Cali Cavy Collective: a blog about all things guinea pig

Announcing the 2016 Bay Area Pignics

2016-05-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

Come out to one - or both - of the 2016 Bay Area Pignics! There will be two events again this year, so bring your guineas and get ready for cuteness galore.
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Guinea Pig Grooming Cuteness

2016-02-20T07:50:00.000-08:00

There's nothing cuter than guinea pigs grooming themselves. Well, except for yawning guinea pigs. Maybe sleeping guinea pigs. And we can't forget about baby guinea pigs. But those are topics for another time.
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7 Tips for Bonding With Your Guinea Pig

2015-11-21T06:30:00.000-08:00

Bringing home a guinea pig for the first time is always exciting. That fluff! Those floppy ears! And he makes such cute noises!

The excitement dies down a bit after the piggy parent observes that the newest addition to their family has spent most of the day in hiding. From there, the questions begin. "How do I bond with my guinea pig? How do I get her to trust me? It's been three weeks, why is he still scared of me?"
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Bay Area Pignic 2015

2015-10-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

How has it been over a month already?! Dozens of guineas and piggy fans turned out for the Marin Bay Area Pignic in August. The pigs sniffed each others' bums, munched on everything in sight, and had a grand time while their humans chatted and exclaimed over the rampant cuteness.

Oxbow Vitamin C and Harvest Hay Stacks Review

2015-08-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Fun fact: most mammals produce their own Vitamin C internally. Notable exceptions: humans, fruit bats, primates, capybaras and of course, guinea pigs.
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Join Us For Both 2015 Bay Area Pignics

2015-07-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right - we're happy to share that this year there will be two Bay Area Pignics! In addition to our usual gathering in the Peninsula/South Bay, there will be an event hosted in Marin for North Bay/San Francisco residents. Twice the cuteness, twice the fun.
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Oxbow Pure Comfort Small Animal Bedding Review

2015-07-14T08:51:00.002-07:00

We've gone over fleece bedding at length on this blog. And as far as alternative bedding options go, the system works great - as long as you're willing to put in the time needed to keep your guinea pig's living environment tidy.
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In Our Fridge: Basil

2015-06-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Grilling season is finally here! Many of the girls' favorite fruits and veggies have been cropping up in stores. Watermelon, blueberries, corn, and tomatoes, just to name a few. Basil, however, is one of those herbs that elicits strong opinions. Some guineas love it while others can't stand the scent.
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Breakfast with Revy

2015-05-09T12:05:00.002-07:00

Chocolate. Popsicles. Toast. And now, add green smoothies to the list of foods that overly curious cavies have tried to sneak a taste of.
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Finished Guinea Pig Paw Prints

2015-04-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

No, this isn't a belated Valentine's Day project. I realized that I never got around to sharing the finished paw prints so here they are! And in case you missed it the first time, a link to the DIY paw print tutorial.
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When Breakfast Is Late

2015-03-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

Every morning, Poof and Belka are the first ones waiting at the cage doors. After all, it's common cavy knowledge that the early pig gets the treat. Or more of them, anyways.
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Mowing Season Is Here

2015-03-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again! No, not the holidays. Spring! Blossoms are sprouting, pigs are rejoicing over fresh grass... and us humans are stuck battling the explosion of weeds. But never mind about that.

The Cali Cavy girls were all too happy to get outside the weekend before last. There was even a short term ceasefire that held for a good twenty minutes as they focused on the lawn. After all, priorities! Eat first, squabble later. You can see how thrilled they are in the video.
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Ask Alice: Is It Too Late To Get A Second Guinea Pig?

2015-02-12T06:30:00.000-08:00

Answering your guinea pig care questions.

"I was given my Lola back in October and I absolutely love her. I was told she is about 4 years old.

Can I bring in another baby/young guinea pig to keep her company?"

