Himalayan Guinea Pig

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, soft, smooth coat; white body with dark points

A Himalayan has a pure white body with dark colour only on the 'points': a pear-shaped patch on the nose (the smut), the ears and the feet, with the colour reaching up the legs and onto the pads and nails. The eyes are red. Babies are born all white and the points darken over the first weeks. In the UK the coat is short and soft, on a short, cobby body with a broad head and large drooping ears.52

Personality what they are like

Like other guinea pigs, the Himalayan is a gentle, chatty and sociable animal that does best with a companion of its own kind.3

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Guinea pigs are busy little animals that can be up and about for much of the day and night, resting in short naps. Give daily time in a larger safe run or room with tunnels, hides and new things to explore. A happy guinea pig may jump and twist in mid-air, a move owners call 'popcorning'.31

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The short, soft coat needs only light care: an occasional gentle brush keeps it clean. Keeping the enclosure at a steady, comfortable temperature also helps the colouring, since cold tends to add colour to the white body and warmth can lighten the points.52

Home where they are happiest

Provide a roomy enclosure tall enough to stand up on the back legs, with solid flooring and a deep layer of dust-free bedding instead of wire. Offer one more hiding spot than there are guinea pigs. Indoors around 17-20 C is comfortable; keep them away from heat over about 26 C and bring outdoor animals inside when it drops below about 15 C. Spot-clean daily and do a full clean at least weekly.7

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Hay should be available at all times and form most of the diet, with fresh grass when possible. Add a measured daily portion of grass-based guinea pig pellets and a handful of fresh vegetables and herbs. Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, so their daily food must supply it. Keep fruit as a small occasional treat and always provide fresh water.831

Company who they like around

A very sociable animal that should live with at least one other friendly guinea pig; pairs or small groups suit them best. In the wild, cavies live in close family groups.37

The story where it all began

Guinea pigs were domesticated in the Andes of South America thousands of years ago and later reached Europe, where fanciers began breeding them for coat and colour. The Himalayan pattern is temperature-sensitive (acromelanic), and fanciers developed it into a show variety prized for crisp, dark points on a snow-white body. It is shown as a colour class of the American breed in the US and has its own full standard and specialist club in the UK.1256

Recognised by the official bits

British Cavy Council

Full standard: markings 50 points (smut 25, feet 20, ears 5), body colour 25, head, eyes and ears 10, body shape 10, coat 5. Colours: Black and Chocolate, both with bright red eyes.5

National Himalayan & Californian Cavy Club (UK)

Specialist club affiliated to the British Cavy Council, catering for Black and Chocolate Himalayans.6

American Cavy Breeders Association

Himalayan is one of the recognised colour classes of the American breed.2