Some things in life bring you extreme joy, such as spending time with your family and eating your favorite foods. Sometimes, that means having a new addition to your family. For example, you might go to the shelter and get a cat or dog. Other times, this may mean going to the pet store and getting a guinea pig or rat!
Picking and choosing which rodent to get might be a tough choice, mainly because, to many people, both animals are adorable! So, what is the difference between the two, and which animal is right for you? You have come to the right place.
There are many differences and similarities between rats and guinea pigs. For example, rats require a different diet than guinea pigs and live different lifespans. On the other hand, both animals love affection and playing with their owner (or each other).
Today, we will learn about the difference between a guinea pig and a rat. We will discuss their behaviors, lifespan, size, diet, social behaviors, health, and living requirements. If you are deciding which two animals you should get, it is essential to know these things to make a well-informed decision. So, without further ado, let us continue reading for more information.
What Is the Difference Between a Guinea Pig and a Rat?
As stated above, there are many differences between these two animals, so we will divide them into sections to help reading go more smoothly. On top of this, here is a quick overview of the two animals:
| Lifespan | Size | Diet | Social | Grooming | |
| Guinea pig | 5 to 8 years (give or take) | 8 to 10 in long | 1.5 to 2.5 lbs | Herbivores | need hay, pellets & fresh fruits/veggies | Very social, awake most of the day and night | Self-grooming but requires nail trim & occasional bath |
| Rat | 2 to 4 years (give or take) | 9 to 10 in long w/ body | 1 to 1.4 lbs | Omnivores | needs fresh fruits/veggies & pellets | Very social, nocturnal animals | Self-grooming but requires tail wipe down at times |
1. Life Span
The first item on our list is the lifespan of a guinea pig and rat. How long will you expect your furry friend to remain with you?
Guinea Pig
A pet guinea pig is expected to live between 5 to 7 years. A guinea pig lives much longer than most of the rodent family but less than a cat or dog would. Suppose you are considering getting a guinea pig for your teenager. In that case, it is the perfect timeframe for them to have one before entering college (assuming they are going in the first place) or getting a job elsewhere.
Pampered guinea pigs that are adequately cared for have also been known to live up to 10 years! This entirely depends on how healthy they are, their living conditions, and if they are provided with a well-balanced diet.
Rat
Suppose you are looking for a companion for a short amount of time. In that case, a rat is the perfect go-to animal as their average lifespan is roughly 2 to 4 years old. These animals make ideal pets for many people, especially for a first-time pet.
A rat’s lifespan could be affected by several things. One is how well they are treated, but other times, it could be due to genetics and inbreeding. Ensure your rat has a proper diet, watch their weight, and give them plenty of things to chew on. We will go over these things further later in the article.
2. Size
Another thing to consider is how big you expect your animal to be. Although we know they will be small, it would be wise to understand HOW small.
Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs are not large and can weigh between 1.5 and 2.4 pounds. Also, these critters grow anywhere between 8 to 10 inches. They are the perfect size, smaller than a mouse, but they must be larger to take up space inside your home. You can easily place your guinea pig in the corner of the room while being able to hold them without worrying too much.
Rat
A rat’s body length is roughly the same size as a guinea pig. These small animals grow up to be between 9 and 11 inches, give or take. Not only that, but their long tails are roughly between 7 to 9 inches, which always lacks fur. Consider beforehand if you are generally sensitive to different textures and whatnot. On the other hand, rats weigh about 1 to 1.4 pounds. Some rat breeds may be smaller or larger.
3. Diet
What does a guinea pig eat vs. a rat? Do any of them have specific dietary needs you must be concerned about? Let’s find out.
Guinea Pig
The first thing you should know about the guinea pig diet is that they are herbivores, consisting mainly of Timothy hay and pellets. The biggest issue you should concern yourself with is that they do not produce vitamin C alone, so they must be provided with a well-balanced diet. However, pellets will provide the majority of their vitamin C needs.
In addition, Timothy hay helps your piggies’ constantly growing teeth wear down, so make sure you provide them access to this 24/7, as they will eat it periodically throughout the day. A guinea pig only needs 1/8th cup of pellets per day and up to 1 cup of fresh fruit and veggies daily. You can divide the fresh produce throughout the day so they are not given it all at once.
Rat
As you may have guessed from watching constant movies involving rats, they will practically eat anything in the wild, but they should still have a well-balanced diet. Firstly, rats are omnivores, meaning you can supplement their food with cooked eggs, grain, seeds, vegetables, fruit, etc. When introducing a new food, introduce it to them slowly and provide them with bits and pieces at a time.
In addition, an average adult rat needs a tablespoon of pellets daily and can enjoy Timothy hay as too many seeds will be too much in fat and low in nutrients. Make sure to offer your rat a bowl of fresh food twice daily, once in the morning and once at night.
4. Social Behaviors
One of the many questions asked is, how social will your animal be? Will you be able to hold and interact with your rat or guinea pig often, or do they prefer to be left alone?
Guinea Pig
On average, a guinea pig is one of the most social small animals you can get. They love to be cuddled and played with. Not only this, but it is wise to provide your piggie with another companion, preferably one they have grown up with, to help prevent fighting from occurring.
Providing them with another companion will help eliminate any boredom or loneliness they might feel. If the guinea pigs wind up fighting, you can put them in separate cages next door to each other and reintroduce them later.
