Can I keep my guinea pig and rabbit in the same cage?

Question

I have 3 polish rabbits-which are the second smalles breed of rabbit next to netherland dwarf. I also have one english guinea pig. all these animals live in my room, and they all live in separate cages. I want to reduce the amount of cages in my room by puting my smallest rabbit, jack in with my guinea pig. i think it would help them both out because the guinea pig's sister just died in december, and we are both very sad about it. i have let jack and katie-the guinea pig run around and play together many times, and they seen to get along very well. jack doesnt hump her, like oreo-one of my other rabbits would, and if i put any of my rabbits together in the same cage, they will either rape eachother to death or fight to death. they are all males.

do u think it is okay for me to keep jack and katie together in a nice, big cage?

why?

and why not?

jack would never hurt her, even on accident. he is less then 2 lbs. and katie is over 3!!!!

Answer 1

No, putting rabbits and guinea pigs together is NEVER a good idea, and there are many reasons.

Firstly, their dietary needs are not the same. Guinea pigs cannot thrive on rabbit feed, and rabbits cannot thrive on guinea pig feed. The nutrition would never be good enough for either of them, and attempting to feed them both is just not practical. They won't know which is for them! They do both eat vegetables, but you'd either be giving your guinea pig not enough Vitamin C, or giving the rabbit too much. It's just too much of a risk to their health.

Also, I understand your rabbit is smaller than the guinea pig, but his kick is still MUCH stronger than what a guinea pig could handle. If he accidentally was startled and kicked out, his extremely powerful hind feet that he needs for movement can kill the guinea pig, or at least seriously injure her. I know he might not mean too, but there are plenty of documented accidents with rabbits and guinea pigs.

Your guinea pig would be SO much happier with a guinea pig of the same gender! Check out Petfinder.com to see if any guinea pigs near you are in need of a new home!

Answer 2

no, that is not a good idea at all, they aren't meant to be in the same cage.

Answer 3

With the 2 male rabbits, be very careful. Let them get to know each other in a neutral environment several times for a few weeks to see how they get on, and when they're first put together in a new cage, watch them, them separate them for a little while, dont put them in together straight away. They're like humans, they need time to make friends.

The same goes for the rabbit and the guinea pig, but be careful with these too. A rabbit can get irritated by a guinea pig and kick ir/harm it in some way, even if you think they're totally harmless. A change of environment or daily routine can upset your pets. Also, both animals have different habitual and nutritional needs, so watch out for that, too.

But these things take time, don't just shove them in together, one might get hurt!

Answer 4

It's never a good idea, for many of the reasons people have listed.  This web site is a really good resource to read and see how guinea pigs and rabbits are not compatible.

http://www.guineapigcages.com/rabbits.ht...

Answer 5

If they're both placid enough, ur problem isn't them getting along.

Their diet is totally different, but if i remember right you can get food that's suitable for both rabbits and guinea pigs??

If you go into a pet shop, someone there might be able to talk to you about it.

Answer 6

Never put a different type of animal with another different type of animal. Sometimes you see it at pet stores but they are completley wrong. First they have wrong diets... you need to feed them different food which can be complicated because a guinea pig could eat the rabbits food and the rabbit could eat the guinea pigs food. And even when you let them out to play together you should only let them together with supervision because you never know what will happen they could really harm each other. There are also tons of more reasons not to put them together in the same cage. My idea is just get another guinea pig friend for your guinea pig... but never put them together in the same cage without supervision

Answer 7

no, no matter what people say, you shouldnt. they eat completely differnt things in their diet. a few days ago this random old lady came up to me and said she liked my guinea pigs (they were in the run in my front garden) and she told me this sad story about how she had went out to feed her guinea pig and rabbit that lived in the same hutch, and found the guinea pig trembling and unable to move. she instantly took him to the vets, and the vet had to put him down- every bone in his body was broken. the reason? the male rabbit had tried to make him, and had leapt on him in attempt.

but then again, theres always execptions to the rule. really, its your choice. how about putting them in the run for longer and longer times together, and then for increseing times in the hutch together? you have to feed them in differnt hutches though, becuase rabbits need no vitiman c, and an overdose could kill them, and guinea pigs need loads becuase they dont produce it themselves, and an under dose could kill them; theyre dietry needs are completely differnt! lol.

but whatever you chose, make sure your pets come first ion your descision ;-]

Answer 8

Well...probably not. They eat different diets, both are big on marking there territory, they need different excersizes.

Lol...I use to have a rabbit named Oreo...now he's gone & I have one named Jack!