Care guide · Guinea pigs

Guinea pig behaviour and body language explained

Checked against PetMD: Guinea pig sounds and what they mean, RSPCA: Guinea pig behaviour, RSPCA: Creating a good home for guinea pigs and 8 more on

Guinea pigs talk with sound and movement. A loud wheek means excitement, usually about food. A deep, bubbling purr means content, while a short, high purr means annoyed. Rumbling is about rank or courting. Teeth chattering and hissing mean back off. Popcorning (jumping in the air) means joy. Hiding, hunching and going quiet can mean stress, pain or illness.

Guinea pig sounds and what they mean

Guinea pigs are among the chattiest small pets, and each sound has a fairly clear meaning. Purdue's vets note that guinea pigs grunt and squeal like a pig, which is likely where the name comes from. This table brings together PetMD's guide to guinea pig sounds with Guinea Lynx and PDSA.

Sound What it sounds like What it usually means
Wheek A loud, long whistle or squeal Excitement, especially about food, play or seeing you
Low purr A deep, bubbling purr Content and safe, often while being stroked or fed
High purr Short, stiff and higher pitched Annoyed or stressed; a warning to others
Chut or cluck Soft, brief clicks, singly or in pairs Content, often while exploring
Tutt-tutt-tutt Repeated, longer clucks Discomfort or fright; others may freeze
Rumble A low, rolling purr, body may vibrate Dominance, or fear or anger
Rumblestrut A rumble while walking slowly around another A boar courting a sow, or showing rank
Teeth chattering Rapid clicking of the teeth A threat or warning; may lift its head
Hiss Similar to chattering, sharper Aggression; wants to be left alone
Grunt Short and harsh, aimed at another guinea pig A fight may be brewing
Squeal or shriek High, fast and piercing Pain, fear or danger
Chirp Bird-like and unusual Uncertain; thought to be low-level stress

Context matters as much as the sound. A purr while being stroked is good. The same purr rising in pitch as you carry on means you should stop. Our page on guinea pig sounds goes deeper into each one.

What does it mean when guinea pigs purr at each other?

When guinea pigs purr at each other, it is usually a low rumble about rank, not the contented purr they give you. PetMD says rumbling shows dominance and is not usually aggression, though a fight can follow if two confident guinea pigs both refuse to back down. A guinea pig that rumbles quietly as it walks away is saying it is unhappy but does not want to fight.

The rumble with a slow, deliberate walk is called rumblestrutting. PetMD describes it as a boar's courtship display towards a sow, and it is also common between same-sex guinea pigs sorting out who leads. It looks dramatic but is normal, especially in the first weeks together.

Guinea pigs chasing each other and squeaking

A bit of chasing with squeaks and rumbles is normal while guinea pigs settle their pecking order. It becomes a problem when it turns into real fighting. PDSA sets out the difference:

Normal Warning signs
Following at a slow pace One guinea pig mainly chasing the other
Rumbling and occasional mounting Constant mounting, or bald patches on the head or back
Investigating things together Repeated teeth chattering
Sharing food and toys Opening mouths at each other
Grooming each other, lying close Hiding from each other
"Talking" to each other Nipping, biting or drawing blood
If guinea pigs start fighting, never use your hands to separate them. PDSA says to use a dustpan or board, with a towel ready as a distraction. Get any bite wound checked by a vet, as they can become infected.

Our guide to guinea pig pairs and groups explains introductions and what to do if a bond breaks.

Guinea pig body language

Movements tell you as much as sounds. These are the common ones and what they mean:

  • Popcorning: sudden jumps and twists in the air. Guinea Lynx calls it a joyous burst of romps and jumps, mostly in young guinea pigs, and the RSPCA calls it the frisky hop
  • Zoomies: fast laps of the enclosure, which PetMD links to excitement and happiness
  • Freezing: standing completely still to listen after a strange sound or a warning call
  • Head raised, mouth open: a challenge to another guinea pig; PDSA notes a cornered guinea pig may do this
  • Mounting: usually about rank, not sex, says PDSA
  • Grooming each other and lying side by side: a bonded pair
  • Approaching your hand: a well-socialised guinea pig, says PetMD
  • Bolting for a hide: normal prey caution, especially when something comes from above

The RSPCA says guinea pigs are easily alarmed from above, so a hand swooping down from overhead looks like a predator. Approaching low and from the front gets a much calmer response.

Signs of stress or illness in a guinea pig

The RSPCA warns that guinea pigs feel pain but often show no obvious outward signs, so behaviour changes are often the first clue. Watch for:

  • Hiding more than usual, or most of the time
  • Being quieter than normal, or not coming out for food
  • Sitting hunched or not wanting to move
  • Eating less, or fewer or smaller droppings
  • Chewing the cage bars or the water bottle over and over
  • Over-grooming or bald patches
  • Circling the enclosure repeatedly
  • Sudden aggression

A guinea pig that stops eating or stops passing droppings needs a vet the same day. Our guinea pig health guide lists what else cannot wait.

