'I don't want a pull-up! I want antlers!' by Kara
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 9:58 AM

So Kimiko needed a new cage mate.

I went to several pet stores looking for a female guinea pig. The ones I went to either only sold males, or didn't sell any, period. I finally went out to one halfway to my old place -- the one that got the other two from Noriko's litter -- and asked if there were any lady-pigs there.

GIRL: Well, there's two up front, and we're pretty sure one of them's female ...

ME: [dissatisfied and suspicious look]

GIRL: Oh, but there's one in the back that's definitely a female, but we haven't been able to sell her.

ME: [fascinated but still suspicious look] All right, I'll have a look.

The girl brings out a somewhat smaller-than-adult white pig with odd-coloured eyes -- sort of black opal-y, if you'll believe that -- and two cowlicks that gave her a 'mohawk' all down her back. The girl hands said pig off to me, and said pig snuggles right down into my jacket. I note it has a bite mark in each ear.

ME: Why can't you sell her? The ears?

GIRL: Well, one, we couldn't sell her right away, so she's not as tiny as the others, so no one's terribly interested in her. And two, she doesn't play well with others.

PIG: *prrrrrr*

ME: ... I disbelieve. I'll have her.

MALE EMPLOYEE ACROSS STORE: Whoa, whoa! Which one are you selling??? Is that my snake food? Don't give her that, the boss said I could have it if we didn't sell it soon!

So they settled the pig down in a bait box (*sigh*) and I took her home.

Where I discovered that it's not that new girl (now named Door -- don't judge me) doesn't play well with others. More like she plays rough with others. I saw her get attached to Kimiko immediately, and Kimiko was not quite used to this. Door hopped around the cage after her a few times without actually touching her, which didn't go over well, and Kimiko spent the rest of the night glaring and shouting at me.

The next day she'd stopped, and had taken to glaring to Door instead. Door looked a bit cowed; apparently she'd had a chance to learn that such rambunctious behaviour is not appreciated by everyone. So now she had started trying to make good by staying clear, waiting her turn for food, and occasionally attempting to groom Kimiko (who would look away rather pointedly and grumpily).

Then Kimiko stopped eating.

I would see her far from the dish when I'd come home. When I refilled the dish, Door leaped right on it, but Kimiko gave it one sniff and wandered to her side of the cage. I was worried. Perhaps it was time to take the new charge back and explain that, look, this is really a bad thing, after all.

Last night I came in late, went to take a shower, and peered around the corner into the den.

Kimiko was eating. And drinking water. At her normal pace.

Then she went into the corner and fell asleep purring next to Door.

Manipulative little ...

... humph.

If you have been, take all of 'em.