-Tennille

Hi Tennille,

It's never too late to introduce a single pig to a new friend. In fact, many older pigs respond more positively to a younger companion - with their smaller size, an established pig is less likely to view the newcomer as competition or as a potential threat to their social standing. Of course, that's not to say that pigs of similar age or size won't get along. Like people, bonding depends more on the individual pigs and their personalities. You never know who may hit it off.
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CaliCavy On Instagram

2015-02-02T06:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've finally gotten on the bandwagon... what can I say, it's been a crazy year!

You won't find any selfies here - just photos of the Cali Cavy guinea pigs in all their furry glory. Disclaimer: the occasional outdoor adventure, dessert, and other cute critter may also make its way on there. You've been warned.
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Guinea Pig Plushie Herd

2015-01-27T06:30:00.000-08:00

Over the years, I've amassed quite a collection of plush guinea pigs. A birthday gift here, a holiday present there... before I knew it, I had an entire herd hanging out by the bookshelf. I've been meaning to take a photo of them for the longest time so here it is!

Blueberry Antics

2015-01-15T10:22:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that the Cali Cavy girls looove their blueberries. And when I say love, I mean they'll even freely climb over each other to get to the prize.
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A Guinea Pig Christmas

2014-12-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

Feliz Navidad! Wishing you a happy, food-filled holiday season from all of us here at Cali Cavy.

The girls have been busy spreading holiday cheer (and piggy beans) from their festively decorated cage. Poinsettia fleece, embroidered stockings, themed cozies, a fleece sleigh, lights, and tinsel garlands - the whole shebang.
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DIY Guinea Pig Toy: Box of Hay

2014-12-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

If you're anything like me, you have several cardboard boxes at any given time lying around the house, thanks to your latest Amazon or other online purchase. (Blame Black Friday.)

Why keep them instead of tossing them in the recycling bin right away? For guinea pig entertainment purposes, of course! A box, sheets of newspaper, and fresh hay are all it takes to turn those empties into an easy, inexpensive source of piggy fun.
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Calendar Pigs Revy and Abby-Roo

2014-12-01T15:44:00.000-08:00

For the past few years our friend Mieke from the Undercover Guinea Pigs blog has designed a calendar, the proceeds of which are donated to support a guinea pig shelter. This year, readers voted for proceeds to benefit 't Kuufke Guinea Pig Shelter in the Netherlands.
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Ask Alice: One Guinea Pig or Two?

2014-11-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Answering your guinea pig care questions.

"I would like your opinion on owning just one guinea pig. I have lots of time to spend with the little fella, but I don't know if I could afford to have two."

-Nikki

Hi Nikki,

For us humans, the saying goes that two's company but three's a crowd. When it comes to guinea pigs the adage changes - two's company but three's a herd. The short answer is: guinea pigs truly benefit from having a cage mate so I'd certainly encourage you to adopt two cavies instead of one if you can manage it!
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Guinea Pig Wedding Cake Toppers

2014-10-13T16:23:00.001-07:00

It's official!

Last week, Mike and I tied the knot in an intimate outdoor ceremony on the shores of a mountainside alpine lake. The brilliant turquoise water glowed as the clouds rolled by overhead. We felt lucky to have gotten married in such a magnificent place.
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Adopting Poof - An Abby with Attitude

2014-10-03T16:42:00.001-07:00

Today officially marks four years since Poof scampered her way into our home and our hearts.

In 2010, we visited Bunny Bunch SPCR's Expo with the intention of learning more about rabbit care. At the time, we had four guineas already and were interested in adopting a rabbit (or two). While we did indeed learn quite a bit at Bunny Basics 101, we ended up falling in love with Poof's shy little face instead.
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Guinea Pig Paw Prints Tutorial

2014-09-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

Forget baby hand prints... check out Poof's piggy paw prints!

As promised, here's our craft tutorial for making guinea pig paw print keepsakes. Instead of using a pre-made pet kit, this easy DIY project makes use of ingredients you most likely already have in your pantry.
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Bay Area Pignic 2014

2014-09-16T13:44:00.003-07:00

"So many guinea pigs. Everywhere, " exclaimed a girl to her brother as they peered at the furballs scampering around the pen. Herds of guinea pigs and their owners turned up to support the Bay Area Pignic last Saturday.
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