Your little ones are making all kinds of mysterious guinea pig sounds, but you are at a loss. Could this just mean they are constantly happy or are your piglets trying to tell you something else altogether?
What on earth could all of these guinea pig noises mean?
We’re covering all the different sounds so you can easily identify what your piggy is trying to tell you and that there are actually lots of different sounds.
- Guinea Pig Squeaking
- Guinea Pig Purring
- Guinea Pig Wheeking
- Guinea Pig Chirping
- Guinea Pig Cooing
- Guinea Pig Shrieking
- Guinea Pig Hissing
- Guinea Pig Whining
Since guinea pigs are social animals, they love to be quite vocal sometimes.
Getting a second guinea pig is awesome and seeing them interact with each other can be a real pleasure.
However, sometimes the sounds might keep us awake, especially when your guinea pig decides to shriek or wheek like crazy in the middle of the night.
Since guinea pigs are diurnal, we can easily get frustrated with them being active at times when we would prefer them not to be.
They might just try to tell you something though so let’s try to find out what that is.
Happy Guinea Pig Sounds – Know The Difference
You’re hearing all kinds of unique Guinea Pig sounds, almost a different one every time you visit the little one. What in the world is he trying to tell you, and how do you find out?
You absolutely love those happy Guinea Pig sounds (at least you hope they are happy). The more unique sounds your piglet makes, the more diverse he seems.
But what if he is upset, in pain, or enduring some other dire discomfort? What if your baby is scared or depressed?
How would you know the difference between happy and not-so-happy Guinea Pig sounds?
Body language.
The sounds your piglet makes will often be accompanied by visual cues, which are usually much easier to read.
For example, a startled, uncertain Guinea will often freeze, touching noses can be a friendly gesture, and strutting from side to side might indicate aggression.
- Fluffing/raising fur = aggression
- Strutting side to side = aggression
- Raising haunches = aggression
- Touching noses = greeting
- Popcorning = excitement
- Mountain = sexual or dominance
- Urinating/scent marking= ‘This is mine’
Now, these are just for vague categorizations, this list is not limited to the aforementioned meanings and depending on the context, the exact meaning can also be quite the opposite.
Consider the context.
Ask yourself what is going on while your piglet is making the sounds she is. This is almost universal for most animals, not simply guinea pig sounds.
Is she making excitable movements, or did something out of the ordinary just happen recently? What kind of body language do you see?
By observing your guinea’s behavior over time, understanding these sounds will slowly become instinctual.
Guinea Pig Squeaking
Those guinea pig squeaking sounds are the most adorable things you’ve ever heard, but what could they mean? Is your little one happy, excited, nervous and scared, or just playful?
Let’s find out.
Why do guinea pigs squeak?
Guinea Pigs will often squeak or squeal when frightened, anxious, or nervous. Repeated squeaking could be due to a loud noise or sudden change in your Guinea’s environment.
They will also squeak when happy or excited, so you’ve really got to pay attention to the intricate differences between squeaks. What is happening to elicit these squeaks?
Feed Me
Your little piglet might simply be hungry. Guinea pigs often squeak to let you know get your attention, letting you know they want something.
Are you preparing food in front of your wee one, or is it about her feeding time?
I’m Nervous
Your little one might be nervous, frightened, or anxious. They might make these noises when not happy about something.
If something happened you don’t think your piglet would appreciate, this very well could be the reason.
Pay Attention to Me
Frequent guinea pig squeaking might be a behavior meant to signify attention-seeking desires. Your little piggy might simply want your companionship.
Do you have a set playtime? Perhaps your pet is simply trying to let you know what the time is.
I Feel Claustrophobic
Excess squeaking could symbolize a feeling of confusion or a sense of confinement. Imagine another disagreeable male, or the foreign feeling of a visit to the veterinarian.
Guinea pigs don’t tend to appreciate being bathed too much; you might hear these sounds more often during bath time. Failing to dry your guinea completely after bathing can lead to chills, along with the unhappy noises that accompany them.
I’m Happy Mom
Young guineas will often squeak when seeking the attention of their mothers. Your piglet might even consider you a motherly figure, or another cavy.
Are you about to let your piglet out of his cage, or is it playtime? He or she could just be happy about the food she is about to get, or content after eating.
Is guinea pig squeaking good?
Squeaking can be a good sign. If your guinea pig squeaking happens when he is happy or excited, he’ll probably accompany this with a se