Calming sounds: how to help a nervous guinea pig

The most calming sound for a guinea pig is a quiet, steady voice and a calm room. The Humane World for Animals says guinea pigs are easily startled by sudden movements and loud noises, and the RSPCA says to be quiet and gentle around them and never shout at or punish them, which makes them more nervous. There is no reliable evidence we found for special "calming" music, so keep it simple:

  • Keep their home away from TVs, speakers, slamming doors and barking dogs
  • Talk softly whenever you come near, so your voice means "safe"
  • Give at least one hide per guinea pig, plus one spare, as the RSPCA advises
  • Move slowly and approach from the front, at their level
  • Keep a predictable routine for feeding and cleaning

How to tame guinea pigs

Taming is about patience and food. Let a new guinea pig settle for a few days, sit near the enclosure and talk, then offer food from your hand until it comes to you. Only then start stroking and short, low lifts. Our step-by-step guide on how to tame a guinea pig walks through every stage, including how to pick one up safely.

What is normal daily behaviour for a guinea pig?

A healthy guinea pig spends most of its time eating, exploring and napping. The RSPCA says they are active for up to 20 hours a day and sleep in short naps, and the Humane World for Animals says they are busiest in the morning and evening. Expect lots of grazing, regular short naps, chatting with cage mates and a burst of wheeking when food appears. A guinea pig that suddenly breaks that pattern is telling you something. For bigger ideas to keep them busy, see our guinea pig enrichment guide and our complete guinea pig care guide.

Guinea pig behaviour questions

Why do guinea pigs squeal when I pick them up?

Usually because they are not used to being held yet. The RSPCA says guinea pigs should become accustomed to handling but may still squeal, and PetMD says squealing and squirming is normal until they settle. A high, repeated shriek is different: it can mean pain or fear, so put them down gently and check them over.

Why do guinea pigs wheek when the fridge opens?

Because they have learned what comes next. A wheek is a loud, long whistle that PetMD links to excitement about food, play or other good things. Many guinea pigs learn the sound of the fridge door, a rustling bag or their owner's footsteps, and PetMD's care sheet notes that they often wheek when they see their people.

Is it normal for guinea pigs to mount each other?

Usually, yes. PDSA says mounting is very rarely sexual and is normal even in neutered or same-sex pairs, as part of sorting out who is in charge. It becomes a concern if one guinea pig does it constantly, the other seems upset, or you see bald patches on the head or back.

Why is my guinea pig hiding all the time?

A newly homed guinea pig needs time to settle, as PetMD notes, and hiding a lot at first is expected. A guinea pig that suddenly starts hiding more than usual is different: the RSPCA lists hiding most of the time and hiding more than usual as signs of stress, pain or illness. Check it is eating and passing plenty of droppings, and see a vet if anything has changed.

Do guinea pigs bite?

Rarely. Purdue's vets describe guinea pigs as extremely docile animals that rarely bite. A nip usually follows a warning: teeth chattering, hissing or an open-mouthed stare. PetMD says a hissing guinea pig wants to be left alone and may bite if pushed.

What does it mean when a guinea pig freezes?

Freezing means it has heard or seen something it is unsure of and is staying still to avoid notice. PetMD describes guinea pigs going still in silent immobility when another gives a warning call, and Guinea Lynx says they stand stock still and listen after a chirp. Speak quietly and let them move first.

Do guinea pigs sleep at night?

Not in one long sleep. The RSPCA says guinea pigs are active for up to 20 hours a day and nap in short bursts through the day and night. The Humane World for Animals says they are most active in the morning and evening. Expect some rustling and chatting after dark.

Sources

Read next

Guinea pig sounds and what they mean

Wheeking means food, a soft purr means content, a deep rumble means rank or romance, and teeth chattering or hissing means back off.

How to tame, handle and bond with a guinea pig

Let it settle, talk softly, hand-feed favourite veg, stroke its head, then lift low with one hand under the chest and one under the bottom.

Do guinea pigs need a friend? Pairs and groups

Yes, guinea pigs need a friend. Two need a cage of at least 1 m² (10.5 sq ft) on one level; two boars need about 1.1 m² (12 sq ft).

Guinea pig health: signs of illness to watch for

Not eating, fewer droppings, laboured breathing, drooling, hunching or hiding all need a vet fast. Check teeth, nails, coat, bottom and weight weekly.

Guinea pig care: the complete guide

Keep at least two together, give them about 1 m² (10.5 sq ft) or more, unlimited hay, fresh veg and vitamin C every day, and a yearly vet check.