Guinea Pig Boarding

Due to space considerations, rabbit care will be pet visits only in the client’s home – see page on cat visits for an idea on pet visit routines.

I can either visit Guinea pigs in the comfort of their own home (see cat visits for pet visit services), or board them in mine.

For ultimate convenience, Guinea pig boarding is all-inclusive.

Maximum two Guinea pigs per cage (must be bonded pair).

Cage and accessories are cleaned and disinfected after each client.

All necessities are provided for a daily fee. The client should not bring any other items for their Guinea pigs, except for pet carrier and medication if needed.

Boarders will enjoy attentive care by a highly qualified professional, a family environment in a quiet neighbourhood, renovated clean interior, indirect natural light, HEPA air purifiers, and pleasant temperatures in a non-smoking home.

For drop off and pick up, the meetings are scheduled in advance with a 20-minute time window and clients will be met outside. I will bring in pet(s) myself. Human clients are not allowed inside.

I love feeding Guinea pigs. Here is a sample of some of the past veggie selections:

All-Inclusive Guinea Pig Boarding

(“Wheek-Zoom-tastic”): Boarders are tended to in the morning and evening. Includes:

Housing in a MidWest Guinea Pig Habitat (limit 2 Guinea pigs per cage)
High-quality fleece cage lining (random selection includes GuineaDad, HoneyBeeLane, and Mischief Stitches). Washed with unscented detergent and vinegar. If necessary (if the washer/dryer is out of order), a natural, unscented paper bedding free of baking soda may be substituted.
Unlimited Oxbow Adult Guinea Pig Food (extra fee for Oxbow Young Guinea Pig Food and/or alfalfa hay
Unlimited Oxbow Timothy Hay
Daily Oxbow vitamin C supplement (optional)
Regular spot cleaning, fleece changes, and cage cleaning
Filtered water
Twice daily fresh vegetables for a total of about 1 cup per Guinea pig. Menu is selected based on seasonal availability, nutritional recommendations, with a goal to offer variety. Selection may or may not include organic and locally-sourced produce (extra fee to upgrade to only organic/locally-sourced selection)
Chewable toys and treats like apple tree sticks
Supervised cage-free cuddle time
HEPA air purifiers
Weighing
Nail trimming (depending on temperament)
Daily reports with pictures via email, WhatsApp, or text

Extra services (see Fees):

Round-trip guinea pig transportation for boarding
Upgrade to organic/locally-sourced daily fresh vegetables
Supplemental “young Guinea pig fee” for Oxbow Young Guinea Pig Food and/or alfalfa hay
Concierge service
Bath upon arrival

Round-trip Guinea pig transportation

I pick up your guinea pig(s) and drive them directly to my home for boarding. When their boarding reservation is completed, I deliver the guinea pig(s) back to the client. Available within the service area.

Upgrade to organic/locally-sourced fresh produce

For the discerning Guinea pig. Carefully selected to include only organic or locally-sourced vegetables and the occassional fruit. Sources may include: organic food stores, organic produce, a summer/fall organic veggie basket, my community garden plot. Fresh produce is offered once or twice per day, for a total of about 1 cup of vegetables/fruit per day per guinea pig.

Pet sitting clients (but not boarding clients) are welcome to supply their own produce (up to 5 days at a time, starting on the first day of service), however when that supply runs out or becomes unusable, a fresh produce fee will be applied per day. Uneaten produce is removed within 24 hours. Boarding clients should not bring any vegetables or fruit with them – I do not have the capacity to store client produce.

I follow Guinea Lynx’s guidelines for guinea pig vegetable guidelines, and the Binky Bunny/House Rabbit Society guidelines for rabbits. I will note your preferences for their diet before we meet and when you drop off your Guinea pigs. An avid cook, I do a lot of my vegetable shopping at the Jean-Talon Market, maintain a community garden plot during the warmer months, and in 2022, I started subscribing to a certified-organic, staff-owned, local veggie basket from La ferme cooperative aux champs qui chantent for organic, locally-sourced herbs and fresh seasonal vegetables and fruit.

**For special requests, like specific produce selections, bottled water, etc., there will be a concierge fee per shopping trip plus the cost of the item(s). Otherwise, the daily produce selection is selected by Cats and Hamsters. The concierge fee will be in place of the daily fresh vegetable fee for pet sitting clients, and the concierge fee would be in addition to the all-inclusive boarding fee for Guinea pigs.

Concierge service

A concierge fee is applied per shopping trip for specially requested items like specific produce choices and bottled water, plus the cost of the required items. While I will do my best to match your preferences, I cannot guarantee brands, stores, or prices.

Bath

I only bathe Guinea pigs in my care if their feet or coats are soaked with pee or matted with poop or if boars have grease gland issues. It can be stressful for them, and frequent baths can dry out their skin. Most Guinea pigs are able to keep themselves clean if their cages are kept clean and dry. I currently use Gorgeous Guineas, a specifically formulated conditioning shampoo for Guinea pigs.

Guinea boarding FAQs:

I have a cat and a small child. They all roam freely. This is a family home. My cat is very well-fed and I have never had a cat-related injury to any of my boarders or to my own hamsters. The cat mostly enjoys trying to eat the hay – but this is something to keep in mind, as all animals are unpredictable. No, I do not offer isolated rooms for boarders.

I am an avid home cook and I am an omnivore. I will not become a raw vegetarian during your pet’s stay here.

I will not refrain from vacuuming during your pet’s stay here.

Boarding includes one daily report with pictures. Clients will only receive multiple reports per day if there is an emergency situation that warrants close communication, like a sudden urgent health concern.

Guinea pigs are not allowed free roam time. In my experience, Guinea pigs do not enjoy free roaming in a strange environment, even if they do so in their own home. I tried this at the start of my business… the Guinea pigs didn’t like it. I ended up chasing Guinea pigs and cleaning up lots of pee and poop underneath the sofa. Boarders are treated with care as family pets, and they are given lots of cuddle time depending on temperament.