What does it mean when a guinea pig chirps? Well, when your guinea pig chirps, it often means that it is in a trance-like state. It is a kind of strange behavior, but more times than not, they seem to make the sound whenever they happen to recently lose their partners.
The chirp is a sudden loud brief recurring sound produced by a guinea pig. If it happens to be your first time of hearing it, you would probably believe it is a bird outside your window, until you take a closer look.
In this article, we will be discussing more about different reasons for guinea pig’s chirping and other things you need to know.
Let’s get started!
What Does It Mean When a Guinea Pig Chirps?
Like we earlier mentioned, chirping from a guinea pig is often very rare. So whenever, you notice a chirping sound from your guinea pig, then it means something serious has happened, and you need to give it proper attention.
However, the question remains; what does it mean when a guinea pig chirps? No matter how strange it is, there is always a reason for everything, and chirpings from your guinea pigs are not excluded.
Nevertheless, take note of the few justifications of the chirping sounds from your guinea pigs.
1. Death of Partner or Loved Ones
One of the main explanations of the chirping that comes from a guinea pig is the loss of a loved one.
As an owner, whenever you notice that your guinea pig is making a chirping noise and it happens to be in a trance-like state, then it is possible that it’s so emotional about the death of its partner or loved one.
With a proper observation, you will notice that the chirping sound and the trance-like state usually occur when another dies, thus justifying the above theory.
In other words, if two guinea pigs are kept together for a long period of time, you will hear this sound after one of them dies.
2. A Warning or Alert Sign
Another possible justification for the chirping sound from your guinea pig is a warning sign.
Whenever your guinea pig chirps, and you notice that it is not a trance-like state or never lost a partner, then we advise you to beware any of any potential danger or threat to its existence.
Whenever a guinea pig chirps, it can be a warning sign that its predators are lurking, therefore, the chirp comes as a way of alerting others of potential threats or dangers.
Most times, the chirping seems to happen in wide-open environments, a place where it is most comfortable in seeing a threat to its existence, for instance, a cat, hence, it is scared that the cat will draw nearer.
3. Nervous or Edgy Moments
This is another key justification for the chirpings that come from guinea pigs. As a guinea pig owner, whenever you hear this sound, and you find out that it’s not as a result of the previously mentioned theories, then it’s possible that the guinea pig is nervous or edgy.
A lot of guinea pig owners that have experienced the chirping sound have expressed that it often comes from pets that are naturally a bit more tense, edgy, or nervous than the rest.
Hence, they have provided more justifications and evidence to make it clearer to us that when a guinea pig chirps, it means they are tense and nervous. Below are the evidence behind it;
- Most tensed or nervous animals, be it guinea pigs or other household pets, try all they could to stand completely still amidst the tension at that moment. This is mostly done to avoid been detected by predators, by so doing, they appear to be in trance-like states.
- A tensed or nervy animal tends to be more afraid and tense when it smells a predator or danger around.
- A tensed or nervy animal tends to feel uneasy and restless in the aftermath of an event of a close encounter with predators such as cats.
- An edgy or nervy animal tends to look weak and defenseless especially whenever they have lost a long-time partner or is been taken from them.
- An edgy or fearful animal, especially a pet-like guinea pig, tends to be comfortable with you around, but once you leave it, it will go back to its chirping sound.
4. Signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
This is another justification after a series of critical observations from guinea pig owners.
Whenever you hear a chirping sound from your guinea pig, and the three other factors and theories stated above are not the cause, then it is possible that your guinea pig is undergoing post-traumatic stress disorder.
In other words, your guinea pig can make this sound if they have been through a stressful or series of risky events, such as after being given a severe chase by a cat and narrowly escaping it.
Having undergone these ordeals, a chirping sound is always a way to deal with them.
Final Thoughts
Not all guinea pigs chirp, and even if they do, it is rare and can be jarring. This is because this sound mostly comes from birds rather than rodents.
Therefore, it is mostly seen as an alert or warning signal. That is to say that something of great concern must have occurred to warrant such sounds.
Hence, once you hear any chirping sound from your guinea pig, you need to attend to it. If it is as a result of the above theories, especially loneliness, try to bring a partner that will keep it company.
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