A guinea pig is sexually mature as young as 12 weeks of age. After a gestation period of 60-70 days the mother, called a sow gives birth to 1-6 babies called pups. The shorter the gestation period the less number of pups. The longer the gestation the larger the litter. A sow can have up to 5 litters per year. Average life span is only 4-5 years although there have been some well cared for pets live to 7 or 8 years.

The guinea pig, also called the cavy is a species of rodent. Despite their common name, these animals are not in the pig family, nor are they from Guinea. They are from the Andes. They play an important role in the folk culture of many indigenous South American groups, especially as a food source. Since the 1960’s efforts have been made to increase consumption outside of South America.

In western societies, the guinea pig has enjoyed widespread popularity as a household pet since its introduction by European traders in the 16th century. Their docile nature, their responsiveness to handling and feeding combined with the relative ease of caring for them continue to make the guinea pig a popular pet. There are 13 different types of guinea pigs, everything from the long haired Peruvian to the hairless skinny pig.