Guinea pigs are highly social animals that suffer severely when kept alone. Understanding and meeting their social needs is fundamental to their welfare.
A guinea pig kept alone is an animal in social deprivation - one of the most significant welfare failures possible for this species. Guinea pigs are prey animals that evolved in large social groups, using constant communication, mutual grooming, and collective vigilance for safety. A lone guinea pig cannot fulfill these profound social motivations. Switzerland recognized this so clearly that solo guinea pig keeping is illegal there. Human contact, however frequent, does not substitute for species-appropriate social companionship. The minimum welfare standard for guinea pig keeping is a bonded companion.