 In 1992 he was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and, during his initial recovery, wrote his first book, "The Proper Care of Guinea Pigs", taking all the photographs himself.Gurney wrote a number of other books, including "The Sex Life of the Guinea Pig", which he promoted on a tour of the United States.When Great Ormond St Hospital told him that guinea pigs were no longer welcome for health and safety reasons, Gurney complained
"[T]hat bunch of control freaks in government took this away from me."