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LINCOLN, United Kingdom — It started with the adoption of six guinea pigs. Several years later, Sophie Mason has a full-time job running a guinea pig social media platform and caring for over 150 of the furry creatures.
Mason and her husband, Mark, are the creators behind Masons' Cavies — a multi-platform social media account that shares the lives of the animals. (Cavy refers to the name of guinea pigs' taxonomic family, which includes other South American rodents like capybaras.)
"Each member of our herd has their own name and unique personality to go along with it," Masons' Cavies website states. "So, 150+ guinea pigs is a lot, yes? Hahaha, we know! But how did we come to having so many? Well, I have always loved guinea pigs and I have always felt they're very misunderstood animals and dreamed of owning a large herd."
The current herd consists of 59 purchased guinea pigs, seven who were gifted, 37 rescues and 51 who were rehomed. The vast majority are female, with non-neutered males living separately from the main herd so they do not breed. The oldest guinea pigs are about 6 years old, while the youngest is around 12 weeks.
The guinea pigs live a custom-built, blue and purple shed that has about 400 feet of running space, AC and beds. Videos on Masons' Cavies social media show Mark Mason playing waiter to the guinea pig as the little guys chow down on huge vegetable platters or eat from mini wooden picnic benches.
The Masons told The Dodo that an average feed consists of five flat lettuces, 30 tomatoes, six cucumbers, five oranges, eight apples, four cabbages or kale, 16 red peppers, four bunches of parsley, two bags of spinach and 2.5 kilos of carrots. If you're wondering — yes, that's enough to fill a wheelbarrow.
"We've created some lavish-looking feasts for the guinea pigs," Mark Mason told The Dodo. "It's good for 'em."
A 2021 Daily Mail article reported the Masons make £40,000 a year thanks their loyal online fans, with £20,000 going to vet bills and £7,000 to buying vegetables. Sophie Mason told the Daily Mail she eventually quit her job to look after the animals full time and to dedicate herself to growing their social media channel. She reported spending 80 minutes a day chopping vegetables and posting videos with the guinea pigs.
"They are expensive," Sophie Mason told the Daily Mail. "Had we not had this success with Facebook we couldn't do this. It would be too expensive."
The couple's website says they are moving homes this year and the new space will allow them to eventually open their own guinea pig rescue complete with a nursery, a place for older guinea pigs who can't manage ramps, and a workshop to create guinea pig houses and setups.
"Like everyone else we also have dreams. They keep us motivated in life. Ours is to set up an amazing space for all kinds of guinea pigs before Mr Mason finishes his services within the military," the website states. "We have done many fun fundraising projects to raise money for us to be able to move into a property with the ideal land space for the guinea pigs! We will set up a much larger 'rescue' set-up for neglected guinea pigs needing care."
You can browse a gallery of all the Masons' guinea pigs on their website or check them out on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
