Adopt guinea pigs
Find your perfect pair. Woodgreen's guinea pigs are health-checked, bonded with care, and ready for a home where they can truly thrive.
Are guinea pigs the right pet for me?
Whether you’re new to guinea pigs or you’ve had the pleasure of owning them before, getting a new pet is always a big decision.
To learn more about caring for guinea pigs, visit our ‘Which small pets are right for me?’ page.
Read on to learn more about guinea pigs’ needs and our adoption process. This is your first step towards possibly meeting a new furry friend!
Here’s what guinea pig ownership involves
Preparing for guinea pigs
Thinking of adopting guinea pigs from Woodgreen? Before you apply, it’s worth taking some time to read through our ‘Caring for guinea pigs’ guide. It covers everything from diet and housing to behaviour and health — so you can feel confident you’re ready to give your guinea pigs the life they deserve.
What caring for guineas pig looks like
Here’s what to factor in:
Lifespan
Lifespan
Guinea pigs live for six to eight years. They’re often a bigger commitment than many people expect!
Day-to-day costs
Day-to-day costs
Caring for a pair of guinea pigs typically costs around £50 a month, including food, hay, bedding and insurance.
Veterinary care
Veterinary care
Guinea pigs are prone to dental disease, bladder and kidney stones, urinary tract infections, bumblefoot, cystic ovaries (in females) and anal impaction (in males). These conditions can be costly to treat, and it’s best to find a guinea pig-savvy vet before you adopt.
Insurance
Insurance
Pet insurance is well worth considering for guinea pigs. It won’t cover everything, but it can take the edge off unexpected treatment costs. We’d suggest shopping around to find a policy that works for you and your guinea pigs.
What your guinea pigs will need to live a happy life
To adopt guinea pigs from Woodgreen, you need to be able to give them the space, company and care they need to thrive.
Accommodation – Room to roam
Guinea pigs are more active than some people think. They only sleep for around three to four hours a day. They’re also on the go through the day and night, foraging, grazing and exploring.
- A bonded female pair or a neutered male/female pair needs a minimum 5ft × 2ft enclosure, plus a 6ft × 4ft run or equivalent indoor space
- A male pair or trio needs a minimum 6ft × 2ft enclosure, plus a 6ft × 4ft run or indoor equivalent
An example of an outdoor 6ft x 2ft hutch.
A guinea pig enclosure with hay trays, a wooden tunnel, a water bottle, a food bowl, a blue polka-dot covered hideout, a small fleece bed, chew toys, and scattered hay on a rug in a cosy room.
Do guinea pigs live indoors or outdoors?
Most of our guinea pigs are happy living indoors or outdoors. Only a small number are indoor-only, usually depending on breed or time of year, and we’ll always flag this on a guinea pig’s profile if it applies.
If you keep a pair or group inside they’ll still need daily time to exercise and explore beyond their everyday space: a secure garden run if you have one, or an indoor area the same size as our recommended outdoor run if you don’t.
Learn more about ideal guinea pig accommodation.
Guinea pig companionship
Guinea pigs are a social species which need to live with other guinea pigs. They eat and sleep in each other’s company, and find comfort in companionship. So if you don’t currently have any guinea pigs, we’ll ask you to adopt at least a pair.
If you have any questions, our team can help.
Here’s what we’ll ask from you
To ensure every guinea pig goes to a safe, happy and suitable home, here’s what we need to see:
- Appropriate accommodation that meets at least the minimum size requirements (more space is always better!)
- Enrichment and setup in line with our care guide, to support natural behaviours and wellbeing
- Companionship of the same species if you’re not adopting a bonded pair or group from us
- Photos of your setup, including tape measurements so we can confirm sizing
- A willingness to work with us and take on any advice or small changes needed to meet our standards.
For already bonded pairs, we rehome within three hours of Godmanchester, and for newly bonded guinea pigs, within one and a half hours. If you live further away, we can offer advice on bonding your guinea pig at home via a free telephone consult with our Small Animal Behaviour and Training Specialist, so please get in touch.
