Guinea pig body language and noises help to communicate their many gestures like happiness, sadness, hunger, etc. if understood properly by humans.
The Guinea pig sounds can be easily understood if heard carefully because they have a good vocabulary.
Some sounds and body language can have more than two meanings so one needs to carefully examine the exact feeling which a Guinea pig wants to convey.
A Guinea pig is special specie belonging to the family of rodents.
In contrary to their names they do not belong to a pig family nor are they coming from Guinea, they basically are from Andes and a case of hybridization.
This Caviidae family is an important food source for the folk culture of South America as well as medicine and a part of community religious ceremonies.
For the people of western society the Guinea pig enjoys the popularity of being a household pet.
This is so because they have a very passive nature and they respond well to feeding, handling and caring.
Guinea pigs have a face somewhat like that of a pig and spend long time in eating.
They are large and weigh about 1.5 to 2.5 pounds having an average life of four to five years.
When domesticated they live in a group of two or more and love to live quietly in cages.
Guinea Pig Noises
There are so many different Guinea Pig noises it’s difficult to accurately describe them with words.
Despite this, once you’ve listened to your guinea pig sounds I’m positive you’ll be able to classify it based on your pet’s situation and the guinea pig noises description below.
It’s important to note that various guinea pig noises can actually mean two completely separate things so keeping an eye on your cavies demeanour is an important aspect of identifying her vocabulary.
Guinea Pig Sounds Meanings
Some popular Guinea pig sounds and their meanings are as follows:
Guinea Pig Purring
Guinea pigs can also make a distinctive purring noise during petting, stroking or other pleasurable activities.
It sounds very similar to rumbling guinea pig noises heard during mating encounters.
Guinea pigs can also make a distinctive purring noise during petting, stroking or other pleasurable activities.
It sounds very similar to rumbling guinea pig noises heard during mating encounters.
Sometimes while petting or pampering a Guinea pig one may be able to hear a purring sound which is an indication that the Guinea pig is enjoying the affection.
Purring can somewhat sound like a rumble but it can have a different meaning as well.
They can also purr when groomed or when brought to a new place which they are investigating.
Guinea Pig Wheeking
This is one of the most enjoyable guinea pig noises and generally means it’s time to eat.
It is a loud noise like that of a whistle which is generally heard when a Guinea pig sees its master or when it wants to be fed.
It is an expression of excitement or can be a situation when the Guinea pig is lost somewhere and is seeking for help in fear.
If a Guinea pig has a fixed time for feeding then at that point of time the wheeking sound will be the loudest and even if they find that food is being cooked or coming towards them then also their sound will be at a very high pitch.
Guinea Pig Rumbling
The native mating rumble is another easy to identify guinea pig sound.
If you’ve ever bred or housed opposite sex cavies together you’ll already be able to identify this noise.
On occasion this rumble will be accompanied by the male swaying his hips in what’s known collectively as the mating dance!
This sound is usually heard when a male Guinea pig is romancing with the other Guinea pig.
The sound has a vibrating effect and the Guinea pig will walk around other Guinea pig swaying their hips like doing a rumble strutting.
Female guinea pig can also make this sound if she is in season.
Guinea Pig Mutter
Muttering is low pitched sound when pigs are free in relaxation and feel contended.
They roam here and there on floor muttering and enjoying.
Cavies also make a contented muttering sound, often interspersed with purring.
This symbolizes happiness and contentment.
My animals make these kinds of noises when they’re resting in a ball of hay or snuggling up to me on the sofa.
Guinea Pig Whining
Such sounds are made when pig is resting and does not like to be disturbed.
It is a moaning or complaining sound.
Its volume increases if mischief maker goes on repeating his acts.
Sometimes Guinea pig makes this sound when they desire that their particular body part should not be touched.
My cavies have been known to whine, both inside and outside of the cage or hutch.
Usually if one is resting peacefully and another guinea pig wanders up and disturbs her she’ll have a quick moan.
The whining can gain volume if the intruder doesn’t leave followed by head pushing and shoving.
Guinea Pig Shrieking
Squeaking or shrieking sounds are sharp high pitched and indicative of pain feelings in body due to injury or internal body problems.
If your pet is alarmed, frightened or experiences sudden pain you’ll hear the piercing shrieking sound.
Any sudden noises can also lead to this distressed bellow.
I’ve also noticed this particular sound when two cage sharing guinea pigs are separated.
Guinea Pig Chirping
I’d like t briefly comment on the rarest of guinea pig noises.
Chirping. I’m yet to experience this seemingly wonderful guinea pig sound but I’m informed by people that it resembles bird singing.
Other guinea pigs in the area are said to remain still and listen intently as the vocalist sings her notes.
Guinea Pig Chutting
This refers to a series of short staccato “chut” sounds. Like purring, this tells you your pig is feeling happy or relaxed.
