Key Takeaways The American guinea pig is the most popular breed, known for its short, smooth coat.Abyssinian guinea pigs are recognized for their unique rosette-patterned coats.Long-haired guinea pigs like the Peruvian and Silkie require significant grooming.Texel guinea pigs have a distinctive, high-maintenance curly coat.Hairless breeds include the Baldwin and Skinny Pigs, which have specific care needs.
Key Takeaways
The American guinea pig is the most popular breed, known for its short, smooth coat.Abyssinian guinea pigs are recognized for their unique rosette-patterned coats.Long-haired guinea pigs like the Peruvian and Silkie require significant grooming.Texel guinea pigs have a distinctive, high-maintenance curly coat.Hairless breeds include the Baldwin and Skinny Pigs, which have specific care needs.
Own or thinking about owning a guinea pig? You might not be aware that there are 13 distinct species of guinea pigs, each with unique characteristics. Discover more about each one below to make an informed decision before adoption.
American
![Two guinea pigs (9 months old)]
This breed, also known as the English cavy, has a smooth, short coat that lies flat against the body. It is the most popular and common breed.
The Satin American is also recognized by the American Cavy Breeders Association (ACBA). Satin refers to the sheen of the coat; the satin breeds have very shiny, sleek coats.
Abyssinian Guinea Pig
![Abyssinian Guinea Pig - Mr. Nibbles]
The Abyssinian guinea pig has a distinctive appearance due to its multiple hair swirls, known as rosettes. The dense, coarse hair radiates from several body points, forming whirls and ridges. For show, an Abyssinian must have at least eight symmetrical rosettes. These guinea pigs often have a perpetually disheveled look.
The Satin Abyssinian, featuring a shiny coat, is also recognized by the ACBA.
(The Abyssinian photo above is courtesy of Odd Fellows Caviary.)
Peruvian Guinea Pig
![Peruvian Guinea Pigs - Brownie and Ash]
The Peruvian's coat is smooth, straight, and grows several inches long. It naturally parts down the back's center and grows forward over the head.
The Peruvian's dense, soft coat demands significant grooming, leading many owners to trim the hair for manageability. For show purposes, wraps can prevent the hair from becoming tangled or soiled.
The Peruvian Satin is also recognized by the ACBA.
Silkie Guinea Pig
![Silkie Guinea Pig Photo - Two Harbours]
The Silkie, also called the Sheltie, has a very silky, long coat. Unlike the Peruvian, the Silkie's soft coat doesn't naturally part along the back and grows backward from the head.
The Silkie Satin is also recognized by the ACBA.
(This Silkie photo is courtesy of Sunflower Cavies.)
The Crested Guinea Pig
![Crested Guinea Pig - Freedom]
This is a short haired guinea pig features a single rosette, or swirl, on the forehead. There are two types: the White Crested guinea pig (also known as American crested), with a white crest contrasting the rest of the coat, and the "self" crested guinea pig (sometimes called English crested), with a crest matching the coat's color.
The Crested guinea pig photo is courtesy of Odd Fellows Caviary.
The Teddy Guinea Pig
![Teddy Guinea Pig]
This short-haired guinea pig is characterized by a dense coat with bent or kinked hair shafts, making the coat stand on end, giving it a fuzzy appearance.
The Satin Teddy, with a coat that has a deep sheen, is another variant.
Texel Guinea Pig
![Texel Guinea Pig]
The Texel guinea pig, with its distinctive long, curly coat, is an uncommon and high-maintenance pet.
Coronet Guinea Pig
![Coronet Guinea Pig - Mitchell]
The Coronet guinea pig is also long-haired, featuring a single rosette, or coronet, in the center of its forehead. Like other long-haired guinea pigs, coronets require extensive grooming.
(This Coronet photo is courtesy of Sunflower Cavies.)
Other Varieties of Guinea Pigs
Other less common varieties include the Merino, with long curly hair and a crest on the head, and the Alpaca, with long curly hair growing forward over the head. Additionally, guinea pigs are often described by their color variations along with their breed.
There are also two types of hairless guinea pigs. The Baldwin guinea pig is entirely hairless, though it may be born with some hair that is lost as it matures. "Skinny pigs" are not completely hairless; they may have patches of hair on the face and paws, along with fine hair on other body parts. For more information, see "Hairless Guinea Pigs."