Sexing
Sexing

Sexing is something every cavy owner should know how to do. The top reason for unwanted pregnancies and litters is mistakes in sexing, sometimes made by the owners but much more often, surprisingly, by pet store employees. So even if you have been told the sex of your cavy, it's a good idea to check it yourself to make sure. By the time a cavy is old enough to be adopted out, you can usually tell just by looking. A female's genitals are smooth and Y shaped. Males generally have a circular bump at the top of the 'Y', making them shaped more like an 'i'. As males get older the testicles become obvious. Here are a couple of drawings to help you out; there are also some photos on this page if you need them.

Male
Female

However, especially with young cavies mistakes can be made and it's best to do a double-check. Lean your cavy on its back (if it's too squirmy you may want someone to help you hold it) and place two fingers on either side of and slightly above the genitals. Press down and upwards gently. With a male (pictured below) this will extrude the penis, with a female things will just "open up" a bit. If nothing seems to happen, you may be doing it wrong. Experiment by pressing in different places (in some males the penis will pop out more easily if you press directly above the genitals) until you're confident that you've sexed it correctly.

Male

If you still aren't completely, 100% sure what sex your piggie is, take it to an experienced cavy vet or a breeder and have them sex it for you. Especially if you have more than one cavy it's important to know for sure whether they're boys or girls; there are enough unwanted piggies in rescues already.

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