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How to Identify and Understand Guinea Pig Sounds

Published: 11/1/2014 | Author: Richard Jeng | Updated: 3/5/2023

Two guinea pigs eating pellets out of a bowl

Although quiet now, Buttercup (left) is one of the noisiest HappyCavy guinea pigs

As with most pets, communication is key in raising not only a healthy, but also a happy, guinea pig.

Owners, behaviorists and enthusiasts alike have learned that cavies are vocal creatures, producing an array of sounds exclusive to these animals. And although we can’t speak each other’s languages, humans can understand a lot about guinea pigs by interpreting the noises they make.

To help you better understand your fuzzy friend, and what it may trying to tell you, below are the seven most common guinea pig noises, and what they probably mean.

Wheeking

The “wheek” is a high-pitched squeak, which usually means they are excited. In fact, they’ll even signal to get your attention by wheeking louder as you approach them with a treat. But don’t let them fool you into giving them too many treats. It can be fun for an owner to hear their pig wheek out of excitement; however, a proper guinea pig diet is essential for a long life.

Purring

A common misconception is that all “purrs” sound the same, but that is not the case with guinea pigs. Because of the biological structure of their throats, guinea pigs are able to produce a purr that is unique to their species. As opposed to a cat’s high-pitched purr, the guinea pig’s is a deep, consistent sound.

A guinea pig purr usually means they are content or comforted. For example, if you’re petting them gently, you may eventually start to hear some purring. This interesting sound has caught many new owners off guard. Just remember, though, that if you are petting your guinea pig gently, and you hear a purr, it most likely means your cavy is enjoying its time with you.

Chutting

Chutting is when the guinea pig produces a series of short, staccato sounds. Like the purr, chutting is a sound produced in a relaxed or content state.

Chutting is often explained as a noise guinea pigs make when they are happily and comfortably exploring their environment. Keep in mind, your cavy will only chut in a new environment if it feels safe. Providing a safe and clean environment may be the best way to elicit this sound.

Growling

Audio file coursety of of BeanMakers.com

It’s hard to believe that such cute and friendly critters can produce a growl. Although not very intimidating, the growl can be interpreted as the guinea pig feeling threatened or frightened by a stimulus in the environment. The noise can be anywhere from loud to abrupt, “musical-sounding tones.”

Your guinea pig is likely in a vulnerable state when you hear it growling. To calm it, pet it as gently as possible and speak softly to it. In no time, that growl may even turn into a purr.

Rumbling

Many owners have a difficult time differentiating a rumble from a purr, but the rumble is produced in a slightly lower tone. The best way to differentiate these sounds may be to observe the behaviors that appear with each sound.

For example, the rumble is most commonly heard when a male is courting a female. If you hear your male guinea pig pursuing a female while making a low purring noise, that is most likely a rumble. Stick around and you might even get to see the “rumble strut,” which is the mating dance used to woo a female.

Shrieking

A shriek from your pet means that it is in some sort of physical pain. This should be a rare sound to hear if you’re watching over it carefully. However, it can happen from time to time. For example: when taking your guinea pig to the vet, you may hear a shriek when the doctor takes your guinea pig’s temperature. The process isn’t pleasant, thus your cavy will shriek to let you know it is very frightened.

If you hear a shriek while in your home, figure out what caused the shriek so you know how to avoid it next time. Nobody wants his or her pet to be feeling pain or fear.

Teeth Chattering

“Teeth chattering” is a rapid series of squeaks and gnashing of teeth. This is how a guinea pig expresses that he or she is unhappy and/or annoyed. A lot of things can elicit teeth chattering. For instance, if your pet is trying to nap but is being bothered by a cage-mate, teeth chattering will serve as a message that he wants to be left alone. Also, when you introduce two guinea pigs, you may hear this sound in the beginning, as they are likely determining cage dominance.

All types of guinea pigs can express themselves vocally with these various sounds. So, no matter what type of guinea pig you own, these meanings will apply. Taking care of a guinea pig by providing food and water, changing the bedding, grooming and entertaining are all essential in your care routine. But, in order to keep your pet happy, and thus healthy, you first need to know what your pet may be trying to tell you. Learning what these sounds mean is simple, and it’ll take you a long way with developing a strong relationship with your pet.

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About Richard Jeng

Richard James has been raising guinea pigs for over 15 years. His fascination with these animals led him to write the book “Guinea Pig Care Made Easy.” His favorite breed of guinea pig is the Abyssinian.

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HappyCavy has been online since June 2009 with Hammy and Piglet. In October of 2009, a sweet, fuzzy cavy named Bitsy joined the webcam broadcasts.

Feebee and Buttercup were welcomed to the HappyCavy Forever Home as friends and co-conspirators in January 2011. Dot joined us on July 2012. Winnie and Rosie joined on February 8, 2015 and June 6, 2015, respectively. Sisters JuneBug and Baby Roo joined August 16, 2019, and Dollie came to us on February 15, 2023. Annie was the last pig to arrive on December 17, 2023. Find out more about the HappyCavy guinea pigs.

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