Rabbits and guinea pigs should not be housed together in the same enclosure. While they are often regarded as similar, rabbits and guinea pigs are actually totally different kinds of animals, with different (and often conflicting) needs.
- Different Order – Rabbits and guinea pigs aren’t just different species, they’re different orders (lagomorphs versus rodents), meaning they’re evolutionarily very separate.
- Different behaviour – All animals should have the opportunity to engage in natural behaviours. Rabbits and guinea pigs have very different natural behaviours. Therefore, they have different care requirements (e.g., for space and exercise).
- Different needs – For example, rabbits need to hop, skip and jump, so they need more exercise and more space compared to guinea pigs.
- Different communication – They won’t necessarily be able to understand each other’s behaviour which can lead to conflict and injuries.
- Conflict and injuries – Rabbits can bully and inflict potentially fatal injuries to guinea pigs.
- Different diet – They have different requirements so cannot be fed the same diet.
- Disease risks – Some infections can pass between rabbits and guinea pigs.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are social animals so companionship is essential. See the Knowledgebase articles ‘How can I socialise my new guinea pig with other guinea pigs and my family?’ and ‘What companionship do rabbits need?’ for more information. However, it is best to keep a rabbit with other rabbits, and a guinea pig with other guinea pigs, while following the relevant care recommendations.
In some individual cases, rabbits and guinea pigs may have learnt to live together (particularly if they’ve known each other since they were very young), and separating them may not be desirable. You can reduce the risks by desexing, ensuring your guinea pig has safe hiding places, feeding them separately, and practicing good hygiene to minimise disease risks.