When picking your guinea pig up, ensure you never do so from the back, as they will get scared and feel less secure. However, scoop them up from their bellies to ensure they feel safe.
Rat
Believe it or not, rats are great social animals. They like to interact with their owners and have other companions. They can form close bonds with their owners, and experts recommend getting them in pairs so they never feel alone. It is wise to house them with the same sex or ensure they are spayed or neutered before investing in these animals.
Let your rat sniff your hand before picking it up. You should also place one hand under the body and the other loosely on its back. This helps rats feel safe, just like guinea pigs. It is imperative never to pick your rat up using its tail, as this can easily injure it.
5. Activity Levels
Guinea pigs and rats may have different activity levels. If you live a busy life and cannot do certain things with your animal or have plenty of time to do what is needed to keep them happy, then it is wise to consider this beforehand.
Guinea Pig
On average, guinea pigs are very active. They are awake roughly 20 hours per day and sleep very little, which is periodically throughout 24 hours.
Guinea pigs can become bored, so it is imperative to provide them with plenty of enrichment toys and stimulation. Make sure to take your guinea pig out of its cage often. This could be as simple as holding and talking with it or putting your piggie in a playpen and providing some toys and obstacles it does not usually have in its house.
Rat
On the other hand, rats are mainly nocturnal creatures, so their most active timeframe is from dawn until dusk. They are very active and intelligent animals that need plenty of mental stimulation to prevent them from getting bored.
Ensure you provide them with plenty of enrichment toys or make your own! In addition, it might be a good idea to train and teach them different tricks so they are constantly learning. Doing so also helps you bond with your tiny fur baby and keeps them mentally and physically active.
6. Grooming
Next, we will discuss your little critters’ grooming needs. What is required to keep them healthy? For example, do you need to do anything for their dental hygiene, or do they need frequent baths? Let’s find out together.
Guinea Pig
A cavy’s grooming needs do not require much, and you will not have to do too many things to them. However, regarding their dental health, you must provide plenty of chew toys and hay as their teeth continuously grow and will be “trimmed down” with the things you provide. It is also wise to clip your piggie’s nails every once in a while to prevent curling.
In addition, guinea pigs tend to groom themselves, so they are usually very clean animals. However, guinea pigs may sometimes need baths if their coats get incredibly oily. In that case, make sure to bathe them off. You can also brush their fur a few times weekly to ensure it does not get nappy, especially with the long-haired guinea pigs.
Rat
Just like cats, rats will spend a lot of time grooming and cleaning themselves. They require very little; you only need to bathe them if they get filthy. Another thing to keep in mind is that you may need to wipe their tails off every once in a while, as they might get dirty. Lastly, ensure they have plenty of chew toys because, like the guinea pig, their teeth constantly grow.
7. Housing Needs
All animals, even small ones, require a specific amount of space, like rats and guinea pigs! If you were to get one animal, how much space is needed compared to a place with two or three animals? People always say to get the biggest one you can afford so they have ample room to roam freely instead of feeling in a tight space.
Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs are easy to take care of but require at least a 4ft x 2 ft house. They can live in multilevel cages as well if need be. This will save you money and space in your household. The bigger the cage you have, the better it will be for your piggie.
In addition, ensure they have plenty of hiding spaces. Because guinea pigs are prey animals, they might get scared easily by loud noises or if you enter the doorway or something similar.
Also, if you have large animals, like cats or dogs, keep the door your guinea pig is in closed. If there are younger children, lock the doors and put the key in a place they cannot reach.
Rat
A rat cage should be a minimum of 20in long x 14in wide x 24in high but should be considered a larger cage if you get multiple rats. You should increase the square footage by one foot per each additional rat. These critters love hanging in hammocks, chew toys, rope, reused toys, and shredded paper and can be litter trained.
8. Health Concerns
It is a given that some animals have more health concerns than others. Sometimes, it is genetic, whereas other times, you can quickly help them with some veterinary care and medication. Still, when taking on a new animal, we must learn its pros and cons, including any health issues it may have.
Guinea Pig
Guinea pigs are innately healthy critters, but they have some concerns you need to look out for. For example, guinea pigs can get respiratory illnesses, which can cause them to become sick for a while. Make sure you keep them away from drafts, windows, or doors. Some symptoms a guinea pig might have while sick are watery stools, drooling, wheezing or labored breathing, or refusal to eat or drink. Other sicknesses a guinea pig may or may not get are as follows:
- Fungal skin infections
- Tumors
- Inner eat infections
- GI diseases
- Lice and mite infections
- Abscesses due to infections
- Urinary issues
Rat
On the other hand, rats might hide their diseases well, and you may not know they have one until it is too late. However, it is imperative to watch out for any signs of discomfort, such as loss of appetite or weight, discharge from the eyes or nose, matted or fluffed hair, hunched back, general dullness, signs of trauma (like limping, bites, wounds), etc.
If your rat shows any signs of disease, immediately take them to the vet so it can be appropriately diagnosed. Some common health issues that your rat might experience are as follows:
- Dental diseases
- Respiratory illnesses
- Tumors
- Eye diseases
- Changes in coat and skin
Which Animal Should You Invest In?
Guinea pigs and rats are a joy to have around and are the perfect animal if you want to have something short-term. However, it entirely depends on how long you wish to have an animal, what your schedule looks like, and what amount of space you have. We hope this article was helpful to you, and as always, if you need help with any other small pet, we recommend checking out our other articles to ensure to get all the information you can!
