A Guide to Guinea Pig Noises

 

If you own a guinea pig, you know they are constantly making noises. Well guess what? Each one of their noises or sounds means something different. I thought it would be handy to have a guide on what we humans think guinea pigs are trying to communicate through all their squeaks, huffs, and chuffs.

 

Obviously, guinea pigs don’t speak the human language so this guide is based on what we humans have interpreted through recurrent situations and body language.

 

• Wheeking: Sounding like a long and loud squeal or squeak, wheeking is a very common noise for guinea pigs to make while trying to communicate to their humans. Wheeking seems to most often be used to communicate anticipation or eagerness. Due to its loud drawn out sound, wheeking can also be used as a call for attention. Guinea pigs tend to make a loud wheeking sound in anticipation for food or treats. Several guinea pig owners hear wheeking noises when they approach the fridge or their guinea pig’s food container.

 

• Rumble Strutting: A rumble strut is a deep low purring sound usually made by male guinea pigs when they are trying to romance a female, but occasionally female guinea pigs can also rumble when they are in heat. Rumble strutting is known as the guinea pigs “mating dance” due to it being a sound males use to exert their dominance on other males and females who they wish to mate with.

 

• Purring: A guinea pigs purr does not sound like a cat’s purr, and they can mean something completely different. Depending on the guinea pig’s pitch and their body language, a purr can mean two different things. If a guinea pig is in a relaxed and calm posture while making a deep purring sound, they are most likely feeling happy and contented. However, if the guinea pig is tense and making a higher pitched purr with its pitch becoming higher near the end of the sound, this is most likely a sound of annoyance. Therefore, a purr for a guinea pig can either mean they love what is going on or they dislike it, just read their posture and listen to pitch.

 

• Teeth Chattering: Guinea pigs are not cold when they chatter their teeth. Teeth chattering for a guinea pig is in fact an aggressive vocalization indicating that they are annoyed or angry. Guinea pigs tend to “show their teeth” when they are chattering, which to us humans looks like a big yawn, but in guinea pig language means to “stay away” or “back off”.

 

• Chutting: This noise is often made when guinea pigs are walking around or exploring their cage. Sounding like a low chuff made repeatedly, chutting is usually thought to be a guinea pig’s version of “talking to oneself”. Happy and contented guinea pigs tend chut to themselves when they are busy doing guinea pig things.

 

• Complaining: A whining or moaning type of squeak typically made when guinea pigs eat or sleep. Guinea pigs complain when other guinea pigs invade their personal space or when they do not wish to share their food. Basically, complaining occurs when your guinea pig is acting like a toddler and something hasn’t gone their way.

 

• Cooing: As you can guess cooing is a reassuring sound to other guinea pigs or humans. Guinea pigs who are cooing are most often mother guinea pigs comforting their young, but sometimes guinea pigs can make this noise at humans.

 

• Shrieking: One high-pitched, piercing squeak is called a shriek which is obviously a call of alarm or pain from guinea pig. Guinea pigs shriek when they are afraid or have been hurt, so it is best to check on your guinea pig to make sure they are alright.

 

• Chirping: Sounding like a bird has landed in your guinea pigs cage and is chirping away. This is one of the least understood and rarely heard sound a guinea pig can make. Guinea pigs who make this sound sometimes look to be in a trancelike state, but other times they act as if they might perceive danger. Again, the meaning of this sound is still unclear but seems to hold several meanings.

  

As you can see guinea pigs are vocal creatures, and make a variety of noises and sounds that can be complex to understand. Hopefully this guide to guinea pig noises helps you out with understand your little guinea pig a bit better.

 

Reference:

Lianne McLeod, D. (2019, December 30). What Is Your Guinea Pig Trying to Tell You? Retrieved October 01, 2020, from https://www.thesprucepets.com/guinea-pig-vocalizations-and-body-language-1238882