How many breeds of guinea pigs are there?
The pedigree question is difficult to answer. As with domestic cats and dogs, there are many different breeds of guinea pigs, but not all of them are recognized by government organizations. In North America, the American Cavy Breeders Association has the power, while the UK has its British Cavy Council. There are a few more bodies of this type, but to the ordinary pet sitter those things don’t particularly matter. What most people want to know when asking about guinea pig breeds are the different descriptions and aesthetic characteristics.
There are about a dozen named breeds. Because many of these breeds have “ideal” characteristics in contrast to the natural variability of the actual characteristics, confusion can arise. For the sake of argument, we’ll skip most of the talk about rosettes and focus on hair length and characteristics as the main points of differentiation.
The body shapes of guinea pigs are similar in all breeds, unlike dogs and cats, where one breed can look very different from another. Colors can vary as well, and colors are not particularly associated with most guinea pig breeds.
The first on our list is the Rex. The Rex’s hair is short and fuzzy, and it stands on end evenly all over the body.
The Teddy resembles a teddy bear, due to its dense, fuzzy, upright fur. The coat is moderately long, enhancing the cuddling appearance just like the stuffed toy that gives it its name. This breed is quite popular, especially among younger pet owners.
The Abyssinian is another common breed. Their hair varies in length along their body, standing in tufts or ridges. This creates a messy yet quite fun look that many pet owners like.
The Peruvian is the original longhair Cavy. Hair falls like a curtain around, even in front of the face, and can grow more than 20 inches (50 centimeters). Trimming and grooming are essential for a better appearance. Such additional maintenance reduces its popularity as a pet, making it more popular as a show breed.
The Silkie or Sheltie also has long hair, except that it tends to flow backwards and never falls forward on the face like the Peruvian.
Texels are very similar to Silkies, except for the addition of corkscrew curls. Gentle care is required to prevent curls from tangling.
There are also some relatively rarer breeds, such as the following:
The Alpaca is a Peruvian with curly hair. Many of these are first generation Peruvian hybrids.
The Crested breed has a unique rosette on the head, which gives it the crest of the same name.
Crowns are long haired like Silkies, but crested like Crested.
A Ridgeback is genetically similar to the Abyssinian, but with a more uniform coat, with the exception of a ridge of hair that runs down the spine.
Abbyruvians or Sheba Mini Yaks are also quite similar to Abyssinians, but with longer hair. Hair tends to curl and bunch, giving rise to Cavy’s nickname “Bad Hair Day.”
There are also breeds of hairless guinea pigs, but they require a different set of care conditions and as such are not popular as pets.
There are even more breeds, but these are the best known. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled!