Guinea pigs are renowned for being exceptionally chatty little creatures, where they produce different sounds to convey their sentiments. However, have you ever wondered why your Guinea pig makes a rumbling noise? And what does this noise mean?
These rumbling noises are referred to as a type of sound called rumble strutting. When a guinea pig struts, it makes a loud noise that resembles a combination of a snarl or murmur by taking quick breaths in and out. As the guinea pig rumble struts, its back legs will move from side to side while exhibiting a kind of vibrating action.
Guinea pigs essentially show Rumble Strutting as an indication of predominance or when wanting to mate. A guinea pig may infrequently use this sound when exhausted, eager, frightened, or speaking with other guinea pigs while playing.
©iStock.com/Tatiana Terekhina
Why Do Guinea Pigs Rumble Strut?
Rumble Strutting is one of the numerous ways cavies express how they feel, and it is regularly not a reason to worry. The explanation for this behavior may not be self-evident for guinea pig owners, as this noise doesn’t generally mean your guinea pig is troubled.
A Sign of Dominance
Present guinea pigs will start making rumbling noises as soon as a new member is added to the enclosure. These rumbling noises signify Dominance over the new cavy. Male cavies will then project this high-pitched sound while contending over who will be the crowd chief.
Even while cavies frequently display this type of regional behavior, if the fighting becomes more intense, they may inflict harm on one another.
It is essential to place your guinea pigs in a larger enclosure if they start acting aggressively toward one another so that each animal has its personal space. Cavies tend to grow hostile and fight when cramped together.
Type of Mating Ritual
A male guinea pig will generally mate with any willing female. However, females can be particular about which male they would like to mate with. If the female isn’t intrigued, she won’t be well disposed to the male, and assuming he moves toward her, she will fold her rear under her. Therefore, when a male guinea pig is around females, he will do his mating dance a considerable amount of the time.
The male mating dance includes venturing this way and that from one back foot to the next, sort of swaying the posterior, as though to dazzle others with his solid hindquarters and likely capacity to kick and scratch with the back feet. If the female becomes interested, intercourse will happen immediately, typically at least a few times.
Excitement
If your guinea pig is restless or excited, the tension in a guinea pig’s body causes the force of air in its lungs to increase, and the pressure in its chest causes will release these rumbling noises. Their enthusiasm may drive your guinea pig to project a loud shrieking sound. Quiet your guinea pig by giving it affection and delicious treats to keep it calm and relaxed.
Stressed out or Bored
If your guinea pig is feeling stressed out or not keeping their minds active, your cavy will become exhausted. An exhausted guinea pig might begin rumble strutting noises while standing by or resting more regularly. Delayed pressure will make a cavy crabbier, making your piggie rumble strutting. Stay away from weariness and stress by giving your guinea pig an invigorating climate and permitting some recess outside the enclosure.
©Tomasz Stepien/Shutterstock.com
Hunger
At whatever point there is not much food available, cavies will start to rumble as this is their way of communicating to alert the other guinea pigs of the problematic situation. However, a guinea pig that isn’t not hungry would feed less because its food is processed more slowly. As a result, gas forms in the stomach. The excess gas causes the cavy to make these noises because it vibrates its digestive system.
Ensure that your guinea pig has plenty of fresh forage and food pellets to eat, as this can prevent it from strutting its stuff. Your guinea pig should continuously consume feed, with food pellets and fresh veggies making up the bulk of its diet. You can also feed your cavy special treats, but only in moderation to prevent your pet from gaining weight.
Fear
This approach is a guinea pig’s typical form of defense. It involves shaking its head violently when feeling threatened. The guinea pig will then strut, rumble, and shake its head back and forth to put its fears at ease. Guinea pigs are predatory animals in the wild, and when they can’t tuck away, they may use strutting as a form of protection.
If your guinea pig is unusually quiet and not wanting to communicate, it is vital to find out more to determine whether your pet needs assistance. To lessen your pet’s anxiety, place your cavy’s enclosure in a calm area of your house to distance them from any unexpected noises or activities.
Communication
In response to another cavy, your guinea pig can strut and rumble because Guinea pigs have incredibly strong hearing and can detect low-recurrence sounds. As a result, your cavy can try to mimic any sounds it hears close to the enclosure.
Playing and Exercising
Your guinea pig may develop a rumble strut from playing or exercising. While playing, cavies like to tussle with one another, usually generating these rumbling noises. Therefore, keeping an eye on your guinea pigs at whatever point they play is essential to guarantee they don’t overdo it and inadvertently harm one another.
©Daniel Requena Lambert/Shutterstock.com
How to Prevent Your Guinea Pig from Rumble Strutting?
There is no way to stop your guinea pig from strutting its stuff; this is especially true if your pet is doing it as part of the mating culture. Although this method isn’t inherently dangerous for your cavy, it could indicate that your pet is anxious, excited, hungry, or restless. To calm your guinea pig down for a short while, gently brush its ears and neck or place it somewhere serene.
Up Next
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
