{"id":8050,"date":"2021-02-17T11:55:13","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T11:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petz.co.uk\/?p=8050"},"modified":"2026-03-03T12:40:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T12:40:22","slug":"what-toys-do-guinea-pigs-play-with","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petz.uk\/what-toys-do-guinea-pigs-play-with\/","title":{"rendered":"What Toys Do Guinea Pigs Like To Play With?"},"content":{"rendered":"

To truly understand what toys your guinea pig will want to play with, you first need to know their needs. Guinea pigs are sensitive, and they are prone to boredom and frustration, so having accessories that are going to enrich their lives is incredibly important.<\/p>\n

Guinea pigs are actually very intelligent, too. When placed in mazes, guinea pigs have demonstrated that they\u2019re able to recall pathways to food and hold onto these memories for months. And another study carried out suggests that guinea pigs are actually able to learn new lessons faster than other rodents<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So if guinea pigs are incredibly social and they\u2019re actually rather clever, it makes sense that stimulation and engagement are vital for a happy and healthy guinea pig.<\/p>\n

Knowing what toy your guinea pig will like to play with can be determined by how that toy fits every one of their needs. If you’re looking for new toys check out our round-up of the best Guinea Pig toys<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Guinea Pig Toy Needs<\/h2>\n

Need 1: Mental stimulation and socialising<\/h3>\n

Answer: Interacting and bonding games<\/strong><\/p>\n

Guinea pigs form bonds with their owners and become depressed if their owner isn\u2019t present. Because they\u2019re naturally social animals, guinea pigs need a lot of interaction to be happy, and this is something that people often don\u2019t understand about them.<\/p>\n

As a side note, it\u2019s important to state that you should always have more than one guinea pig<\/a> since they\u2019re much happier in groups.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Returning to the interactive toys, you should try and find something you can do together. For example, using toys that allow you to hide food and treats within them so you can challenge your guinea pig to forage and search for their food while being there to praise them when they find the missing treat.<\/p>\n

A ball that dispenses treats is also a good idea since your guinea pig will enjoy the attention they\u2019ll be receiving from you as you roll it towards them, not to mention the reward they\u2019ll receive when they manage to get the treat out of the ball.<\/p>\n

Need 2: Exercise and adventure<\/h3>\n

Answer: Large cage and accessories<\/strong><\/p>\n

Guinea pigs are natural explorers and foragers, so they actually need quite a lot of space<\/a>. Not only is it essential that you\u2019ve provided ample space for them to run around, but it\u2019s also good to have toys and accessories that make that space more engaging and adventurous.<\/p>\n