Guinea pigs are highly social, active animals whose welfare is frequently compromised by inadequate housing space and lack of conspecific company in UK and European pet keeping.
Guinea pig welfare is systematically undermined by the pet industry selling inadequately small cages and marketing guinea pigs as simple low-maintenance pets for children. In reality, guinea pigs are socially complex, active animals with substantial space requirements and dietary needs including daily fresh vitamin C sources. Solitary guinea pigs experience chronic loneliness that is measurably stressful. Inadequate housing space prevents normal movement and causes physical health problems. The gap between welfare science recommendations and conventional pet keeping practice for guinea pigs is substantial and causes widespread, preventable suffering.