Do guinea pigs make a noise at night?

Are you looking for a calm pet that will enable you to have a good night’s sleep when with it because of its silence?

Are you considering having a guinea pig and are wondering whether they make noise at night?

There are things you need to know as concerned guinea pigs noises before deciding to keep them as pets. Read along to understand the sounds they make and what you can do about them. 

Do guinea pigs make noise at night?

Yes, guinea pigs make noises at night.

The noises they make are not very loud however they are tiny noises that can end up being irritating, especially if you are in the same room and are trying to catch some sleep after a long day. 

What types of noises do guinea pigs make at night?

You must understand that guinea pigs are crepuscular beings, meaning they are active both day and night.

They make distinct noises because of different reasons, and it is good if you can understand your guinea pig’s body language to know what the sound means and therefore try to reduce the noise. 

The eight common sounds that guinea pigs make are purring, rumbling, teeth chattering, growling, wheeking, shrieking, chirping, and cooing. 

However, if you are a new guinea pig pet mum, we understand. It might take a while to understand the sounds, and therefore we will give you a brief idea of what the sounds are and what causes them to make the sounds therefore mitigating them. 

What is the meaning of the sounds that guinea pigs make?

1. Purring- A purr is a vibrating, throaty voice. If your guinea pig makes a soft purr, then it means it is happy and full of pleasure, but if it makes a high purr, then it is scared.
2. Rumbling- A rumble is a low, heavy continuous sound that is a sign that your cavy is afraid. Also, male guinea pigs make this sound to attract female guinea pigs just before mating. Female guinea pigs similarly make the same sound to show they are interested in mating.
3. Teeth chattering- A guinea pig’s teeth chatter when it is unhappy, angry, and agitated, such as when its space is invaded.
4. Growling- A growl is a deep rumbling, threatening sound that a cavy makes when it is threatened and wants to attack
5. Wheeking- This is the most common sound that a guinea pig makes. It is a squeaky sound that it makes to show that it is hungry or thirsty.
6. Shrieking- A shriek is a sharp outcry that is like a scream. Your cavy will make this sound when it is in unbearable pain, injured or in discomfort, most likely internal pain. When your guinea pig makes this sound for a while, take it to the vet as soon as possible, as it might be very unwell.
7. Chirping-This sound is like the sound of a bird. Your guinea pig is most likely to make this sound when it is excited out of interacting and playing with other guinea pigs. It is like their means of communication among each other.
8. Cooing- This is a rare sound. It is like that of a pigeon. Elder guinea pigs, like parents, make this sound when talking to their young ones. It is most common in the wild.

These are the most common noises that guinea pigs make. It is important that you understand and familiarize yourself with the sounds.

The sounds are not loud, especially if you have few guinea pigs, but if you are a light sleeper, once again, it may be hard to sleep with the noises. 

How can you prevent guinea pigs from making noises at night?

It is easy to treat something you know. Now that we know the causes of your guinea pigs’ noises at night, let us have a look at how we can prevent or even just reduce the noise.

Provide water 24/7

Guinea pigs drink a lot of water. You should therefore put a clean bottle of clean water always in the cage. This will reduce the chances of your guinea pig making the wheeking sound. Clean bottle because dirty bottles attract bacteria that can cause your guinea pig to fall sick.

Ensure your guinea pig is healthy

Guinea pigs shriek when they are in pain. Ensuring that your guinea pig is up to date with vet checkups and vaccinations and eating the right foods will keep it healthy. 

Give your guinea pig food

A guinea pig should eat at least, 3 times a day with pellets in between the day. Save your self wheeking noises at night by feeding it a nutritious, satisfying supper.

Clean your guinea pigs cage

We tie this to the health of your guinea pig. A dirty cage with spoiled food is bad for your cavy as it can easily catch diseases which will lead to noises out of pain. Ensure you clean your guinea pigs cage after every meal and change the sand as often as possible.

Cover your guinea pigs cage at night

This is a psychological trick to make it know that it is time to sleep therefore the noises will for sure reduce.

Ensure your guinea pigs cage is large enough.

Guinea pigs dislike being restrained and confined to one setting, as it may feel trapped. Ensure the cage gives room for your guinea pig to play, and if you have 2 or more guinea pigs, then make it even larger.  

Note-If it becomes too much, as it's hard to silence naturally active animals, and then you can opt to keep them in a different room or outside. 

Other Questions

Should I cover my guinea pigs cage at night?

Yes, you should cover your guinea pigs cage at night.

Covering the cage not only enables your guinea pig to sleep well but also gives your guinea pig a sense of safety, especially if you keep other pets like dogs and cats in the same room as they may seem like a threat to your tiny little guinea pig. 

When covering the cage, ensure you allow room for proper ventilation because failure to can cause breathing complications which will be characterized by symptoms such as labored breathing and wheezing which will need a veterinary appointment.  

Do guinea pigs like blankets?

Yes, guinea pigs love blankets. They are one of the few rodents who like to cuddle.

They also love to be comfortable and soft furry blankets or towels will do just that at the same time giving them warmth especially during winter seasons so that they do not catch respiratory diseases such as pneumonia. 

You, however, need to be careful as they can chew on the blankets and swallowing them will lead to digestive complications. Look for strong quality blankets. 

Be sure to wash the blanket every once in a week because urine exposure is not good for your guinea pig. When washing, do not use fabric softeners as some scents can be too much for your cavy.

Do guinea pigs need light at night? 

No, guinea pigs do not need light at night. Think about it this way, if they were in the wild, would there be light?

No. They are active both day and night and therefore they will find their way around their environs. They also need sleep and you would not want to disrupt their sleep pattern by providing light. 

For baby guinea pigs that are in their own cage, you can leave a small torch so that they do not feel afraid or threatened.

Did you know that guinea pigs have an eye field vision of up to 340 degrees?