Cat or guinea pig?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would prefer a cat.

We have cats and a rabbit. With a rabbit, we really need to have someone here daily if we were to leave town for a day or two. We don't need to do that with cats. It's rather nice.

I would presume that a guinea pig would need daily care and live in a cage.

Cats can roam free.

Also--I see no harm in starting with a kitten from a care standpoint. I have raised many kittens and I've never had to restrict them. "Many" from back in the day when my parents did not spay or neuter--and then as an adult, I have adopted some kittens as well.

Now I adopt mainly adults, b/c the cute phase doesn't last for long and though I love their antics, they are more adoptable. Once cats are "big" at age 1 and older, they become much less desirable. Our last two adoptees are still quite young, but due to their "elder" age of 12-18 months....they were stuck for months without anyone adopting them.

But I wouldn't worry about a kitten--I've never confined them. Just plopped them in the litter. I never "baby proofed" for kittens either.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Okay, as an owner, I've never had Guinea Pigs, though I've had many cats. But when I worked in research, I dealt daily with both. I like Guinea Pigs, don't get me wrong, but given the choice between the two, a cat wins out every time.

Cat boxes are a lot easier to clean than cages. Cats don't need to be taken out of their cages and supervised for their exercise, they're self-entertainers. They live longer. They sleep on your bed. They snuggle on your lap.

No contest, kitties win.