Travel arrangements
You’ll need to arrange your own travel to our centre in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire – unfortunately, we’re not easily accessible by public transport.
What happens next
After you apply, we’ll give you a call within two working days. If we are unable to reach you, we will send you an email, so please check your junk mail as sometimes our emails end up there.
Frequently asked questions
View our full small pet adoption FAQs
Are guinea pigs the right pet for me?
Are guinea pigs the right pet for me?
Guinea pigs are sociable, charismatic little companions with many needs. People often underestimate the maintenance involved in keeping guinea pigs. Here are a few things to consider:
- Guinea pigs live for six to eight years, so adopting them is a genuine long-term commitment.
- They need significant space – the minimum depends on the size and sex of your group, but all setups require both an enclosure and a run or equivalent indoor space.
- They need to live with at least one other guinea pig.
- A pair costs around £50 a month to care for.
- They only sleep for around three to four hours a day, so they need 24-hour access to their space.
- They’re prone to certain health conditions that can be costly to treat, so finding a guinea pig-savvy vet beforehand is important.
Not sure if guinea pigs are the right pet for you? Our guide to choosing the right small pet species is a great place to start.
How much does it cost to adopt guinea pigs from Woodgreen?
How much does it cost to adopt guinea pigs from Woodgreen?
Our adoption fees are:
- Single guinea pig (to be mixed with your existing guinea pig/s) — £28.50
- Pair of guinea pigs — £42.50
- Trio of guinea pigs — £56.50
If you use our onsite mixing service, which involves introducing your guinea pig to another guinea pig in our care, we’ll ask for a donation of your choice. This is on top of the adoption fee, if the mix is successful.
I’m looking for a friend for my guinea pig – can you help?
I’m looking for a friend for my guinea pig – can you help?
Mixing at home
If you’d like to handle the introductions yourself, our behaviour and training specialists can provide free guidance throughout the whole process. From choosing the right mixing method to knowing which behaviours to watch for and how to move forward if things go well – they’ll be with you every step of the way.
Book a call with one of our behavioural and training specialists.
Mixing at our centre in Godmanchester
If you’d prefer to leave it to us, our specialists will take care of everything at our centre. Once your setup has been approved, we’ll add you to our waiting list and be in touch when we have a suitable match. On the day, you’ll need to bring your guinea pig/s to us, and we’ll carry out a quick health check before the mix begins. You’ll be kept updated throughout. We may need more than one session to find the right match.
If a pairing doesn’t work out, we’ll support you in finding another potential companion.
How long does the adoption process take?
How long does the adoption process take?
Once you’ve submitted your application, we aim to get back to you within two working days. This may be a little longer during busy periods.
From there, timelines can vary depending on your setup approval. If you’re using our onsite mixing service, the number of bonding sessions to find the right match will also be a factor.
It’s worth starting your application as soon as you’re ready to begin the process.
I’ve seen a guinea pig on your website that I want to adopt – when can I reserve them?
I’ve seen a guinea pig on your website that I want to adopt – when can I reserve them?
Once we’ve reviewed your application and approved your setup, we’ll talk to you about the guinea pigs we have available at that time. You can then reserve your preferred one/s. Because of this, your preferred guinea pig/s when applying may not be available by the time your setup has been approved.
If you’re looking to adopt a pair, we only rehome guinea pigs that are already bonded in our care. All pairs we have available are on our website. Any single guinea pigs you see are usually being prioritised to bond with an owner’s existing guinea pig/s to help find them a friend more quickly.
Can I reserve a specific guinea pig before my setup is approved?
Can I reserve a specific guinea pig before my setup is approved?
Unfortunately not. We can only let you reserve a guinea pig once your application has been reviewed and your setup is approved. At that point, we’ll talk you through who we have available and you can choose from there.
Keep in mind that guinea pigs you have your eye on when you apply may have been rehomed by the time your setup is approved, so we’d encourage you to apply as soon as you’re ready to start the process.
Ready to adopt a guinea pig?
Once you feel ready to adopt, you can start your application.
If you don’t have everything in place just yet, that’s fine! You just need to show you’re willing to work with us to create the best home for your guinea pigs.