Did you know that guinea pigs are capable of making a wide variety of different sounds? Although these small rodents seem calm and silent animals, the truth is that they have their own very characteristic language that they use to communicate and transmit information to other individuals, whether or not they are of the same species. Thus, through its vocalizations, your guinea pig expresses its emotions and desires and it is important that, as a tutor, you learn to interpret these sounds in order to provide your furry friend the best possible quality of life.
If you want to learn more about the sounds of guinea pigs and their meanings, in this article on our site we review the most frequent, Do not miss it!
Loud high-pitched screeches
If you live with a guinea pig at home, this is probably the sound you hear most often. It is a series of high-pitched and constant beeps or screeches that the animal emits repetitively and at a high volume, similar to a "beep, beep, beep". These beeps are generally used by guinea pigs to attract the attention of another individual, such as their human guardian. You may hear your guinea pig screeching when she hears or sees you coming home after some time apart, when she wants to play with you, be cuddled, or when she's hungry.
To know exactly what your furry wants, you have to pay attention to the context in which the sound is produced and take into account that if the screeches are higher-pitched, faster or louder than usual and the animal is nervous or agitated, it is possible that something is frightening it or that it feels some type of pain and, therefore, that it needs help.
High-pitched and weak screeches
This is another of the most common guinea pig sounds. Guinea pigs usually emit the same type of high-pitched screech as in the previous case, but with a lower intensity and very quickly when they are in a group andthey feel out of danger It is believed that it is a way of communicating between peers and, in most cases, denotes a state of tranquility and well-being.
It is also common for guinea pigs to reproduce this sound when they leave their cage to explore a new space or walk freely while browsing the corners of the house, regardless of whether they are alone or accompanied.
Body Vibration Growl
Although purring is exclusive to felines, guinea pigs emit a similar sound, a kind of growl associated with a slight body vibration. However, this kind of purr does not always have the same meaning as that emitted by domestic cats, since, in many cases, it indicates that the guinea pig is scared or uncomfortable
Now, if the rodent's body language and behavior tells us that it is calm and comfortable in its surroundings, it may also emit an occasional, shorter and less intense growl, which we shouldn't worry about.
Grinding teeth and/or whistling
One of the most frequent doubts when tutors try to understand the behavior of these animals is what the sound of an angry guinea pig is like. Well, if your guinea pig starts grinding his teeth, rapidly moving his lower jaw, there's no doubt that is upset about somethingNormally, they emit this sound when they are in their territory with another guinea pig they do not know or with whom they do not have a good relationship, although they can also grind their teeth if you do something that bothers them, such as picking them up, brushing their hair, bathe them or move them from one place to another. If the threat continues, the guinea pig is likely to start hissing, opening its mouth and baring its teeth, similar to how cats do when they are angry.
In short, both teeth grinding and whistling could be considered as threat signals that the animal emits to ask to be left in peace and avoid conflict.
Chirping
One of the most curious sounds of guinea pigs and, at the same time, less frequent is the so-called "chirping", which in Spanish would be translated as "chirping". This sound is very confusing to the listener, as it is surprisingly similar to a bird's chirping, so it is incredible that it is a guinea pig and not a bird who issue it.
Although it is believed that this sound may be related to the arrival of oestrus in females and, therefore, to the search for couple, it is still not very clear what its meaning is, since it is very unusual to hear guinea pigs "cheep". So, it could be the sound of a guinea pig in heat, but the truth is that we cannot confirm it because it is still under study.
Rumbling
This other English term refers to a sound very similar to a drum roll This particular noise is low and deep and when the guinea pig emits it all over its body vibrates as if it were reverberating. In this case, the rodent is indicating its reproductive availability, that is, it informs the individuals in its environment that it is ready to find a mate and procreate.
Normally, this sound is made by sexually mature males, but occasionally by females in heat. Thus, we can confirm that this sound is emitted by guinea pigs in heat.
Since guinea pigs are crepuscular, it is possible that they emit this sound at the beginning of the night and very early in the morning. Therefore, if your guinea pig makes noise at night and you suspect that it could be due to heat, we recommend considering sterilization.
If you love these animals and want to continue learning, don't miss this other article with Curiosities about guinea pigs that will surprise you.
Chutting
This sound is very subtle and is not usually heard very often. It is very reminiscent of the noise a faucet makes when water drips and hence its name ("chot, chot, chot"). The "chutting" indicates that the animal is relaxed, happy, comfortable and that it trusts its guardian and its environment, so it is one of the sounds with a more positive connotation of all those emitted by guinea pigs. So if you're wondering what the sound of a happy guinea pig is, here's the answer!
If you have a strong bond with your furry friend and he enjoys spending time with you and sharing moments of relaxation and pampering, it is very likely that you will hear him make this sound while you caress him or rest by his side. Probably after reading this, if you have noticed that your guinea pig makes noise when you pet it, you better understand its behavior.
In this other post we explain how to know if your guinea pig loves you.
Other guinea pig sounds
Now that you know the main sounds of guinea pigs and their most frequent meanings, you will be able to identify what your furry friend feels or needs in each context. However, you should keep in mind that some sounds like the tos, the sneezes, the heavy breathing or the groans will only appear in specific situations in which there is some pathology or pain. If you hear these or other strange sounds, it is essential that you go to a veterinary center where they can attend to the rodent, assess its state of he alth and prescribe appropriate treatment depending on the case.
In this other article we explain how to tell if your guinea pig is sick.
