Vasilisa the Guinea Pig, who will turn two in September, is friendly, playful and purrs when she’s happy.Luba Polozova

Thinking about a new furry family member? Don’t rule out a rodent.

While they don’t live as long as their cat and canine counterparts, guinea pigs, rats and chinchillas can all make for fun family companions.

“They are very good with kids, and are also quite friendly and playful,” says Luba Polozova, a student at Portland State University and owner of Vasilisa, a one-year-old guinea pig. “When happy, they jump around and even purr during rubs.”

Like any animal, rodents require a minimal level of care to stay healthy.

Diet, health and general care

Choose a plastic, wire or stainless steel cage with a solid (not wire mesh) bottom, so their feet and legs can’t get caught.

Because of their sensitivity to respiratory infections, guinea pigs are also prone to catching Bordetella (kennel cough) from dogs, rabbits, or other guinea pigs, so you may want to consider vaccinating them or avoiding contact.

Guinea pigs (also called cavies), rats and chinchillas are also prone to developing mammary tumors, although spaying them lowers the risk significantly, Burgess says.

Rodents are also prone to dental problems, which makes their diet doubly important. Their teeth grow continuously throughout their lifetime, and they need food that will grind their teeth down regularly.

Burgess advises a diet of Timothy or oat hay that should comprise about 85 to 90 percent of a guinea pig or chinchilla’s diet.

Guinea pigs also need a daily supply of Vitamin C, since they can’t make or store it in their bodies, or they risk developing scurvy just like humans. An easy way to provide it is through a chewable pellet or vitamin-rich veggies like kale, spinach or broccoli.

As for rats, you can feed them just about anything – but that doesn’t mean you should.

Feed them a high-quality rat pellet, and offer occasional low-calorie treats, such as fresh fruits or veggies.

Vasilisa plays with a toy guinea pig that resembles her.Luba Polozova

Part of the family

If they’re socialized properly, rats, guinea pigs and chinchillas can all be friendly and interactive.

Rats especially are very social – and intelligent – so consider adopting a buddy or make sure you spend quality time with it regularly.

“Rats are fun, nice pets,” Parise says. “They’re much more friendly and smarter than any hamster I’ve ever known.”

Guinea pigs, herd animals by nature, and chinchillas can also be very interactive, especially if they’re socialized at a young age.

They all need regular exercise. Polozova uses treats as incentives for getting Vasilisa to run around a room and even walks her on a special guinea pig leash.

Check your local shelter first

If you think you’re ready for a rodent, consider adopting one from a shelter.

Animal shelters do take in and adopt out rodents and other small animals, although not as frequently as dogs and cats.

“Instead of shopping at the pet store, they should check with us first, and also other local rescues to adopt somebody who needs a home,” says Parise of MCAS, an open-admission shelter.

Last year, OHS took in a total of 1,074 small animals, including gerbils, hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, chinchillas and degus, says animal care manager Autumn White.

The shelter found homes for 997 of those animals and transferred 57 to other shelters.

White notes that many of those small animals wind up at the shelter when families adopt one for a child who eventually loses interest.

“If a small animal is the choice for a first pet, then families need to know that adults are always the primary caretaker, not the children,” White says. “These animals are not the best children’s pets.”

Without realizing how fragile small animals are, kids may drop them or accidentally pull a leg hard enough to break it.

They also may not be able to continuously care for them properly by providing fresh food and water daily, cleaning out the cage and replacing the bedding.

The Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter in Hillsboro doesn’t accept owner-surrenders, but the shelter will take in stray small animals if there is no alternative, says Deborah Wood, animal services manager for Washington County.

The shelter typically takes in about 4,000 dogs and cats per year and about 35 other animals, including ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs and pet rats.

Wood points out that if your pet guinea pig, chinchilla, rat, or other animal goes missing, file a “lost pet” report at your local county shelter. They’re charged with taking in lost and stray pets and reuniting them with owners.

If you do decide to adopt or purchase a small animal, consider the decision carefully.

“It’s important for people who are considering purchasing or adopting one of these animals to realize that they deserve the same kind of commitment that you’d give to a cat or dog,” Wood says. “They need care and a secure lifetime home just as much as dogs and cats do.”

***

Things to know about small animals:

Rats live on average from two to three years (although dietary chromium supplements fed from a young age can expand their lifespan)

Guinea pigs tend to live between five and six years.

Chinchillas average seven to 10 years but could live into their teens with the right care.

Never use cedar shavings for bedding. The aromatic oils can be toxic and cause respiratory and liver problems. Opt for hardwood shavings, paper-based bedding or wood pulp fibers.

They’re social animals and should have regular exercise and interaction.