Introducing Small Pets
A guide for introducing guinea pigs, rabbits and rats
Small pets can be wonderful additions to your family and tend to thrive when they have companions! This guide will teach you how to carefully introduce a new friend to your pet without causing them stress.
Because small pets are prey animals, scent is very important to them to let them know they are safe. Small animals will mark their territory with their own scent, so they know it is their space. During the introduction process, it’s important to make sure they don’t view their new friend’s scent as a threat.
Species note: Ideal pairings
Guinea pigs: female pairs are generally easier to bond, or a neutered male with female(s).
Rabbits: female/male pairs are generally easier to bond. Ensure they are both spayed/neutered to prevent unwanted litters!
Rats: Female/female pairs are generally easier to bond.
Housing
When you first bring home the new pet, ensure they have completely separate housing from your resident pet, and that it is clean and scent-free. House the new pet across the room, if possible, far enough away that there can be no reaching or touching through bars of any kind.
You will maintain this separate housing until you see that the pets can co-exist in this manner without any signs of stress (both animals eating and eliminating as normal, and no stressed body language — see examples below). Then, slowly bring their housing closer together over the course of several days, until they are housed next to each other but far enough away to not have any part of their bodies touching.
Species note: What does stress look and sound like?
Guinea pigs: Teeth chattering, persistent rumbling (purring sound accompanied by a raised posture and puffed-up fur).
Rabbits: Thumping, ears pinned back, hiding.
Rats: Cage-climbing and biting at bars, huffing (breathing out forcefully).
Meeting in a Neutral Location
Once your pet is used to the new pet’s scent being in their environment, you can begin facilitating short, 5-minute introductions in a neutral location. This should be a large enough space where they can avoid each other if they are not comfortable (see suggestions for each species below). To prepare for these meetings you should:
- Prepare snacks so they can eat near each other (avoid favorite snacks that they may compete for).
- Have a towel wrapped around your hand (or gloves, if you have them) to safely separate them should they display any aggression during the meeting.
- Have a plan or second person available to help you pick one up quickly if anything is not going well. You may have a piece of cardboard to block their vision, or a carrier ready to place one into easily.
Species Note: Suggested meeting locations
Guinea pigs: An exercise pen or play pen in a location of the home they are not usually allowed. Lay down a tarp and/or sheet to protect your floor.
Rabbits: A large space, such as a bedroom. You may want to lay down some sheets as they may mark territory with droppings.
Rats: A dining table or couch with a tablecloth or sheet draped over it.
What Do We Want in a Meeting?
The ideal outcome of your meetings should be that they are either boring (both parties are coexisting) or friendly. Curiosity about the other pet is great, and grooming is fantastic. Neutral body language and being near each other without any signs of stress is good enough! If it is going well, you can slowly increase the time of each meeting, always ending on a good note. Separating them while everyone is still happy will ensure they have those good feelings going into the next meeting. Note: Never leave the pets unattended together until they are ready to live together.
Species Note: Signs things are going well
Guinea pigs: Eating near each other, rumbling, purring, resting together.
Rabbits: Eating near each other, mirroring each other’s positions, resting together, grooming.
Rats: Eating near each other, resting together, grooming.
What if Something Goes Wrong?
If you notice any of the signs of stress listed below, separate the pets and wait at least 72 hours before trying again. When you try again, ensure you keep the meeting even more brief, 1-2 minutes and that you’ve set up your environment as ideally as possible.
Species Note: Signs things are not going well
Guinea pigs: Attempts to mount, teeth chattering, chasing.
Rabbits: Attempts to mount, tail-chasing, chasing in tight circles.
Rats: Attempts to mount, puffed up fur, grinding teeth.
One Big, Happy Family!
Once you’ve had several successful meetings, it’s time to create a new habitat where both pets will live. Wash all bedding and cage pieces in vinegar and water to remove the individual scents. Create a new, larger home for both pets to live in. Place both pets in the enclosure and watch them for the first day to ensure things are going well.
Taking these precautions may take some time (on average up to 2 months, up to 6 months for pets that have a history of fearful or aggressive behavior), but with care and patience, you’ll have two peas in a pod! If you have additional questions on specific species, please refer to our resources below.
Special thanks to Eva Cross of Second Chance Heroes for sharing her expertise for this article.