Can You House Rabbits and Guinea Pigs Together?

By  Alexandria Brown
San Francisco’s Exotic Pet Professional, House of Guineas LLC

You finally found a new addition to your fur family: your newly adopted little bun (or bunnies!). You are all having a blast, learning more about each other with each passing day. Then one day, you realize you’re ready to add another member to the ever-growing pet family: some guinea pigs!

You know at the very least that they are both mammals, and you’re certain that they both eat hay, but you ask yourself the main question: can rabbits and guinea pigs live together?

Housing and Dietary Needs

As you may know, rabbits are larger than guinea pigs, so they need more space to stretch their legs. For rabbits who have enclosures (some choose to free-roam their bunnies), they need a space that is ideally at least four times their size in length and width. If in an enclosure, they would need at least a few hours daily outside of their enclosures as exercise to improve their physical and mental health.

For little guinea pigs, they also need adequate space, that is similarly at least three times their size. Remember, this is the minimum amount of space, and more space is ideal for additional rabbits and guineas.

Both animals consume unlimited amounts of hay, have daily veggies and water (as well as those much-appreciated treats!). However, there is a difference between the two in an essential supplement: Vitamin C. Bunnies are amazing and don’t need to obtain Vitamin C from their food—they’re able to synthesize their own Vitamin C! 

On the other hand, guinea pigs do need to obtain this essential vitamin from their meals. This is important to prevent scurvy and developmental issues in guinea pigs. As such, rabbits cannot and should not consume guinea pig food, as it contains significant Vitamin C levels, whereas rabbit food does not.

So no Vitamin C for bunnies, and yes for guineas (or “c” for “cavies” if that helps you remember phonetically!).

Less Commonly Known Risks

Now that we understand that bunnies and guinea pigs speak different languages, there are some important risks to consider with these two species living under the same roof. The first and least commonly known risk is the spread of diseases such as Bordetella bronchiseptica, which can be pathogenicity carried from bunnies to guinea pigs.

Bunnies can be asymptomatic, meaning they show no symptoms of this disease but can still spread them to their little furry companions. Bordetella infections can be very dangerous for guinea pigs and can cause severe respiratory illness and even death. This can be transmitted through direct contact or aerosolized droplets. So please make sure that these species are kept separated in a well ventilated environment, hands and supplies are washed in-between uses and direct contact between them are kept to a minimum.

Another disease is Pasteurella, which can be carried by both rabbits and guinea pigs. So keep in mind that this can be spread from either species to the other. In contrast to Bordetella, Pasteurella is primarily spread through direct contact, such as open wounds. This is why it is important to make sure these animals do not interact with each other, so they do not cause injuries and spread diseases. 

Another consideration is that bunnies are much stronger than guinea pigs. Some of us may be all-too familiar with a rabbit’s kick when we attempt to hold them or witness the amazing height a bunny reaches when they express happiness through their elegant binkies. As such, bunnies can accidentally (or intentionally) harm guinea pigs. Especially with their size difference, a bunny may bully a guinea pig to assert their territory or dominance, which can cause stress and significant injuries to guinea pigs.

So, Can You House Rabbits with Guinea Pigs?

We’ve covered the different housing a bunny and a guinea pig need for their specific sizes, their distinct difference in diet in that guinea pigs need Vitamin C, and the risks such as potential injuries and the spread of deadly diseases between the species. With these in mind, I believe they can absolutely live in the same household—as long as they are housed separately and their distinct needs are met.

To prevent any spread of diseases, I highly recommend not housing guinea pigs and rabbits in the same enclosures. I personally have guinea pigs and rabbits in the same room, with my guinea pigs elevated with plenty of space and the bunnies free to roam on the floor below.

For playtime, while it might be tempting to commingle these adorable cuties and watch them go, this is strongly discouraged. A rabbit’s kick is powerful enough to break a tiny guinea pig's back in an instant—faster than any person can react. The safest way to provide exercise is to give each species their own separate, dedicated floor time. They can absolutely enjoy being out and about in the same room, just at different times.

Bunnies are amazing animals, and there is no reason they can’t share a home with some humble guinea pigs. Happy adopting!