The White House guinea pigs: Theodore Roosevelt's family pets

Who kept guinea pigs in the White House?

Theodore Roosevelt's children did. Roosevelt took the oath of office as President on 14 September 1901, in a house in Buffalo, New York, the US National Park Service records. The White House Historical Association says the children brought "a fascinating assortment of pets" when they moved into the residence, and that "their pets included the typical dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and ponies".

It adds: "The Roosevelt children were also avid guinea pig owners. At one point they owned five of the creatures." Its picture of the Roosevelt White House is of "a pony, sheep, dogs, cats, a macaw, guinea pigs, rats, a snake" and "many more animal friends".

What were the Roosevelt guinea pigs called?

They had wonderfully grand names. Writing to his friend E. S. Martin from Oyster Bay on 22 November 1900, Roosevelt asked: "Did I ever tell you about my second small boy's names for his Guinea pigs? They included Bishop Doane; Dr. Johnson, my Dutch Reformed pastor; Father G. Grady, the local priest with whom the children had scraped a speaking acquaintance; Fighting Bob Evans, and Admiral Dewey."

The spelling of one name varies. Roosevelt's letter, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and the White House Historical Association all write Father G. Grady, while the National Park Service writes Father O'Grady. We use Roosevelt's own spelling.

Why did they have such serious names?

Because children love a grand name for a small animal. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library says the boys named them "with apparent seriousness after real people", and calls them guinea pigs "solemnly named after national celebrities".

Naming pets after people was a family habit. In the same letter Roosevelt told how supporters had sent a small bear, which the children "of their own accord christened Jonathan Edwards". If you are looking for something just as distinguished for your own pair, our guinea pig names page has plenty of ideas.

Which child looked after them?

The boys, and Kermit in particular. Roosevelt credited the names to "my second small boy". In a letter to his eldest son, Ted, written from Oyster Bay on 7 May 1901, he wrote: "Dewey Jr. is a very cunning white guinea pig. I wish you could see Kermit taking out Dewey Sr. and Bob Evans to spend the day on the grass." The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library also says that "the Roosevelt boys kept guinea pigs with grand names".

That picture of a boy taking his guinea pigs out for a day on the grass will make any modern owner smile. Our guide to guinea pig floor time explains how to give yours safe time out of the cage.

What did Theodore Roosevelt think of guinea pigs?

He thought they were perfect for children. In his autobiography, he wrote: "The children had pets of their own, too, of course. Among them guinea pigs were the stand-bys; their highly unemotional nature fits them for companionship with adoring but over-enthusiastic young masters and mistresses."

In other words, guinea pigs put up with a lot of love. The introduction to his collected letters to his children adds that his letters were full of "all the comic aspects of the guinea-pigs and others of the large menagerie of pets that the children were always collecting".

What other small pets did the Roosevelts keep?

Quite a few. In the same passage of his autobiography Roosevelt mentions "flying squirrels, and kangaroo rats, gentle and trustful", and a badger called Josiah. The National Park Service lists Peter the rabbit among the family's pets.

There was a rat too. In a letter from the White House on 9 June 1902, to the writer Joel Chandler Harris, Roosevelt described "Jonathan, the piebald rat, of most friendly and affectionate nature, who also crawls all over everybody", along with "the flying squirrel, and two kangaroo rats".

The Roosevelt guinea pigs at a glance

What does the Roosevelt story tell us about guinea pigs as pets?

That guinea pigs have been family favourites for well over a century, and for good reason. Roosevelt's "highly unemotional nature" is a lovely way of saying they are calm, steady animals that suit a busy home. Today we know a lot more about what they need to be happy.

• Company: the RSPCA says guinea pigs are highly social, get lonely, and are happiest in pairs. Our guide to guinea pig pairs explains how to choose.
• A high-fibre diet with vitamin C: guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C and store it only briefly, the RSPCA says. See our guinea pig diet guide.
• Plenty of time to potter: the RSPCA notes they can be active for up to 20 hours a day, sleeping only in short spells.
• Gentle handling: we would always let children sit on the floor and hold them low, so a wriggle never becomes a fall. Our guide to taming a guinea pig helps.

The RSPCA says guinea pigs typically live five to six years, sometimes longer, so they are a real commitment for a family. Our guinea pig lifespan guide covers what to expect. For everything else, start with our guinea pig care guide, read up on guinea pig behaviour, enjoy more guinea pig facts, or go further back with the history of guinea pigs as pets.