Cavy pedigrees: what to include and how to print them
A cavy pedigree gives the cavy's ear number, breed, variety, sex, birth date and weight, then its boars and sows back three generations, each with name, ear number and variety.
It is laid out like a rabbit's, and each ancestor carries a weight too; a name can be just the ear number. Cavy registration asks for the same complete three generation pedigree as rabbits, with one breed throughout, except that satin and normal coats of one breed may be mixed if marked. Choose Cavy as the species in the pedigree maker.
Where cavies differ from rabbits
| Topic | Cavies | Rabbits |
|---|---|---|
| Male and female | Boar and sow | Buck and doe |
| Young | Pups | Kits |
| Identification | A legible ear mark or ear tag | A tattoo in the left ear |
| Registration mark | A registration tag in the right ear | A tattoo in the right ear |
| Same breed rule | Satin and normal coat of one breed may be mixed if marked | Every ancestor of the same breed |
| Weight | Usually ounces or grams | Usually pounds and ounces |
Cavies are registered through the same national body as rabbits, by a licensed registrar who examines the animal in person. The show rules disqualify a cavy from its class if it is not legibly ear marked or ear tagged, so the ear mark belongs on the pedigree as the cavy's identity.
Breeds and varieties
The breed box offers the common show breeds as suggestions (Abyssinian, American, Coronet, Peruvian, Silkie, Teddy, Texel, White Crested and their satin forms) and accepts anything you type. Varieties are free text, so write them the way your standard describes them, for example Self Black or Tortoiseshell and White.
4-H cavy record books include a pedigree record page, and the Ohio State cavy record book explains why members keep records at all: a pedigree printed from your herd can be clipped straight into one.
Worked example: Bean, a young American boar
In the demo herd, Bean TX7 is out of Coal TX5 and Amber TX6. His grandparents were bought in with no pedigrees, so his three generation chart has 6 of 14 boxes recorded and the three generation check lists 8 boxes that need an ancestor before a registrar would accept it.
That is a useful answer on its own: it says exactly which great-grandparents to chase from the breeder you bought from. Print his pedigree now, marked Unknown where it is unknown, from the demo herd in the pedigree maker.
Common mistakes
- Recording an ear tag number that has since been replaced. Update the record when a tag is lost and replaced.
- Mixing satin and normal coats without marking which is which.
- Writing weights in pounds for some ancestors and ounces for others. Pick one unit for the whole chart.
- Calling a pup by its litter number on the pedigree once it has a proper ear mark.
Make the pedigree now
Type one pedigree by hand and print it, or explore the demo herd to see ancestors fill themselves in. Your herd stays in this browser; nothing is uploaded and there is no account.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free cavy pedigree software?
Yes. This pedigree maker covers cavies as well as rabbits and cats. It is free, needs no account, and keeps your herd in your own browser.
How many generations does a cavy pedigree need for registration?
A complete three generation pedigree, the same as for rabbits, examined by a licensed registrar who fits a registration tag in the right ear.
Can I keep guinea pigs and rabbits in the same herd?
Yes. Each animal has a species, sires and dams must be of the same species, and the herd list, filters and prints keep them apart.
Sources
Last reviewed 27 September 2026 against:
- How to Register a Rabbit or Cavy, American Rabbit Breeders Association, revised 17 July 2023, read 27 September 2026. Used for: What registration asks of the animal and of its three generation pedigree, the registrar's examination, the right ear registration mark, and typed pedigrees attached to the application.
- Official Show Rules, American Rabbit Breeders Association, effective 10 December 2025, read 27 September 2026. Used for: The permanent ear mark in the left ear for rabbits, ear marks or ear tags for cavies, and grand champion legs.
- Cavy Project and Record Book (4-H 215), Ohio State University Extension, 2012 edition sample, read 27 September 2026. Used for: The pedigree record page in a 4-H cavy record book, and why members keep records.
This guide is our own summary, not a registry's rule book. If it disagrees with the current documents, the documents win. Hutchline is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the American Rabbit Breeders Association, the American Cavy Breeders Association, The International Cat Association, the Cat Fanciers' Association or any other registry or breed club.