Is a Rabbit Better Than a Guinea Pig? (Cute Pet Showdown!)


A common question amongst those wishing to get a new pet is the question of whether a rabbit or a guinea pig is the better pet. Having recently looked after guinea pigs while a friend of mine was away on holiday, I decided to answer this question. So which is better, a rabbit or a guinea pig?

Whether rabbits or guinea pigs are better will depend on the individual owner. Guinea pigs are more suited to children than rabbits as they are easier to handle and less likely to bite, rabbits are a more challenging pet. Both rabbits and guinea pigs require a significant amount of care.

That’s the short answer however the truth is that this really isn’t that straight forward of a question. Although as pets rabbits and guinea pigs have some similarities, they are vastly different animals each with their own personality traits and instincts.

Rabbits are clearly a passion for me (had they not been, I never would have set up this site!) but as an animal lover perhaps if I had encountered guinea pigs first, this may have been a piggy site!

Having recently spent a fortnight with two guinea pigs, It would be easy to tell you how much fun I had however that would not really answer the question. Instead, I figured a better way would be to compare both guinea pigs and rabbits against certain important ‘pet criteria’ including friendliness, cleanliness, personality, and intelligence.

I also carried out some research into guinea pigs so that I could address some other things that may also be a factor when making a decision on which one is ‘best’ for you, such as cost of keeping, maintenance (cleaning frequency), and life expectancy. I’ve put all this information below with explanations, So let’s get to it.

Affection & Friendliness

Rabbit

Rabbits are nervous animals at the bottom of the food chain which means it takes significant time and effort spent as a pet owner before a rabbit will even trust you are not trying to hurt it.

Rabbits are affectionate animals however, in my experience most of that affection is (naturally) reserved for members of their own species.

Snowball and Nerys relaxing together

Guinea Pig

Similarly, guinea pigs also have many natural enemies in the wild however, contrary to my experience with rabbits, guinea pigs seemed a lot more interested in socializing with me right off the bat.

Although they were initially shy animals, I put little work in before they were eating out of the palm of my hand (literally).

My temporary house guests

The guinea pigs were also a lot happier sitting alongside me on the sofa for long periods whereas my rabbits get bored pretty quickly and begin looking to get down to explore.

Which should you choose?

Rabbit (If you like a challenge)

Guinea Pig (If you prefer a laid back nature)

Personality

Rabbit

Rabbits have bags of personality and having owned several, I can testify that no two have the same personality.

Rabbits have a playful and mischievous nature which means if you are keeping them as house pets you will need to keep a close eye on them. If rabbits are quiet, they are probably up to something they shouldn’t be!

As they are silent animals rabbits reserve most of their communication for members of their own species. so it’s hard to describe what a rabbits personality looks like, it’s the look they give you when you withhold that extra treat and their sweet nature that makes a rabbit a very special companion.

Guinea Pig

Guinea Pigs are also personable animals. They have a much wider vocabulary than a rabbit particularly in pairs which is an endearing quality that really adds to their personality.

Not only will they squeak to let you know they want something or they are excited. They will also get excited when you walk into a room. This makes them entertaining pets that children will love to be around.

Which should you choose?

Either – both rabbits and guinea pigs are equally entertaining

Intelligence & Training

Rabbit

Rabbits are intelligent animals that are easily taught. Once a level of trust has been established, it’s relatively simple for a rabbit to learn the sound of its own name, and other useful skills such as how to use a litter tray. Incidentally, we wrote a couple of posts on both of these things and we’ve linked them here for you:

Teach a rabbit to come when its name is called (link to post: ‘How to Train a Rabbit to Come (when Called)’)

Teach a rabbit to use a litter tray (link to post: ‘How to Litter train a Rabbit’)

With effort, rabbits can be taught more advanced tricks, ringing a bell for a treat and amazingly, playing basketball or painting! (Check out Bini the Bunny on YouTube). Of course not every rabbit can be taught to play basketball however, I’ve taught several to use litter trays, stairs and also come when called.

Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are just as capable of being taught certain things including using a litter tray and while it was difficult to see this demonstrated in the short time I had with them, multiple YouTube videos support the fact that guinea pigs make intelligent pets.

That said, the guinea pigs I looked after seemed to be a little more motivated by food than the rabbits and I certainly couldn’t have imagined teaching them anything more advanced than coming when called. As such, I have to conclude that rabbits (at least on the surface) are more intelligent than guinea pigs.

Which should you choose?

Rabbit (If you have lots of time to train)

Guinea pig (If you want a simple pet that can learn basic commands)

Aggression

Rabbit

Having a lot to fear means that if cornered, rabbits may respond aggressively, particularly if approached by an unfamiliar or inexperienced pair of hands. This makes a rabbit a difficult pet for children and even some adults to look after.

Contrary to expectation, rabbits don’t like to be handled if they can help it. They are awkward pets to pick up and prefer to have all four paws on the ground. A rabbit held incorrectly may perceive its life to be in danger and may bite or kick to escape.

Having been bitten on numerous occasions, I can say from experience that even the most laid back of for the fact that rabbits can be aggressive

Every rabbit has its off days, and even the most caring owners can fall victim to the occasional bite.

Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs are also skittish animals with a similar predatory threat, however, they are very docile animals that will rarely bite unless really provoked.

Guinea pigs relaxing

I personally found Guinea pigs a lot easier to catch and handle than a rabbit is, they have compact bodies, are less fidgety when sat on a lap which makes them much more suited to younger children provided they treat them gently.

Which should you choose?

Rabbit (If you are not afraid of an occasional bite or nip)

Guinea Pig (If you want a more gentle pet that rarely bites)

Noise

Rabbit

Rabbits are very quiet animals with most of their communication coming through subtle body language. If you were to leave a dog at home all day, it would likely bark, annoying the neighbors in the process. This isn’t a problem with a rabbit and your neighbors will not hear a peep!

Rabbits are also crepuscular meaning that they are most active at dawn and dusk. This means they will likely sleep for large parts of the day when you are out and be ready to play when you get home.

Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs on the other hand have an extremely large vocabulary. Its also surprising how loud a guinea pig can be when it’s excited, especially at feeding times.

Guinea pigs sleep about half as much as a rabbit at only 4 hours a day (intermittently) and while your neighbors will unlikely hear their squeaks and rumbles through the adjoining wall, they certainly have the capability to disturb your sleep if kept in the house.

Which should you choose?

Rabbit (If you’d love a quiet pet)

Guinea Pig (If you just love those cute squeaks!)

Lifespan

Rabbit

Rabbits can live for between 8 and 12 years, however, these estimates depend on a lot of factors and don’t take into account a rabbits fragility.

As described rabbits suffer from numerous serious health issues, a lot of which can be put down to the care (or lack thereof) while others such as G.I. stasis can come on without real explanation, with the rabbit seemingly OK one minute and then deteriorating to near death within just a few hours.

Guinea Pig

Guinea pigs live for between 4 and 8 years, again this will depend on a lot of factors however guinea pigs are a much more hardy animal than a rabbit with sudden deterioration, and death being easily avoidable providing good care is taken of them.

We’re giving this one to the rabbit as we all like to keep our pets with us for as long as possible however there are of course situations where a shorter lifespan may be more suited to your family.

If you have a child who really wants a pet it should be considered who is going to take care of that Pet when your child goes off to college? Someone will need to take responsibility so it’s worth thinking about what the future holds before committing to either pet.

Which should you choose?

Rabbit (If your want a pet that lasts)

Guinea Pig (If your off to college in a few years)

Cost

Rabbit

Setting a rabbit up can be costly, Rabbits are highly active and need a large dwelling and an attached run of a minimum recommended size of no less than 8ft X 4ft.

even if you intend to keep the rabbit inside the house, it will still need a personal space where it can go.

