The Bonnet Cavy

Extinct NZ Guinea Pig Breed

Ruffles, rosettes and reverse growing hair.  Devastatingly, the Bonnet pedigree Guinea Pig breed was declared extinct in 2024 by our cavy club.

Developed in the late 1990s by renowned judge Ethel McKeown (Nemora Cavies) in Whangārei, the Bonnet was a true New Zealand innovation born from a spontaneous genetic mutation.  It was a breed defined by 'organised chaos', a complex coat of reverse growth and ruffles that culminated in its signature 'bonnet' of hair over the eyes.

Tragically, despite its striking appearance and specialized genetics, the Bonnet has since vanished from the show bench for several years.  Now considered extinct, it remains a significant chapter in New Zealand cavy history and a reminder of how quickly NZ unique breeds can be lost without dedicated preservation.

While the standard remains in NZCJA Show Standards, there are currently no known active breeders or cavies left, making it a "lost breed."  The goal has shifted to raising awareness so other New Zealand breeds don't suffer the same fate.

NZ Heritage breeds are living history.  They reflect the culture and achievements of the Kiwis who created them, such as cavy judge Ethel McKeown, who spent years stabilising the Bonnet's unique "fur faults" into a recognized standard.

Essential Bonnet Facts


  • The Bonnet breed began as a spontaneous, natural genetic mutation

  • Devastatingly, in 2024, our club declared the Bonnet a 'lost breed' after several years of disappearance

  • Bonnet breed would have been 26 years old

  • Bonnet was created by the late cavy judge Ethel Mckewen from Whangarei

  • In the past the NZ cavy fancy has treated all pedigree breeds as equals.  Currently, New Zealand’s unique pedigree breeds are recognised and championed by Independent Cavy Clubs across the country.

Bonnet Complete Guides

Explore our comprehensive, specialised resources.  From tracking the Bonnet's historical Kiwi roots and decoding their complex genetics, to mastering show bench presentation and official judging criteria.

Bonnet History and Genetics

Dive in to trace the complete timeline of Ethel McKeown's legendary Nemora lines, decode the complex modifier genes that created its signature 'organized chaos' coat, and discover how this unique Kiwi heritage was built from the ground up.

Bonnet History and Genetics

Bonnet FAQS

With an extinct pedigree guinea pig breed comes lots of questions.  We try to answer the most popular ones here.

From understanding the unique "organized chaos" coat modifiers to uncovering why this homegrown Kiwi treasure vanished from the show bench, explore the vital facts behind NZ's most famous lost breed.

Bonnet FAQS

Bonnet Show Standards

A Show Standard is essentially a "blueprint" for the perfect Bonnet.  It is an official written document that describes exactly how a specific pedigree breed should look to be considered a top-quality Bonnet.

Bonnet Show Standards