Guinea Pig or Cavy Breeds

Long haired, short haired, wire haired and swirly haired. Guinea pigs come in a variety of coat types and colours.  Some of the most attractive guinea pigs are the cross-bred guinea pigs kept as pets but here we will focus on the breeds as recognised by the cavy clubs and shows.

Cream, Buff, Gold and Red Self Cavies - image copyright http://www.geocities.com/bivoir_cavies/ and used with permission.

Smooth Haired Guinea Pigs

Including of course the crested variety!  Self guinea pigs come in a wonderful rainbow array of colours including the Self Colours - White, Beige, Cream, Buff, Saffron, Golden, Red, Lilac, Slate, Chocolate and Black;  the marked and ticked varieties including Dutch, Tricolour, Harlequin, Magpie, Tortoiseshell, Tan,  Dalmation, Roan, Agouti, Argente, Fox, Sable, Marten Sable, Otter; Satins and Cresteds available in any of the colours above.

Non standard Ridgeback guinea pigs also come in a any of the colours above and have a distinctive ridge on their back as the name suggests.

Spiky and Rough Coated Guinea Pigs

Cute Abyssinian guinea pig copyright of http://www.geocities.com/bivoir_cavies and used with permissionAbyssinian guinea pigs with their spiky rosettes and Rex guinea pigs with their wiry coats stand out as a contrast to their smooth haired relatives.  Abyssinians should have clearly defined rosettes on their back and head. 

The rosettes on Abyssinian guinea pigs mean the pressure of a hand on the ends of their fur can feel irritating if the pressure is at right angles to the hair shaft rather than being aligned with the lie of the fur.

Abyssinian guinea pigs also suffer from an unusually high incidence of cataracts, although breeders are normally pretty vigilant about not breeding from affected individuals.

Curious Rex guinea pig copyright http://www.geocities.com/bivoir_cavies and used with permissionRex guinea pigs, known as Teddies in the US, have a very dense wiry coat which feels like a thick pile carpet.  They have a reputation for being particularly good natured and laid back.

Thanks to Sue for letting me know that the difference between a Teddy and a Rex in the UK is that the UK Teddies are soft coated - and I wouldn't mind betting pretty soft natured if they're anything like the Rexes I've kept.

For show, the coats of both Rex and Abyssinian guinea pigs should be harsh.  You should check the breed standards before buying Rex or Abyssinian guinea pigs for breeding or for show.

Long Haired Guinea Pigs

Long haired guinea pigs come in smooth and Rex coated varieties.  The smooth coated breeds have a fine silky coat and the Rex varieties coat is wavy and woolly.  There are three hair cuts if you like, each available in smooth or Rex versions.

The Sheltie coat is where the fringe is brushed back and the hair falls to the left and right of the face with the face showing.  Coronet guinea pigs have a rosette on the head and a coat which falls to the left and right with the face showing.  Peruvian guinea pigs have the fringe brushed forward for showing.  In their youth Peruvian guinea pigs have a smart forward quiff, giving them a rather 'dapper' appearance.

The Rex version of the Coronet is known as a Merino, and looking at the head of this Himalayan Merino guinea pig on the right it is easy to see why!.  The Texel is a Sheltie with a Rex coat and a Peruvian with a Rex coat is known as an Alpaca.

In Australia they have a variety aptly named the Sheba Mini Yak which looks to me like a cross between an Abyssinian and a Peruvian.  Either way they are very cute.