Guinea pigs are highly social animals that suffer significantly when kept alone, yet are commonly housed singly by owners unaware of their complex social requirements.
Solitary guinea pigs experience chronic loneliness that manifests as reduced activity, weight loss, stereotypic behaviour and reduced immune function. Social contact with conspecifics provides essential emotional security. Guinea pigs housed alone in small cages with minimal enrichment experience compounding welfare deprivation. They also require far larger enclosures than traditionally provided.