18 Strange Behaviors of Guinea Pigs and Their Meanings

💦 Spraying Urine

Have you ever noticed that your guinea pig sometimes pees on another guinea pig that's in the cage with them? Don't worry, this behavior is quite normal. Guinea pigs often pee on each other to show dominance. The dominant guinea pig will pee on the subordinate, which usually shows its authority. Another reason guinea pigs spray urine is to mark their territory or when they are annoyed with each other. So, if you see your piggies engaging in this behavior, it's just their way of communicating with each other.

👀 Sleeping with Open Eyes

It may come as a surprise, but guinea pigs often sleep with their eyes open. As prey animals, guinea pigs are always on the lookout for predators, even when they are sleeping. By keeping their eyes open, they can detect danger while asleep. However, if your guinea pig does sleep with its eyes closed, it means they feel very safe and secure in their environment. Additionally, guinea pigs may twitch their ears or whiskers while dreaming during the REM stage of sleep.

🍴 Eating Cecotropes

Have you ever seen your guinea pig dip its head down between its hind legs and then come up chewing? Don't be alarmed—your piggy is just eating cecotropes. Cecotropes are soft feces that are nutrient-rich. Guinea pigs produce two types of droppings: fecal pellets and cecal pellets. While fecal pellets are waste matter, cecal pellets contain nutrients that their bodies didn't absorb. So, if you see your pet eating its own feces, don't be concerned. They are re-ingesting cecotropes to get the nutrients they need.

🎉 Popcorning

Popcorning is one of the most adorable behaviors exhibited by guinea pigs. It's when a guinea pig hops straight up in the air, sometimes repeatedly. This behavior usually occurs when guinea pigs are very happy and excited. They're essentially jumping for joy! Younger guinea pigs are more likely to popcorn because they are filled with exuberant young energy. So, if your guinea pig popcorns when you are around, take it as a sign that they are happy to be with you and that they love you!

😡 Biting

Guinea pigs are generally not aggressive animals. However, they may bite if they feel threatened or in danger. Biting is one of their natural defensive mechanisms. If your guinea pig is very afraid or nervous, it may bite you in an attempt to protect itself or warn you that it is not happy. It's important to note that aggressive behaviors such as biting can also be a sign of health problems. If your piggy suddenly becomes aggressive towards you, make sure to take them to a vet for a health check.

🖐️ Biting Their Cage

If you notice your guinea pig constantly biting the bars of its cage, it could be a sign of boredom, nervousness, or frustration. Guinea pigs' teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, so they need to chew regularly to keep their teeth at a healthy size. Chewing on cage bars may indicate that they don't have enough things to chew on. Make sure to provide your little pet with adequate items such as a daily supply of hay to graze on throughout the day.

🚫 Freezing

Guinea pigs tend to freeze or stand completely still when they feel threatened. This can be triggered by loud noises, sudden movements, scary smells, or unfamiliar objects in their environment. By freezing, guinea pigs aim to be as invisible as possible. Once they sense that the danger is no longer present, they will unfreeze. Freezing is a natural defense mechanism for guinea pigs and helps them stay safe in the wild.

👅 Licking

Bonded guinea pigs show affection by grooming and licking each other. So, if your guinea pig licks you or even tries to nibble you gently, it's showing love and care. Sometimes they may even lick you simply because you taste good, especially if you have residue from a yummy treat on your skin. Guinea pigs may also lick objects or surfaces to mark them as their own territory. It's their way of saying, "This is mine!"

😴 Sprawling Out

When a guinea pig lies down on its side or belly, it's known as sprawling out. This position indicates that your little pet is comfortable and feels safe with its surroundings. Sprawling out is a vulnerable position for guinea pigs, as it takes longer for them to rise up if danger is present. So, if your guinea pigs sleep in this way next to you, it means they fully trust you and feel comfortable with you.

🐾 Scent Marking

Guinea pigs have scent glands slightly above their anal region, and they use these glands to mark their territory. When they rub their bottom against something, a tiny amount of their specific scent is deposited, identifying that area as their territory. This behavior is known as scent marking. While we may not be able to smell the scent or see any visible marks, other guinea pigs can easily detect it. Scent marking can also involve rubbing their chins, cheeks, or neck on objects in their territory. It's their way of saying, "This is mine!"

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