Added to that the cost of yearly vaccinations, food (including fresh veggies), pellets and an unlimited amount of hay and a rabbit may cost you very close to $1000 a year to look after (per rabbit!)

Guinea Pig

In contrast Guinea Pigs, are happier to be in a much smaller space than a rabbit, a large indoor cage with a recommended area of around 30″ X 50″ (10.5 Square feet) is ample room for a guinea pig to stretch it’s (short) legs. In fact, its plenty of room for two.

Guinea pigs do not generally get vaccinated against common diseases perhaps as they are less susceptible however they can develop medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, bumblefoot, and anal impaction (if they are not cared for properly) which could potentially cost 100’s of dollars in veterinary bills.

The guinea pigs enjoying watercress

Guinea pigs have a very similar diet to rabbits although it could be argued that they don’t need quite as much food due to their smaller size. Of course, that could then be argued that they make up for this with less sleep! Again while these little animals may cost a little less, it would not be a shock to find you end up spending between $500 – $1000 for every year of their lives.

Which should you choose?

Take your pick! Either pet is potentially expensive

Cleanliness/Upkeep

Rabbit

Baby rabbits (as with all babies) poop a lot and their frequent dropping can be sporadic and messy at first, however once mature and neutered or spayed, rabbits can be very easily litter trained and will generally do the majority of their poop in one place.

Their toilet areas should be cleaned daily to reduce the risk of parasites and the whole dwelling should be cleaned completely at least once a week and sprayed with a rabbit safe disinfectant spray. Naturally, fresh hay and water should be provided each day

When it comes to upkeep, rabbits will need brushing especially during a molt and will also need their nails clipped (link to post: How To Cut Rabbits Nails). Teeth will take care of themself provided you are providing an unlimited supply of good quality hay.

Just like cats rabbits will keep general cleanliness themselves, licking their paws and using them to clean their faces and behind their ears, a companion rabbit can also help with this.

Remember rabbits do not need anything more than a ‘butt bath’ and even then that should only be in very special circumstances.

Guinea Pig

Similarly Guinea Pigs poop and pee a lot and will need cleaning fully every couple of days. As they generally require a smaller dwelling, I personally noticed the smell was more noticeable with guinea pigs than it was with my rabbits.

Guinea pigs will also need basic upkeep carried out such as nail clipping and brushing they generally keep themselves clean through licking and like rabbits they don’t need to be bathed except in exceptional circumstances.

Fortunately, baths are not as stressful for a guinea pig which means that if they get very messy, you can at least clean them a little easier.

Which should you choose?

Rabbit (If you don’t mind a mountain of poop)

Guinea Pig (If you’d rather clean a smaller area)

Health

Rabbit

As described rabbits are very delicate animals that are susceptible to many health issues, a lot of which can be very serious. Most of these health issues can be a result of poor care.

Unfortunately, new rabbit owners don’t always understand how vital providing a rabbit with a high fiber diet is. Failure to do can lead to rabbit dental disease (overgrown teeth digging into the soft tissue of the mouth) and of course extreme difficulty due to overgrown teeth.

Cleanliness is another issue that can lead to health issues, especially if the rabbit is put in an inadequately sized hutch where poop and urine can build up very quickly. This can result in flys and flystrike is a life-threatening issue where flies lay eggs on the rabbits skin which hatch and eat into the flesh of the rabbit.

The aforementioned gastrointestinal stasis is probably the worst issue as it’s often not until its too late that you realize there is a problem. The rabbit can deteriorate and even pass away very quickly. I have experienced this myself and it can be extremely distressing.

My rabbit Nerys sadly died of G.I.Stasis

Guinea Pig

Despite being less fragile than a rabbit, guinea pigs also suffer from many health issues, most of which usually relate to aging, dental disease, reproductive disorders, injury, or improper care.

Bumblefoot is one common condition in guinea pigs and is an inflammation of the guinea pigs footpads as a result of bacteria entering through scrapes or sores. Soaking the affected feet in a mild cleansing solution and applying bandages or antibiotics may sort out the issue, however in severe cases amputation of the affected area may be necessary.

