Pet Cavy (Guinea Pig) Purchase Requirements, Housing Standards & Required Supplies

Responsible Breeding • Proper Husbandry • Ethical Placement • Lifelong Commitment

IMPORTANT — READ BEFORE APPLYING

Cherokee Flats requires all pet guinea pig buyers to provide appropriate housing, nutrition, companionship, enrichment, and veterinary care.

These requirements apply to our pet cavy breeds:

  • American

  • Teddy

  • Peruvian

  • Silkie

  • Skinny (limited availability)

All mandatory requirements must be met before animals are released.

Product Recommendation Disclosure

Every linked product is something Cherokee Flats currently uses or has used in the past and highly recommends based on firsthand experience.

We receive no payments, commissions, sponsorships, free merchandise, or other compensation for these recommendations.

Equivalent approved products may be accepted.

 

1. REQUIRED — Same-Sex Group Purchases

ALL PET GUINEA PIGS MUST BE PURCHASED IN SAME-SEX GROUPS OF TWO (2) OR MORE. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Cherokee Flats does not sell single pet guinea pigs.

This policy applies even when the buyer already owns guinea pigs.

  • Minimum purchase: two guinea pigs.

  • All animals in the purchased group must be the same sex.

  • Mixed-sex group sales are prohibited.

  • Purchasing one guinea pig to join an existing guinea pig is prohibited.

  • Buyers must provide suitable housing for the entire group.

  • Compatibility must be monitored.

NO SINGLE GUINEA PIG SALES. NO MIXED-SEX GROUP SALES. NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

2. REQUIRED — Approved Housing

Guinea pigs must be housed in secure, properly ventilated enclosures with solid flooring.

Exposed wire flooring is prohibited.

Approximately 10.5 square feet or more of usable floor space is recommended for two guinea pigs. Larger enclosures are encouraged.

Recommended Cage:

Kavee C&C Guinea Pig Cages

Housing must be clean, dry, safe, and large enough for normal movement and appropriate separation between animals when desired.

 

3. REQUIRED — Bedding & Cage Liners

Recommended Fleece Liners:

Kavee Guinea Pig Fleece Cage Liners

Alternative Bedding:

Guardian Horse Bedding — Swift Pick Mini Pine Shavings, Farm & Fleet

Pine bedding must be appropriately processed, low-dust, dry, and confirmed suitable for small animals.

Bedding must be maintained to prevent excessive moisture, odors, and ammonia accumulation.

 

4. REQUIRED — Resting Areas & Stone Tile Options

Guinea pigs must have clean, comfortable resting areas.

Stone or porcelain tiles may be used as an additional resting or cooling surface.

Recommended Tile:

Satori Multicolor 12" × 12" Natural Stone Slate Tile — Lowe's

Summer Cooling Tip

During hot summer days, stone tiles can be placed in the freezer to help provide a cooling surface for guinea pigs.

Allow the tile to warm until comfortably cool before use.

Guinea pigs must be able to move away from the tile at any time.

Tiles must be stable, smooth, clean, and free of sharp edges.

Stone tiles do not replace bedding, fleece liners, or soft resting areas.

 

5. REQUIRED — Hideouts

At least one appropriate hideout per guinea pig is required.

Recommended Options:

Ware Manufacturing Pig Loo — Amazon

Niteangel Wooden Guinea Pig Hideout — Amazon

Hideouts must be safe, appropriately sized, and maintained in a clean condition.

 

6. REQUIRED — Guinea Pig Nutrition

Recommended Food:

Oxbow Animal Health Essentials Adult Guinea Pig Food — Amazon

All guinea pigs must receive:

  • Unlimited fresh grass hay.

  • Guinea pig-specific pellets.

  • Suitable fresh vegetables.

  • Adequate daily vitamin C.

  • Fresh drinking water.

Vitamin C

Oxbow Natural Science Vitamin C Supplement — Amazon

Guinea pigs cannot produce their own vitamin C.

Adequate vitamin C intake is mandatory. Separate supplementation may be necessary depending on diet and veterinary advice.

Water Bottle

Lixit Water Bottle — Amazon

Food Bowl

Bass Equipment Cast Aluminum Bowls

 

7. REQUIRED — Breed-Specific Grooming

Peruvian and Silkie: Regular coat maintenance is necessary to prevent matting and hygiene problems.

Teddy: Regular coat and skin inspections are required.

Skinny: Appropriate temperature management, skin care, and comfortable bedding are essential.

 

8. REQUIRED — Additional Cavy Supplies

All buyers must provide:

  • Approved solid-floor cage.

  • Suitable bedding or fleece liners.

  • At least one hideout per guinea pig.

  • Comfortable resting areas.

  • Unlimited grass hay.

  • Guinea pig-specific pellets.

  • Fresh vegetables.

  • Adequate vitamin C.

  • Water bottle or approved water source.

  • Food bowls.

  • Safe enrichment.

  • Grooming supplies and nail clippers.

  • Secure transportation carrier.

  • Cleaning supplies.

  • Access to a guinea-pig-experienced veterinarian.

 

9. REQUIRED — Outdoor Roaming Restriction

PET GUINEA PIGS PURCHASED FROM CHEROKEE FLATS MUST NEVER BE ALLOWED TO ROAM OUTSIDE ON GRASS.

Outdoor playpens placed directly on lawns are also prohibited.

This policy is intended to reduce risks associated with:

  • Parasites.

  • Infectious diseases.

  • Wildlife contamination.

  • Lawn chemicals.

  • Toxic vegetation.

  • Predators.

  • Escape.

  • Injuries.

  • Unsafe weather conditions.

All exercise must take place in an appropriate, secure environment.

 

10. Spaying & Neutering Policy

Cherokee Flats strongly discourages elective spaying and neutering of pet guinea pigs.

This policy is included in our Purchase Agreement and is intended to be a contractual condition of sale, subject to applicable law.

Medically necessary procedures, including treatment for serious injuries or reproductive disease, must be determined by a qualified veterinarian.

Necessary veterinary treatment must never be delayed or withheld.

 

11. Purchase Requirements & Restrictions

  • Purchase application and approval required.

  • Same-sex groups of two or more mandatory.

  • No single-animal purchases.

  • No mixed-sex group purchases.

  • No pet sales to households with children under six.

  • Disclosure of household members and existing pets required.

  • Housing and supplies must be prepared before pickup.

  • Cherokee Flats may request photographs.

  • Appropriate veterinary care must be available.

 

12. Pickup, Transportation & Payment Policies

Cherokee Flats operates as a closed-loop farm.

Visits and pickups are by appointment only.

Transportation: No live shipping. Approved third-party ground transportation may be arranged.

Pickup: Animals eight weeks or older are generally scheduled for the next available Saturday. Other deadlines are governed by the Purchase Agreement.

Boarding: $35 per day when applicable.

Payments are non-refundable except as specified in the Purchase Agreement and required by law.

Holiday Closures

Pet sales and pickups are suspended:

  • December 1–31.

  • Fourteen days before through fourteen days after Easter Sunday.

Animals are not holiday gifts.

 

13. Final Cavy Buyer Acknowledgment

By submitting an application, buyers agree to Cherokee Flats' mandatory requirements concerning same-sex group purchases, housing, bedding, nutrition, companionship, veterinary care, outdoor restrictions, and purchase procedures.

Cherokee Flats reserves the right to refuse or cancel placements that do not meet our standards, subject to the Purchase Agreement and applicable law.

IF YOU CANNOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS, PLEASE DO NOT APPLY.

Cherokee Flats — Farmer City, Illinois — Established 2004