Silkie Satin
The silkie satin guinea pig has a smooth, flowing long coat with a pronounced satin sheen. Its face hair and mane sweep backward, leaving the face visible, and the coat extends over the sides and hindquarters without Peruvian style rump rosettes. Silkie Satin is recognized in ARBA's Standard of Perfection for 2026 to 2030 as a breed separate from Silkie. The underlying longhair is called sheltie in Britain and Europe, where Satin Sheltie describes this coat combination.
The British Cavy Council's current Rare Varieties listing treats Satin Sheltie as an unrecognized coated satin variety, distinct from the Full Standard smooth Satin breed. Daily grooming helps keep the long hair clean and free of tangles; presentation should preserve the full mane and rearward flow. The bone disease fibrous osteodystrophy has been reported in satin guinea pigs, although its cause remains unsettled.