Guinea pigs are also sensitive to cold air and drafts which may result in an upper respiratory infection and even pneumonia.

For this reason it’s important to place a guinea pig dwelling away from open doors or windows.

Which should you choose?

Rabbit (If your don’t mind high vet fees)

Guinea Pig (If you need a hardier pet)

Which pet should you choose?

Despite my obvious passion for rabbits, Guinea pigs were really fun and I have to conclude that they also make amazing pets.

Both animals are skittish in nature however the added fragility of a rabbit means that they are definitely more suited to an adult pair of hands. If you’re interested to learn more on this subject why not read our related post here (link to post: ‘Is a Rabbit a Good Pet for a Child?’)

Rabbits also require a level of attention that it would be difficult for a young child to sustain for the entirety of a rabbit’s life – potentially around a decade of care.

Guinea pigs can make good pets for children, however, they are not really starter pets. They have a relatively long lifespan and require a lot of care and upkeep. Children should only really have them if they have already been able to demonstrate their responsibility with a starter pet e.g a hamster or a goldfish.

If they have been actively involved in cleaning, feeding, have maintained an interest over the lifespan of the starter pet, and have developed the ability to be gentle with their hands, a guinea pig would be a good pet choice, however, also consider that even more so than rabbits, guinea pigs require a companion in order to live a happy life, this obviously means double the cost.

Every family is different so we can’t say for certain which pet will be best for your own circumstances but we hope this post helps you to make a decision.

Related questions

Are guinea pigs or rabbits easier to look after?

Guinea pigs are an easier pet to look after than a rabbit. Both guinea pigs and rabbits require a lot of care however guinea pigs suffer less from serious health issues, require a smaller living space and are easier to clean.

What is the difference between a rabbit and a guinea pig?

The main difference between rabbits and guinea pigs is that rabbits are of the species Lagomorpha (lagomorphs) and guinea pigs are of the species Rodentia (rodents). Rabbits are larger and are an advanced pet. Guinea pigs make good pets for responsible children.

Do rabbits kill guinea pigs?

It is possible for a rabbit to kill a guinea pig which is why it is important that these two animals do not share an enclosure. Rabbits are bigger and more aggressive than a guinea pig and may kill or seriously injure a guinea pig if they fight.

Do rabbits get along with guinea pigs?

Rabbits and guinea pigs may appear to get along however, they have different needs and communicate differently. They are two completely different species and need to be with members of their own kind.

Do rabbits poop more than guinea pigs?

Both rabbits and guinea pigs poop a large number of droppings each day. Rabbits also reingest some droppings. Guinea pig droppings are significantly smaller but rabbits are easier to litter train.

What smells worse guinea pig or rabbit?

Neither guinea pigs nor rabbits smell but their urine has a strong odour. Guinea pigs generally have a smaller living space than a rabbit which means the smell builds up faster if they are not cleaned regularly.

Can female rabbits live with male guinea pigs?

Regardless of sex, rabbits and guinea pigs should not live together. Guinea pigs are smaller than rabbits and may be bullied or attacked by a rabbit.

Do guinea pigs bite?

Guinea pigs do of course have the ability to bite however, they will not do so unless they are provoked or frightened for their lives. In general guinea pigs are laid back, sweet-natured animals that would not harm a fly.

Can guinea pigs be litter trained?

Guinea pigs can be litter trained however they will likely still also poop outside of the litter tray as they have little control of these bodily functions.

What is smarter a guinea pig or rabbit?

In terms of training, rabbits may be a little smarter than guinea pigs, however, guinea pigs are also very smart pets with a unique language.

Sources

https://animals.mom

https://www.rspca.org.uk

https://www.humanesociety.org

https://www.msdvetmanual.com

https://www.thesprucepets.com

Darren

Darren is the founder and editor at Bunny Advice and has been caring for rabbits for over a decade. He has a passion for helping animals and sharing his experience and knowledge with others.

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