It is illegal to own just one guinea pig in Switzerland
Guinea pigs get very lonely, so Swiss law says you must always have at least two. No furry friend should ever have to live alone!
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Last updated: January 30, 2026 at 04:44 PMGuinea pigs get very lonely, so Swiss law says you must always have at least two. No furry friend should ever have to live alone!
In Switzerland, there is a very kind law that protects small pets. If you want to have a guinea pig, you aren't allowed to buy just one. You must have at least two so they can talk and play together.
Guinea pigs are "social animals." In the wild, they live in big groups. They love to whistle, chirp, and popcorn (jump for joy) with their friends. When a guinea pig lives all by itself, it gets very sad and lonely, which can actually make it get sick. Switzerland decided that making a social animal live alone is a form of animal cruelty.
This law is so serious that it created a special job: guinea pig matchmakers! If you have two guinea pigs and one of them passes away, you might find yourself in trouble because the remaining one is now alone. To help, there are services where you can "rent" a guinea pig friend. This way, your pet has a buddy for the rest of its life, and when it is gone, you can return the rented friend to live with other guinea pigs.
Switzerland's animal protection laws are some of the strictest in the world. They also have rules for other social animals like parrots and certain types of fish. The goal is to make sure that every pet feels safe, happy, and has a friend to "talk" to every day.
Switzerland made it illegal to own just one guinea pig because they are social creatures that get lonely. To keep them happy, the law requires them to live in pairs or groups. It's all about making sure every little furry friend has a best buddy by their side.