Cavia porcellusGuinea PigsSmall

Teddy Guinea Pig

Has a unique short, dense, rough-textured coat that stands away from the body rather than lying flat — giving it a soft, plush, stuffed-animal appearance.

gentlesocialfriendlycuriousaffectionate

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Origin

United States

Lifespan

4–7 years

Weight

700–1,100 g

Height

20–30 cm

Diet

Herbivore — unlimited hay, fresh greens, pellets, daily vitamin C.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Caviidae

Genus

Cavia

The Story

Has a unique short, dense, rough-textured coat that stands away from the body rather than lying flat — giving it a soft, plush, stuffed-animal appearance. The coat texture is created by a genetic mutation preventing guard hairs from lying smooth. One of the most popular guinea pig breeds for its huggable appearance combined with reasonable coat maintenance requirements.

Also Known As

Teddy Cavy

Quick Facts

BreedTeddy

Breed GroupSHORT-COAT

SizeSmall

ActivityModerate

TrainabilityLow

CountryUnited States

Lifespan4 - 7 years

Good with KidsGood with PetsHypoallergenic

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Physical Profile

Source: wikimedia

Coat appears "kinked" at the root — each hair bends rather than lying smooth, creating dense, plush, upright texture similar to velvet. Short (typically 3–4 cm) but very dense. The overall appearance is of a small, plush stuffed animal.

Grooming

Moderate

Shedding

Moderate

Coat Colors

any colour

Recognized By

ACBAARBA

Image Available

Source: wikimedia

Temperament & Personality

Identical temperament to American Guinea Pig. Particularly known for being friendly and easy to handle.

gentlesocialfriendlycuriousaffectionate

Living Profile

Activity LevelModerate

TrainabilityLow

Noise LevelModerate

Care & Wellness

Professional Care Protocol

Ear Cleaning

Nail Trimming

Special Eye Care

Teeth Care

•Same as American Guinea Pig. Teddy coat is low to moderate maintenance — brushing weekly. Ear care important — Teddy Guinea Pigs are prone to waxy ear buildup due to coat genetics.

Vaccination Schedule

AdultboosterN/A

SpeciesnotesGuinea pigs require an exotic/small animal vet familiar with cavy medicine. Annual wellness exams recommended. Key monitoring: dental occlusion (open-rooted teeth grow continuously), urinary calcium sludge, vitamin C supplementation (guinea pigs cannot synthesise their own), respiratory health. No standard vaccines administered in most countries.

PuppykittenscheduleN/A — guinea pigs have no routine vaccine schedule.

Health Overview

Same as American Guinea Pig. Additional: waxy ear buildup requiring regular cleaning.

Common Conditions

•Name: Waxy Ear Buildup • Severity: LOW • Prevalence: COMMON • Description: Elevated ear wax production associated with the coat gene. Monthly gentle cleaning recommended.

•Name: Vitamin C Deficiency • Severity: HIGH • Prevalence: COMMON • Description: Daily fresh vegetables or supplementation essential.

Fun Facts

The Teddy coat texture is caused by a gene mutation affecting the hair shaft — each hair kinks at the base rather than growing straight, creating the characteristic plush texture.

Also Known As

Teddy Cavy

Related Tags

#guinea-pig#plush-coat#teddy-bear#beginner-pet#popular#short-coat#family-pet

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