The guinea pig, uncommonly known as Cavia porcellus and occasionally referred to as Cavy, is part of the rodent cohort, but way cuter and less bubonic plague-y. We know, we know, it is kind of unfair to blame those other rodents, especially when they just were living their life, doing their thing. Anyhow, according to people who are smart and keep track of these kinds of things, there are officially 13 breeds of guinea pigs, despite the fact that domesticated guinea pigs have been around for centuries.
It is important to note, The British Cavy Council recognizes quite a few more breeds of guinea pig, but for the purposes of this list, we’ll use ACBA as our primary resource.
March 09, 2023
Breeds of Guinea Pigs (with pictures!)
Before we begin, however, we should address something: How to spell guinea pig.
According to reported search queries, “guinnea pig”, “ginny pig” , “guinney pig” are all common misspellings for our favorite cavy. Guinea is one of those weird words where vowels outnumber consonants 2:1 (4 vowels, 2 consonants). According to Chuck, the name we gave our new generative AI bestie, there are approximately 250,000 6 letter words in the English language. Of those words, only 377 have vowels that outnumber consonants. That is 0.1% It is no wonder that guinea is hard to spell - but it also helps clarify how wonderfully unique these little creatures are.
The 13 types of guinea pigs according to aCBA
1. The American guinea pig
This breed is a short-haired breed that has a round and compact body with a short, smooth coat. They have a lively and curious personality that makes them great pets for active people. A celebrity who would enjoy the company of an American guinea pig could be Jennifer Aniston, who is known for her energetic and playful nature.
American Guinea Pig
Source: iStockphoto /Mary Swift
2. The American Satin GUINEA PIG
The American Satin guinea pig breed has a short, smooth coat that is dense and shiny. They have a lively and curious personality, making them great pets for those who want a furry companion that is always up for exploring and playing. This breed pairs well with Taylor Swift, because she is known for her energetic and adventurous nature.
American Satin
Source: ACBA
3. The ABYSSINIAN GUINEA PIG
The Abyssinian guinea pig breed has a unique and spiky coat that comes in a variety of colors. They are very active and enjoy being handled, making them great pets for those who like to interact with their pets. This breed pairs well with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, because he is known for his love of fitness and activity
Absynnian Guinea named "Willow"
Source: Our Bestie, Debbie from Facebook
4. The ABYSSINIAN SATIN GUINEA PIG
The Abyssinian Satin guinea pig breed has a unique and spiky coat that is denser and softer than the Abyssinian breed. They are very active and enjoy being handled, making them great pets for those who like to interact with their pets. A celebrity who would appreciate the unique looks of the Abyssinian Satin guinea pig could be Johnny Depp, who is known for his love of unusual and eccentric things.
Absynnian Satin Guinea Pig
Source: ACBA
5. The PERUVIAN GUINEA PIG
The Peruvian guinea pig breed is known for its long and flowing hair that can grow up to 20 inches in length. They require a lot of grooming to keep their hair healthy and clean, making them great pets for those who enjoy grooming and taking care of their pets. A celebrity who would enjoy spending time grooming and taking care of a Peruvian guinea pig could be Martha Stewart, who is known for her love of all things domestic and crafty.
Peruvian Guinea Pig
Source: iStockphoto/cyno
6. The PERUVIAN SATIN GUINEA PIG
The Peruvian Satin guinea pig breed has a long and flowing coat that is soft and shiny. They require a lot of grooming to keep their hair healthy and clean, making them great pets for those who enjoy grooming and taking care of their pets. This breed pairs well with Kim Kardashian, because she is known for her love of fashion and beauty.
Peruvian Satin Guinea Pig
Source: Cabrito NYC
7. The SILkie GUINEA PIG
The Silkie guinea pig breed has a dense and silky coat that stands upright, and they are known for their calm and gentle personality. They are great pets for those who want a furry companion that is easy to take care of and doesn't require much attention. This breed pairs well with Keanu Reeves, because he is known for his peaceful and laid-back personality.
