Do Cats Eat Guinea Pigs – Everything You Should Know!

For many people, a cat is not the only animal that they have. Some people like a smaller animal that they can put in a cage, like a guinea pig. In some ways, guinea pigs are like cats when they are roaming free, but even if they are similar, you have to ask yourself, do cats eat guinea pigs?

Cats do eat guinea pigs. Cats and guinea pigs with established relationships and training will generally not have any conflict. Creating safe zones can help protect your guinea pig and let them coexist with your cat.

A cat and a guinea pig can have a great relationship together, but there is always a high chance that your cat will try to eat your guinea pig. It sounds like it will be a lot of work to manage a relationship between a cat and a small animal. This can be not very pleasant, but it is a necessary part of that relationship. If you want to learn more, keep on reading!

Are Cats Good With Guinea Pigs

Yes, cats can be good with guinea pigs, but there is no way to confirm that your cat will be good with your guinea pig. 

Cats can make friends with guinea pigs without a problem, especially if you have a cat with a friendly personality. Your cat may think that your guinea pig is just another animal to be a friend with. 

On the other hand, there is a chance that your cat won’t be friends with your guinea pig. Even though they are domesticated animals, Guinea pigs are still a kind of prey to your cat.

Until you are sure that your cat is good with your guinea pig, you need to make sure to watch over your cat and guinea pig when they are together.

Do Cats Chase Guinea Pigs

Generally, cats do not chase guinea pigs. Since guinea pigs do not move as fast as other small animals, like hamsters, your cat is not likely to chase guinea pigs. They won’t provide the same kind of thrill that cats love when they go hunting prey.

When you picture a hamster, you might picture one running around on a hamster wheel at high speed. Once they get off the wheel, they run around their cage. Cats love to watch that.

While guinea pigs are also active, they do not move fast, which may not attract your cat’s attention like other animals. 

If you let your guinea pig out of its cage and let him run free, then your cat will likely chase him if he is running free. Letting your guinea pig out to stretch his legs isn’t a problem, but it is essential to keep an eye on both your cat and your guinea pig while they are together.

Will My Cat Kill My Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are prey to cats, so your cat can kill your guinea pig, but it is not guaranteed that your cat will kill your guinea pig.

The unfortunate truth of having a cat and a guinea pig is that your cat sees your guinea pig as prey. What does that mean for your guinea pig?

Well, it means that your cat can kill your guinea pig if your cat does not understand that your guinea pig is a wild animal.  

We don’t have to get graphic here, but your cat can kill a guinea pig in the same way that your cat would kill a bird or a rabbit. 

Can You Have Guinea Pigs With Cats

You can have a guinea pig with cats.

If you’re looking to purchase a guinea pig and you already have a cat, pull back for a moment to think about your cat’s personality. Here are some questions that you should ask yourself before getting a guinea pig:

• Is your cat friendly?
• Does your cat chase animals like birds and rabbits outside?
• How does your cat interact with other animals in your house, whether cats or another animal?
• How active is your cat?

An active cat that always chases animals will not be a cat to have a guinea pig with. 

If your cat is lazy and unbothered by other animals, then he could easily have a happy relationship with any guinea pig you bring home. 

Can Cats Be Allergic To Guinea Pigs

Your cat is probably not going to be allergic to a guinea pig.

If there is any change in your cat’s behavior, it is because there is a new animal in the house, not because your cat is allergic to a guinea pig. 

It may be that the season is having more effect on your cat than your new guinea pig. For instance, fresh grass and plants growing in the spring could cause your cat to be more sniffly with watery eyes. 

Your cat’s new allergies may coincide with you getting a new guinea pig, but that doesn’t mean that your cat is allergic to your guinea pig. 

Can Guinea Pigs Make Cats Sick

Your cat may end up sick if your cat eats your guinea pig. 

As we’ve already discussed, your cat cannot be allergic to your guinea pig. Therefore, your guinea pig cannot make your cat sick that way.

Your cat may end up sick if he – God forbid – eats your guinea pig. Your cat ate your guinea pig without your permission, which could lead to a stomach ache and other digestive issues.

If your cat is not used to eating wild animals or things other than cat food, then your cat may end up vomiting.

How Do You Introduce A Cat To A Guinea Pig

You should slowly and carefully introduce your cat to your guinea pig. 

Imagine this: you already have a cat, and you decide to purchase a guinea pig at the pet store. You purchase all the supplies and set up the cage in your living room. But wait! Your cat is starting to stare at the cage.

Here are some steps to take:

• Keep your guinea pig in the cage for the first few weeks until your cat is comfortable seeing it.
• Let your cat sniff and watch the guinea pig in his cage.
• Once your cat seems uninterested in the cage, take the guinea pig out of the cat and introduce it to your cat while holding it.
• When your cat gets comfortable seeing the guinea pig, you can put him on the floor. Do not leave your cat alone with the guinea pig. 

How Do You Cat Proof A Guinea Pig Cage

Here are some tips if you want to make sure your guinea pig’s cage is cat-proof:

• Keep the cage on a solid table that is not rickety. 
• Secure your guinea pig cage to the table if necessary.
• Do not leave your cat enough room to jump on the table.
• Put something on top of the cage so your cat cannot jump on top of it. 

If you need to cat-proof your cage, you should look at some other kinds of cages as well. 

A smooth plastic cage will be harder for your cat to climb on than a wire, metal cage that your cat can easily climb onto. 

Things To Consider

Guinea pigs aren’t the only small animals you may have in your house, which means that your cat will have many options for new roommates.

If you’re looking for an animal smaller than a cat or a dog, there are:

• Birds
• Hamsters
• Rabbits
• Chinchillas
• Ferrets

That’s a list of warm-blooded animals, but you have amphibians and reptiles as options too:

• Turtles
• Hermit crabs
• Snakes
• Bearded dragons 

Even though you have different options for animals in your house, you will run into some of the same problems with a guinea pig.

Most, if not all, of these animals, live in cages or tanks. In some ways, they become a television cat show. These animals cannot leave these containers.

You’ll still want to follow the same processes of cat-proofing these habitats to make sure that your animals are safe.

In addition, you’re going to want to introduce these pets to the cats. All of these animals are smaller than your cat and means that they will be seen as prey to your cat. They are all in danger of being eaten by your cat if your cat chooses to chase them. 

There are also some dangers that these animals can pose to your cat. These are important to keep in mind to make sure your cat stays safe:

• Guinea pigs, ferrets, and chinchillas could have sharp nails that can scratch your cat. If your cat gets scratched in the eye, it could get infected or cause your cat to go blind.
• Turtles and hermit crabs can snap your cat. It is less likely that your cat will be seriously injured, but it could break the skin and draw blood. 
• Birds have beaks which can also be used to attack your cat. 

Snakes probably pose the slightest threat to your cat overall.

As I have said, it is crucial to watch over the interactions between these animals with any of these animals.