Guinea Pig Grooming Cuteness

There's nothing cuter than guinea pigs grooming themselves. Well, except for yawning guinea pigs. Maybe sleeping guinea pigs. And we can't forget about baby guinea pigs. But those are topics for another time.

Oxbow Vitamin C and Harvest Hay Stacks Review

Fun fact: most mammals produce their own Vitamin C internally. Notable exceptions: humans, fruit bats, primates, capybaras and of course, guinea pigs.

Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding Review

We've gone over fleece bedding at length on this blog. And as far as alternative bedding options go, the system works great - as long as you're willing to put in the time needed to keep your guinea pig's living environment tidy.

In Our Fridge: Basil

Grilling season is finally here! Many of the girls' favorite fruits and veggies have been cropping up in stores. Watermelon, blueberries, corn, and tomatoes, just to name a few. Basil, however, is one of those herbs that elicits strong opinions. Some guineas love it while others can't stand the scent.

Mowing Season Is Here

It's that time of year again! No, not the holidays. Spring! Blossoms are sprouting, pigs are rejoicing over fresh grass... and us humans are stuck battling the explosion of weeds. But never mind about that.

The Cali Cavy girls were all too happy to get outside the weekend before last. There was even a short term ceasefire that held for a good twenty minutes as they focused on the lawn. After all, priorities! Eat first, squabble later. You can see how thrilled they are in the video.

A Guinea Pig Christmas

Feliz Navidad! Wishing you a happy, food-filled holiday season from all of us here at Cali Cavy.

The girls have been busy spreading holiday cheer (and piggy beans) from their festively decorated cage. Poinsettia fleece, embroidered stockings, themed cozies, a fleece sleigh, lights, and tinsel garlands - the whole shebang.

DIY Guinea Pig Toy: Box of Hay

If you're anything like me, you have several cardboard boxes at any given time lying around the house, thanks to your latest Amazon or other online purchase. (Blame Black Friday.)

Why keep them instead of tossing them in the recycling bin right away? For guinea pig entertainment purposes, of course! A box, sheets of newspaper, and fresh hay are all it takes to turn those empties into an easy, inexpensive source of piggy fun.

Got Apples?

Thanks to the drought, the few apples we managed to grow this year were much smaller and more tart than usual. Not that the girls minded. The golf ball sized fruits happened to be just the right size for cavy consumption.

Summer, Guinea Pig Style

 

For humans, the start of summer goes hand in hand with sunblock, celebratory cookouts, refreshing cool drinks, and breezy evenings spent outdoors.

For the pigs, summer means dodging baths, corn husks, watermelon rinds, and warm afternoons spent grazing on the lawn. They haven't had as many lawn mowing opportunities lately so they make quick work of the grass when given the chance. It only takes about half an hour for oddly shaped crop circles to appear in the turf.

Floor Time Foraging

Floor time happens to be a prime opportunity to cause mischief... or so the pigs believe.
Our usual routine is to change the cage while they stretch their legs and look for opportunities to cause piggy trouble.

Guinea Pig Forages: Dandelion Greens & Flowers

Dandelion greens are a favorite with many guinea pigs but did you know they can also eat the flowers? Provided the dandelion plant is from a clean, pesticide free location where other animals do not frequent, cavies can munch on the leaves, flowers and stems.

Guinea Pig Speak: Ready to Go

As you get to know your pig's personality, you'll learn that each cavy has their own method of communicating. One time it pays to be attentive is during cuddle time - all the better to avoid a wet lap. My girls use a few common signals to get their point across when they're ready to go home.

Greener on the Other Side

The pigs took advantage of the weather last weekend with an extended lawn mowing session. The first thirty minutes or so passed uneventfully as the girls did their best to convince us that they had been starved skinny.

Guinea Pig's Definition of Spring

Never mind what their groundhog friends say. For the pigs, spring officially arrives when they can finally start grazing on fresh grass outdoors.

9 Simple Solutions to Stop Fleece Burrowing

Article 7 of 7 from Guinea Pig 101: Fleece Bedding Guide.

Your pig has vanished. The only clue: a telltale gap at the edge of the fleece. Could it be aliens? A pignapping? The IRS? Seconds later, a moving, squeaking lump makes its presence known in a corner of the cage. "Darn it," you think, "not again!"

An unexpected drawback to fleece bedding is burrowing - a common source of annoyance to more than a few guinea pig owners. Our very own Belka was a habitual burrower, pulling her disappearing act every chance she got. Aside from eating, her favorite recreational pastime was diving under the fleece to conduct reconnaissance. This proved to be both aggravating and amusing, especially when she'd run into aboveground obstacles (such as pigloos and other pigs).

Dinnertime Madness

The pigs are in firm agreement with the proverb, "keep your friends close and your food closer."

In Our Fridge: Chicory Greens

Chicory, also known as curly endive, has been turning up at our local market as of late. I had given the pigs a sample a year or two ago but most of them weren't impressed. On the lookout for fresh additions to their usual diet, I figured I'd pick up a batch and give it another try.

Paws Up

Food is the best motivator - which is why the pigs agreed to learn a new trick. Upon hearing the words "paws up" or seeing my hand out in front of them, they'll place their front feet in my hands in order to nab treats that remain just out of reach.

Edible Veggie Tree

The pigs got a special holiday surprise: an edible Christmas tree! Made out of a few of their favorite veggies, the culinary creation took us twenty minutes to assemble - and only two minutes for them to demolish.

In Our Fridge: Brussels Sprouts

For variety's sake, we occasionally treat the pigs to a few leaves of Brussels sprouts.

As with any other cruciferous vegetable, Brussels sprouts may cause gas or bloat in guinea pigs.
Strictly limit the amount given.