You might have heard your pet making a purring sound when you pet it. But have you ever wondered why guinea pigs purr in some situations?
Guinea pigs purr for many reasons. They can purr to express happiness, fear, irritation, or mating.
Interestingly, you can identify which emotion your pet is trying to show depending on the pitch of its purr.
A relaxed, low-pitched purr means that your pet is happy and content. On the other hand, a high-pitched purr indicates that your pet is afraid, angry, anxious, or annoyed.
Since guinea pigs make a lot of noises, you might want to know what does a guinea pig purr sounds like?
Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
What Does a Guinea Pigs Purr Sound Like?
A Guinea pig’s purr is a low, constant sound that’s like a mix of the grumble of a dog and a low purr of a cat.
To get a clear idea, watch the video below to know what a guinea pig’s purr sounds like.
5 Other Reasons Why Guinea Pigs Purr
Besides purring when angry or annoyed, there are also other reasons why your pet makes that sound.
Below are the 5 other reasons why guinea pigs purr.
To Show Mating Behavior
Male guinea pigs purr when they are sexually aroused to attract female guinea pigs.
Similarly, female guinea pigs purr when they are around male guinea pigs to attract them.
Female guinea pigs also purr when their hormones are at their peak.
To Show Happiness or Contentment
Guinea pigs also make a purring sound to express their happiness or contentment.
For example, your pet might purr when you give him his favorite treat or hug him.
To Show Fear
You can also find a guinea making a short purr sound when he is afraid of something.
For example, your pet can make a purring sound if he sees new people around him.
Guinea pigs can also purr on feeling dominated by you. Try scratching your pet’s butt to see if he makes a purring sound.
To Show Dominance
Guinea pigs also purr to show their dominance and power when in a group.
To Protect Themselves
Guinea pigs also use their purring sound as a defense mechanism to threaten their enemies or other guinea pigs.
Is Guinea Pig Purring Good or Bad?
Guinea pig purring can be both good and bad.
As discussed earlier, a guinea pig can purr when feeling good to show happiness.
Your pet can also purr when feeling bad or experiencing emotions like anger, irritation, etc.
NOTE:
See your pet’s behavior, and expressions, and also notice the pitch of his purrs to figure out if it’s for good or bad.
Why Do Guinea Pigs Purr At Each Other?
Guinea pigs purr at each other to maintain their supremacy.
You will find your pet purring at other guinea pigs to show dominance and maintain social rank.
This is because guinea pigs are herd animals, and they are both protective and possessive of their territory.
Other Noises Guinea Pigs Make Besides Purring
Besides purring, there are several other noises that your pet makes.
Below is the list of 8 other noises that guinea pigs make.
- Wheeking | A long squeal followed by a whistle to show excitement.
- Rumbling | A sound made by guinea pigs when they are aroused.
- Hissing |A hissing sound is made by guinea pigs when they want to be alone.
- Teeth Chattering | Guinea pigs chatter their teeth to show their anger.
- Chirping | A low-pitched sound made by guinea pigs to show their happiness.
- Screaming | Guinea pigs make a screaming sound when they are injured or in pain.
- Whining | A high-pitched sound is made by guinea pigs when they are afraid of something or someone.
- Chutting | Guinea pigs make a chutting noise when they are happy and well-fed.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we have looked at the reasons why guinea pigs purr.
Guinea pigs usually purr to show their mating behavior, happiness, anger, fear, and dominance.
Besides purring, guinea pigs also make different noises like chutting, chirping, whining, etc.
Read our full guide about Guinea Pig Noises And What They Mean!
