More info: Guinea pigs are not pigs at all, despite their name. Guinea pigs are part of the Rodent family which also includes rats, mice, hamsters, squirrels and beavers.

There are 3 basic types of domestic guinea pigs which can be classified by the type of hair they have : American/English guinea pigs have a short smooth coat, Abyssinian guinea pigs have hair that swirls in to rosettes and Peruvian guinea pigs have hair that is straight, long and silky.

They are very social animals and love the company of others as well as humans. Guinea pigs communicate using a series of squeaks, chirps and purrs and if they become excited they often perform a series of little hops in the air, which is known as “popcorning”.

Guinea pigs do not need to sleep for long periods but generally prefer to take short naps throughout the day and night. Guinea pigs are crepuscular, which means they tend to be most active around dawn and dusk.