As someone who has always dealt with allergies, it was difficult for me to take care of pets with fur. I previously had a dog who ran away from my home after wanting more freedom to run around my neighborhood. I also had two guinea pigs with fur that passed away. I knew other people who kept sneezing, having a runny nose, or itchy eyes from having pets with fur. It was difficult to keep up with cleaning up the fur that was shedding while trying not to rub my eyes every second.
Many people I have known give up on having pets because of their fur allergy. However, there are many alternatives for pets that don’t have fur. The Sphynx cat is a good example, but for people who want a smaller pet, a skinny pig is also a good example. It is especially advantageous to have a small animal as a pet in Davis, as there are many small animal clinics. My apartment also accepts small animals as pets, while not allowing bigger animals like dogs and cats.
“Every college student should check their leasing contract and with their property manager before they bring in a pet, as each apartment has a different rule. Some apartments may allow regular-sized pets, while others may allow smaller animals as alternative pets. Make sure to also check with your roommates as well.” –Lauren Yi
Source: Myself (haha)
The skinny pig was discovered 40 years ago by a Montreal scientist named Armand Frappier in a lab (Fernandez et al., 2023; Skinny Pig Cavia porcellus). The skinny pig is very similar to the guinea pig, except that it was born with a genetic mutation that makes it born with less fur. It has some fur on its ankles, snout/muzzle, and near its ears. They were originally used in scientific research involving skin issues. The skinny pig is born without much fur from the beginning, unlike its counterpart, the Baldwin pig. Unlike the skinny pig, the Baldwin has more rubbery skin and is born with fur, but loses all of its fur. This is why this pig is actually considered the fully hairless pig, while the skinny pig is considered mostly hairless.
My skinny pig Cocoa is special, but it is not just because she has less fur. Whenever I am going through a tough time, she looks up at me with concern and makes sure to rumble when I pet her. She loves humans more than animals for some reason, which I found out from the Davis Petco employee. She fought with her sister for attention all the time, hence why they had to be separated. She likes watching humans and is typically more affectionate towards them than animals. When she gets jealous of other animals, she chitters with her teeth. It is not a skinny pig trait, but something that is uniquely Cocoa.
She is very affectionate and loves cuddling with humans, as we can see in the photo below. Since Cocoa has no fur, of course she loves to snuggle in soft blankets and bed covers. I just have to make sure that she goes back into her litter pan or carrier every 10-15 minutes, as this is typically the time it takes for a guinea pig’s bladder to be full. Cocoa is a mental health advocate when she can be, but also makes sure to express when she doesn’t like something. Cocoa will chitter at you, give you an offended look, or give you the bombastic side eye.
She especially doesn’t like it when I make her wear clothes during the winter, but it is a pet owner’s duty to let the pet know that they need to wear it to keep themselves warm. (Especially if they are an animal with no fur!) Cocoa also keeps scratching her skin with her back claws, which sometimes creates scabs. :( That’s why I choose to put coconut oil on her very often and make her wear clothes. She’s gotten used to it, though. :)
I never expected to meet this lovely creature at the Davis Petco, when I was just stopping by the day before my 20th birthday during my third year to get my friend a present for her now ex’s cat.
Make sure to take note that there are different animals located at each Petco and PetSmart, depending on the location. You never know what you could find!
Caption: The photos above are the content facial expressions that Cocoa makes whenever she is snuggling with you or in a soft blanket. In the first photo towards the left, she is about to fall asleep. Skinny pigs look different, depending on the angle that they move their faces and their bodies.
Caption: The photo below is when Cocoa is in her regular position and observing humans. You can probably tell by the look in her eye.