Guinea Pig & Small-Mammal Sitter SF
For a lot of San Francisco families, a guinea pig is the first pet — the one a kid begs for, names on day one, and then, quietly, falls completely in love with. Small mammals have a way of doing that. They are undemanding on the surface and deceptively particular underneath. A guinea pig needs unlimited hay in front of it at all times, fresh vegetables every single day, a steady source of vitamin C its body cannot make on its own, and a caretaker who notices the difference between a pig that is simply napping and a pig that has stopped eating. That last distinction matters more than most people realize, because in a guinea pig — or a rabbit, or a chinchilla — a gut that goes quiet is a genuine emergency, not a wait-and-see. A dog-and-cat sitter, however wonderful, is usually not equipped to weigh a pig on a gram scale, spot the early signs of GI stasis, or syringe critical-care formula into an animal that has gone off its food. That is exactly the gap our team was built to fill.
House of Guineas Pet Care is based in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset, and the name is not an accident — the whole business grew out of guinea pig care. Small mammals are the heart of what we do. Our specialists provide in-home care across the entire city, so your pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, and pocket pets stay in their own enclosures, on their own routines, eating their own hay, while you are away.
Why San Francisco Small-Mammal Owners Choose Us
San Francisco is full of thoughtful pet owners who do their homework — and the small-mammal community here is especially serious about doing right by animals that are easy to underestimate. What they tell us they need is a sitter who brings real clinical rigor to the job. Here is what sets us apart:
- Veterinary background. Our founder, Alexandria, is an exotic veterinary assistant who volunteers with the House Rabbit Society, administering subcutaneous RHDV2 vaccines. Every specialist on our team is trained under that same clinical lens.
- Species specialization. Exotic pets and cats are our whole focus — small mammals, and other exotics. That kind of focus is genuinely hard to find.
- Clinical-grade care. We weigh pets on a gram scale to catch problems before they show, we can syringe-feed and give critical-care formula to a guinea pig in GI stasis, and we monitor appetite and output at every visit — because in a small mammal, those are the numbers that tell you what is really going on.
- Flexible scheduling. Early-morning visits before work, evening visits after a long day, and mid-day timing for medications or a second feeding — we build the schedule around your itinerary, not the other way around.
Small Mammals We Care For in San Francisco
- Guinea pigs — including bonded pairs and whole herds
- Chinchillas
- Ferrets
- Hamsters
- Rats
- Other pocket pets — if it is small and furry, ask us
We also care for rabbits, which have their own particular needs — see our dedicated rabbit sitter in San Francisco page. If your species is not listed, call or text us and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right fit.
What In-Home Small-Mammal Care Involves
Good small-mammal care is quiet, consistent, and detail-driven. At every visit we make sure there is unlimited timothy hay available, because a guinea pig or rabbit should be grazing on it around the clock. We put out fresh vegetables daily, and for guinea pigs we pay special attention to vitamin C, which they cannot produce themselves. We keep clean water available, spot-clean the enclosure and refresh the fleece liner so your pet stays dry and comfortable, and we weigh each animal to track the trend over time. Most importantly, we watch for the early signs of illness — a guinea pig that has stopped eating is an emergency, and catching it a day early can be the difference that matters.
San Francisco Neighborhoods We Serve
We cover the whole city, from the western avenues out to the bay. Small mammals are family pets, and we see a lot of them in San Francisco’s family neighborhoods — Noe Valley, the Sunset District right in our own backyard, and the Richmond District — but wherever you are in San Francisco, our specialists can reach you.
Pricing for Small-Mammal Visits
- 30-minute visits start at $85
- 60-minute visits start at $115
- Routine twice-daily care runs $140–$190/day depending on visit length and number of pets
These are in-city San Francisco visits, so there is no Peninsula travel surcharge. If you would rather your pet stay with us, boarding is hosted at our founder’s San Francisco home for $75/night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you care for a bonded pair or a whole herd of guinea pigs?
Absolutely — guinea pigs are the heart of what we do, and we regularly care for bonded pairs, trios, and full herds. Each pig gets weighed on a gram scale and monitored individually for appetite and output, so even in a group we catch if one animal is off. Just tell us how many pigs and their setup during the meet-and-greet.
What if my guinea pig stops eating while I'm away?
A guinea pig that has stopped eating is an emergency, and our specialists are trained to recognize it. We monitor appetite and output at every visit, and we can syringe-feed critical-care formula to a pig in GI stasis while getting it to an exotic vet. Our founder is an exotic veterinary assistant, so this is exactly the kind of situation we are built to handle — and we will reach out to you before you land.
Do you handle rabbits too?
Yes. Rabbits have their own particular needs, and our founder volunteers with the House Rabbit Society administering subcutaneous RHDV2 vaccines. We have a dedicated rabbit sitter in San Francisco page with the full details on how we care for them.
Do you offer small-mammal boarding?
Yes. Boarding is hosted at our founder's San Francisco home, not a facility. Boarding runs $75 per night, your pet gets their own room with soothing music, and we ask that you bring their usual enclosure and supplies so they stay on a familiar routine. Full details are on the boarding page.
How much does a San Francisco guinea pig sitter cost?
Our 30-minute visits start at $85 and 60-minute visits at $115, with routine twice-daily care ranging from $140–$190 per day depending on visit length and the number of pets. These are in-city San Francisco visits, so there is no Peninsula travel surcharge. Text us at 415-484-6493 with your address and dates for a firm quote.
Ready to line up care for your small mammals? Call or text us at 415-484-6493 and we will get a meet-and-greet on the calendar. You can also read more about our in-home exotic pet care service, our boarding option at the founder’s San Francisco home, or browse the full FAQ page. New to guinea pigs? Start with our guinea pig care guide. And if you want to keep your pigs dry between spot-cleans, take a look at our handmade guinea pig fleece cage liner.