THE RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty line received 144 calls last year regarding concerns for the welfare of guinea pigs in the region, with 46 recorded in West Yorkshire alone.

Guinea Pig Appreciation Day is being held today to shine a light on the plight of the furry creatures, with the RSPCA offering tips on how to play with your piggies.

Dr Jane Tyson, RSPCA’s rabbit and rodent expert, said: “Guinea pigs can make fantastic pets but they have very complex needs and should never be the sole responsibility of a child.

“One of the issues we see is that some guinea pigs are still kept in small cages with little chance for exercise or human contact, and possibly more importantly, no contact with other guinea pigs.

“They need to live with at least one other friendly guinea pig and benefit from enrichment so it’s important to give them space to play in and explore together.”

The RSPCA gives these top tips on playing with your piggies:

  • Provide tunnels for your piggies to run through - they will also make their own if you give them lots of hay.
  • Scatter your piggies food so they can spend time searching and sniffing it out.
  • Turn cardboard boxes into hideyholes for them to explore.
  • Scrunch up pieces of paper and hide food inside the parcel for them to unwrap.
  • Allow them plenty of space to ‘popcorn’ - this is when they jump off the group and turn in mid-air when they are excited.
  • Make mealtimes more interesting by creating sushi for your guinea pigs.
  • Make sure you have more than one guinea pig as socialising is a great form of enrichment.
  • Why not think about clicker training your guinea pigs? Done correctly this can enhance the bond with your pets.