop healthy social bonds.
It’s often better to introduce different pet species to each other at a young age to smooth out territorial and hierarchical positions with the fewest problems.
Feeding
Guinea Pigs are herbivores that like a variety of plant materials to stay healthy.
Providing a diet high in protein and low in fat is critical for good health.
Hay, fresh leafy green vegetables (especially with a high vitamin C content) and fruit provides the essential basic dietary needs.
Avoid regular feeding with foods with a high starch content such as potatoes and oats.
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
Here are some of the testimonials we have received from our wonderful pet owners!
LOVE IT
"My ferrets were insanely happy when they first saw this. They kept running around and checking every nook and corner. Love it! Thanks for the great service. Will be buying for my rabbits soon."
ULtimate playground!
"Man, this the ultimate playground for my cats,They play tag all the time and enjoy lounging in the cat cradle. If you want to keep your cat busy (and away from your furniture) don't hesitate to get this. "
EXCELLENT
"We are loving our pen - easy to move, fold away if necessary. Great for moving around the lawn or bringing inside. Sales and service when buying online was excellent and very responsive."
CONTACT US
If there are any questions that you have about our products, services, postage times or putting the enclosures together. We have a strict 24 hour email response policy, this fast rate of response should assist your decisions.
Customer Support
At Coops and Cages, we take customer service very seriously, so if you have any questions or worries, call us or e-mail us with any questions, or to place an order.
TRUSTED SUPPLIER
Coops and Cages Pet Products - Australia's largest supplier and most trusted entity for your pet houses and products
ORDER TRACKING
Coops and Cages uses the most reputable carriers in Australia giving our customers peace of mind but also allowing order tracking keeping customers up to date.
ALWAYS IN STOCK
Here at Coops and Cages, we have an extensive range of products as well as a massive warehouse to make sure we've always got what your after in stock and ready to ship.
AUSTRALIAN OWNED
Coops and Cages are Australian Owned & Operated. We have been operating for over 6 years, and have always been Australian Owned.
EASY TO ASSEMBLE
We pride ourself in making the whole experience with us as carefree as possible. Our products are delivered in flat packages ready to assemble, all you need is a few basic tools.
PET CARE INFO
We aim to help pet owners look after and properly care for their pets to ensure a happy and healthy relationship. We have many blogs and guides answering any of your questions.