Silkie Guinea Pig
Source:PetsHoods.com
8. The SILkie SATIN GUINEA PIG
The Silkie Satin guinea pig breed has a dense and silky coat that stands upright, and they are known for their calm and gentle personality. They are great pets for those who want a furry companion that is easy to take care of and doesn't require much attention. A celebrity who would appreciate the calm and low-maintenance personality of the Silkie Satin guinea pig could be Emma Stone, who is known for her easy-going and relaxed nature.
Silkie Satin Guinea Pig
Source: ACBA
9. The TEDDY GUINEA PIG
The Teddy guinea pig breed has a dense and curly coat that looks like a teddy bear, and they are known for their friendly and outgoing personality. They make great pets for those who want a furry companion that is always up for playing and snuggling. A celebrity who would enjoy the friendly and playful personality of the Teddy guinea pig could be Zac Efron, who is known for his energetic and fun-loving nature.
photo source: iStockphoto/Wirestock
10. The TEDDY SATIN GUINEA PIG
The Teddy Satin guinea pig breed has a dense and curly coat that looks like a teddy bear, and they are known for their friendly and outgoing personality. They make great pets for those who want a furry companion that is always up for playing and snuggling. This breed pairs well with Ariana Grande, because she is known for her youthful and playful nature.
Teddy Satin
Source: ACBA
11. The TEXEL GUINEA PIG
The Texel guinea pig breed is known for its unique and curly coat that is thick and dense. They have a round and compact body with a cute and expressive face. They are known for their playful and affectionate personality. This breed pairs well with Ryan Reynolds, because he is known for his wit and humor.
Texel Guinea Pig
Source: iStockphoto/joannawnuk
12. The cORONET GUINEA PIG
The Coronet guinea pig breed is similar to the Silkie breed but with a crest of hair on their forehead, and they are known for their gentle and friendly personality. They make great pets for those who want a furry companion that is easy to handle and loves to be around people. This breed pairs well with Jennifer Garner, because she is known for her kind and nurturing personality.
Coronet Guinea Pig
Source:Omlet.co.uk
13. The WHITE CRESTED GUINEA PIG
The White Crested guinea pig breed is known for its white crest of hair on their forehead and a smooth and shiny coat that comes in a variety of colors. They are very sociable and love being around people, making them great pets for those who want a furry companion that is always eager to spend time with them. This breed pairs well with Ed Sheeran, because he is known for his friendly and approachable nature.
White Crested Guinea Pig
Source: iStockphoto/Nynke Van Holten
Do you own one of these types of guinea pigs?
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Send us a photo of your little cavy!
Some uncommon breeds of cavy that are not officially recognized by ACBA or BCC.
1. The MERINO GUInEA PIG
The Merino guinea pig breed has a curly coat that is dense and soft. They are known for their calm and friendly personality, making them great pets for those who want a furry companion that is easy to handle and loves to be around people. This breed pairs well with Emma Watson, because she is known for her gentle and empathetic nature.
Merino Guinea Pig
Source: iStockphoto/bayshev
2. The lunkarya GUInEA PIG
The Lunkarya guinea pig breed has a curly coat that is rough and dense. They are known for their gentle and docile personality, making them great pets for those who want a furry companion that is easy to handle and loves to be around people. This breed pairs well with David Beckham, because he is known for his stylish and sophisticated personality.
Lunkarya Guinea Pig
Source: Walmart.com
3. The DALMATION GUInEA PIG
The Dalmatian guinea pig breed has a white coat with black spots that resemble the coat of a Dalmatian dog. They are known for their friendly and active personality, making them great pets for those who want a furry companion that is always up for playing and exploring. This breed pairs well with Jennifer Lawrence, because she is known for her energetic and playful nature.
Dalmation Guinea Pig
Source: Pinterest @rooiroos
So, whether you have recently adopted a 3rd guinea pig, or have recently become a new cavy owner, now you know more about these breeds. For even more information check out these other posts on guinea pigs.
- Guinea Pig Guide for Beginners - Guinea Pig Guide for Beginners
- Guinea Pig Behavior - Understanding Your Guinea Pig's Behavior
- Nutrients for Guinea Pigs What Nutrients Do Guinea Pigs Need?
