What are all of the sounds guinea pigs make and what do they mean?

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1149535

2026-03-18 22:25

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Guinea Pig sounds is their primary means of communiation between their species;

Wheeking - Also known as 'whistling', there are four different pitches of wheeking

High, rising demanding note - Their way of expressing excitement to your presence, being fed, and hearing food package being rustled.

Slightly lower in tone - Cavies' way of greeting each other, sometimes used to find other piggies or calling for assistance when it is lost.

Even lower and "really grumpy tone" - When they doesn't want to be picked up or touched by you.

Anxious and high pitched - When a baby is separated from its mother.

Bubbling/Purring

Low bubbling - Eating contentedly through the treats left in their cage.

Bubbling - Crawling around to investigate a new place or given food.

Purring - Enjoying being held or stroked/groomed.

Rumbling

Rumbling - Dominance within a group.

Louder rumbling - Being scared or angry (sounds higher and body vibrates shortly).

Courting Rumbling (rumblestrutting) - Purrs deeply, swaying and circling the sows.

Low Rumbling - Walking away reluctantly (passive resistance).

Chutting/Whining

Heard in pursuit situations, both the pursuer and the pursuee.

Chattering

Teeth gnashing - A sign of warning, normally between two boars doing sideways 'war dance' about to go head to head (in this case, throw towels over them). If a boar do a huge yawn, it doesn't mean he is tired, it is to show the opposition his teeth so they are aware of what they are up against.

Relaxed chattering - Wants a treat but it is out of reach.

Squealing/Shrieking

The cavy are hurt or in danger, such as being picked on by another or catching a claw in the cage bars.

Chirping

Very uncommon of all the Guinea Pig sounds, you might never hear it. It is similar to bird song, it is thought to be related to stress or when a baby pigs want to be fed. I have read a theory that it is 'alarm call' used by the ancestors, thousands of years ago.

I will try to upload recorded Guinea Pig Sounds the next few months.

I hope all this have helped you to understand your Guinea Pig sounds and behavior better. It is a joy to hear them wheeking for food, my Patch bites the bars as she has no patience to wait for food to be served.

Hope this helps :)

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