The most perfect pet...

is a guinea pig. I cannot imagine a pet that is as easy, loving, and fun.

Guinea pigs are very small and do not take up much space. Because of their lazy habits, they require very little in housing. Their two favorite pastimes are eating and sleeping, and as long as they have a cozy bed and plenty of grub, they will sit in their corner chirping happily. Of course, like humans, they will get fat if left alone, and must be given exercise, but as they are plump and rather large for rodents, you can let them run around on the floor without worrying that they will hide someplace innaccesible.

Another one of their charms is love. It is probably wishful thinking, but guinea pigs are one of the few pets that really love you. They purr when you pet them, curl up in your lap, squeak lovingly when you walk by, and sometimes will fall asleep on you. Of course, it is likely that, because of their fetish for food, this flattery is all so that they can get treats, but a little wishful thinking never hurt anyone. ;-) They're not very intelligent, but when it comes to food, their instinct is strong. Our four guinea pigs live in a cage in the livingroom, which happens to be right next to the kitchen. Because we feed them vegetables from the refridgerator, whenever the door opens, or when we rustle a plastic bag, all four start squealing for food and run to the front of the cage. Guinea pigs are very easy to spoil, being cute and fuzzy, and therefore they usually get food that way.

Guinea pigs are shaped like rounded bricks covered with fuzz. They are very plump, have no tails, and blunt faces, which makes them perfectly adorable. When they walk or run, it is more like waddling (though they can go quite when necessary), and they flatten themselves out when they sleep. We have had guinea pigs for about six years now, in numbers varying 1 - 4, and have not regretted a single moment.