Satin
The satin guinea pig in British show terminology is a smooth cavy with a short, straight coat and a pronounced satin sheen. The British Cavy Council lists Satin as a Full Standard breed, and its current standard was updated in 2024. It covers Solid Satin and other satin varieties, including Agouti, Solid Agouti, Californian, Chinchilla, Himalayan, Tan, Fox, Otter and Satin Crested. British satin cavies can therefore have patterned coats or a forehead crest as well as solid color.
ARBA uses separate breed names in its 2026 to 2030 Standard of Perfection: American Satin, Abyssinian Satin, Peruvian Satin, Silkie Satin and Teddy Satin. The British smooth Satin has a different coat from the rough and longhaired satin breeds. Its sheen can intensify color, and a clean, fine coat shows that reflective finish clearly. The bone disease fibrous osteodystrophy has been reported in satin guinea pigs, although its cause remains unsettled.
