On average, guinea pigs can reach speeds of up to 6 miles per hour. This may not seem very fast, but it is when you consider how small they are.
The Guinness Book of World Records reported the record for the fastest 10-meter run by a guinea pig. Flash achieved the record on July 27, 2009, when he ran 10 meters in 8.81 seconds. His impressive record has yet to be beaten by another piggy!
Do guinea pigs like to run?
You know that your guinea pig can run fast, but do they actually enjoy it? For a lot of humans, running is not a fun activity. Only the most athletic people seem to enjoy running and most avoid it when they can. The opposite is true for your cavy. I’ve owned a lot of piggies over the years and this is a great resource when you have questions.
Guinea pigs enjoy running as well as other types of regular exercise. In order to stay healthy, they must be able to stretch their legs and get in a good amount of activity each day.
This can help prevent them from becoming overweight or suffering from other serious illnesses.
Look how this funny guinea pigs running like crazy.
For your cavy to run around their crate, they need the right-sized cage. Follow these tips to properly set up their cage so they have plenty of space to run and stay active.
- Get the right-sized cage: Their crate does not only hold the guinea pig, but it also holds their toys, food bowl, bedding, hay, and water bottle. The minimum size for a single guinea pig crate is 7.5 square feet. If you have two cavies, you should have at least a 10.5 square-foot crate.
- Put the right toys inside: They love to play with all kinds of toys, and these items can stimulate them and encourage them to exercise. Wooden balls, tubes, and ladders are all popular options for toys.
- Scatter the toys: Once you select the right items for their crate, make sure they are spread out. You can place the items in the center of the cage, which will let your piggy run around the edges.
- Do not overcrowd the crate: If you put too many items inside their cage, they will not have enough room to run around or exercise properly. Limit the number of items inside the cage to provide the optimal amount of space.
- Make changes: Like humans, your cavy will get bored after a while. You can switch out the toys in their crate or change the placement to encourage them to move around more.
You can also purchase a run for your piggy and attach it to their crate or a hutch. This provides a safe place for them to stretch their legs on a regular basis without escaping into your house.
They will have more room to run around without toys, bowls, or bedding getting in their way. If you have an extremely active pet, you may need to consider this solution in order to provide enough stimulation. Check out my premium guide to have a better understanding of their likes/dislikes.
Can you let guinea pigs run around your house?
A lot of guinea pig owners want to let them run around their house to play and exercise. It is important to remember that it is dangerous for them to be outside of their crate.
They should never be left outside of their cage unsupervised because they could hurt themselves. This is a step by step guide to learn how to take you cavy outdoor.
If you want to play with your pig outside of their crate, you must ensure you have a safe area in your home. Keep any other pets, including dogs and cats, away from your piggy. They can easily hurt them or kill them by accident.
There are a few steps you can take to ensure an area of your home is safe for your cavy to play. Try following these tips if you want to play with them at your house.
- Pick up any spare cords or electronic devices.
- Close off small spaces or places that your guinea pig could squeeze into.
- Remove any human food or small items that they could eat.
- Lay towels on the floor in case they go to the bathroom.
- Put toys on the floor to get their attention.
- Bring out some healthy fruits or veggies for a snack.
If you follow these tips and closely monitor your pet, they should be safe to play outside of their crate. It is never a good idea to let them run around your house freely.
They could easily get lost or stuck in a small space and coaxing them out from underneath a bed or dresser is very difficult.
Do guinea pigs like to run on wheels?
It is not safe to let your guinea pig run on a wheel. Exercise balls and running wheels are popular for other animals, like hamsters or mice, but they are extremely dangerous for cavies.
Their backs can suffer great injuries on running wheels, and the toys could even lead to death.
Their spines are not as flexible as other animals, and they do not bend to properly accommodate running wheels. Also, the lack of ventilation inside a ball can cut off their air circulation and cause a heat stroke.
Thankfully, they do not need wheels or exercise balls to get their necessary activity. If their crate is large enough, they will get plenty of exercise from running around inside.
Conclusion
Your cavy is a lean, mean, running machine. Don’t let their little legs and long bodies fool you. They love to run and get plenty of exercise.
In fact, they need proper space and toys in their crates to stay active and healthy. You can play with your piggy outside of their crate but be sure to supervise them the entire time.
Only provide toys that are safe for them to use, and they can live long and healthy lives with plenty of room to run and play.
Lydia King is a huge animal lover and has always been fascinated with learning about the animal kingdom. She enjoys writing about anything animal related from scientific information about rare species to animal references in pop culture.