You might sometimes hear a few chuts mixed in with purring while you are petting your pig, but don’t be worried if you never hear your pet chutting.
Not all guinea pigs make this sound.
Guinea Pig Teeth Chattering
It is a warning signal in which the Guinea pigs gnash their teeth, raise their heads high sometimes even stamp their foot to show their anger.
This shows that they are angry or upset so they warn their enemy to get away before they attack.
Guinea Pig Body Language
When you think about the way your guinea pigs communicate with you and with each other, vocalizations such as wheeking, purring/”durring”, cooing ( specific to guinea pig sows when calming their offspring), and even chirping most likely come to your mind first.
But non-vocal communication is just as important in delivering certain messages i.e. emotions to you and other guinea pigs.
Being aware of the various non-vocal cues, signals and bodily actions that make up guinea pig body language enables you to better understand the particular messages that your piggies are trying to convey.
Take heed and see what your cavies are trying to “tell” you using distinctive body movements, gestures, and postures.
Recognizing and learning how to interpret guinea pig body language will help you “read” your pets’ underlying emotions and ultimately help strengthen your bond with your guinea pig.
Guinea Pig Popcorning
Just the mere sight of guinea pigs popcorning is cuteness galore!
This distinctive and easily recognizable body movement is very specific to guinea pigs, especially young(er) ones, but older guinea pigs may occasionally popcorn too ( not as spectacularly high as young cavies though).
Just like popcorn popping, guinea pigs repeatedly hop up and down, and this piggy-style dance is, more often than not, accompanied by intense wheeking.
It’s their way of telling you that they are excited, happy, or simply want to engage in social play, which plays ( no pun intended) an essential role in healthy behavioral development.
Guinea Pig Rumblestrutting – Strutting
Love is in the air! You can easily recognize this guinea pig body language, part of courtship behavior, by the guinea pig boar’s swaying, rather slow walk around a piggy sow, a low-key mating dance accompanied by a rumble.
If your piggy is doing a strut without a rumbling sound and this repeated move from side to side is accompanied by hissing and teeth chattering, then it’s a sign of dominant or even aggressive behavior.
Guinea Pig Nose Touching, Bumping And Sniffing
It takes two ( or more) piggies for this move, but it’s all good. A nose touch is just their way of greeting each other in a friendly manner.
Your guinea pig may even greet you in the same way. Sniffing each other’s nose, ears, chin, and back end when greeting is guinea pigs’ way of gathering more information.
In keeping with their inquisitiveness, sniffing all sorts of objects satisfies their need to discover and explore new things.
Guinea Pig Nose and Head Tossing
When your guinea pig gives you the head or nose tossing cue, you should know that, for some reason, she is feeling uncomfortable or annoyed and wants to be left alone.
Your piggy is essentially saying “back off!” If this gesture is followed by one or more nips, be aware that a fight may start soon.
Guinea Pig Freezing
When your guinea pig freezes i.e. stands motionless, then your pet is trying to tell you that she is too startled to be able to move. Something may have surprised or even frightened her.
If your piggy senses that there’s danger such as a predator lurking around, she will freeze in an attempt to become invisible to it.
Your guinea pig will typically remain motionless until she feels that the predator or whatever has startled her is no longer an imminent danger. A low vibration usually accompanies a freeze.
Guinea Pig Standing On Hind Legs
When your piggy behaves like a bunny ( this body posture is as cute as it gets) but without showing signals of dominance or aggressiveness, this is indicative of the fact that she craves some attention and TLC or just begs for a snack.
This posture could also be part of a face-off when accompanied by other signs of anger and a possible attack such as hissing, head tossed back, and teeth-baring & chattering.
Guinea Pig Yawning and Hackles Raised
A wide yawn is by no means a sign of your piggy being tired, sleepy, or bored, especially if accompanied by raised hackles.
Be sure to keep an eye on those angry piggies and do intervene to separate them before the situation gets messy.
To avoid getting accidentally bitten, use a towel, a plastic bottle, or another lightweight object instead of your bare hands.
Guinea Pig Running Away
New guinea pig owners should also keep in mind that running away when trying to pick her up, part of guinea pig body language at first is simply a natural defense mechanism and she will come out of her shell with time and patience.
Your guinea pig (s) may even engage in licking your skin which may be her way of showing affection toward you when cuddling her or just an affinity for the salt on your skin – feel free to interpret the licking cue any way you want.
Conclusion
Guinea pig sounds and body language are the expressions of their feelings like human beings.
Just as humans talk to each other, communicate horror, sorrow, pleasure and curiosity in their language these little creatures too unfurl emotions through indicative sounds found common in almost all species.
They share their feelings of being hungry, lonely, curious, stressed, happy, chirpy, angry, merry making and kept away with other guinea pigs or their owners.
Well that concludes my brief introduction to the various guinea pig body language and noises you’ll hear from day to day.
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