Do Guinea Pigs Like Music?

Music can lift our spirits, excite, soothe and comfort us. We can dance and sing – it’s an all-around feel-good art. But do our little cavies enjoy music too?

The feedback from pet owners suggests that guinea pigs can and do enjoy music, particularly classical music that is soft and relaxing. You can also try some smooth jazz. However, there is a lack of scientific research to back this up, so you may want to test out your pet’s preferences for yourself.

Continue reading to find out whether or not guinea pigs enjoy music, which genres they would prefer to listen to, and how you can use music to soothe your little pet. Conversely, discover the sounds that guinea pigs hate and how to eliminate these frightening noises from your home.

Many animals enjoy music, and guinea pigs are no exception. These furry little creatures most often enjoy the soft, harmonious sounds of either classical or jazz music.

Can I Play Music Around My Guinea Pig?

You can play music around your guinea pig, but it’s good to start with a low volume and see how they react. Some guinea pigs will be happy to listen to your Spotify playlist, but others will shy away from the loud noises in the music.

It’s inevitable that when you share a living environment with your pet, you’ll expose them to music at one point or another. The important thing to remember is that these animals experience music’s sounds differently from how we experience them.

While loud music can seem energizing or pleasing to us, the same may not be true for your guinea pig; they can be intimidated or frightened if you play loud music around them.

Do Guinea Pigs Like Soft Or Heavy Music?

In general, guinea pigs prefer the soft tones of gentle, melodic music. But, just like humans, every guinea pig is different, so if you like another genre of music, you can try it out with your pet and see how they respond.

Heavy metal seems to upset or irritate guinea pigs more than any other type of music, though it depends on the situation too. If you’re petting or interacting with your pet while playing music, they may associate that genre with receiving a treat.

Most people assume that guinea pigs like soft music because it’s more likely to keep them calm and not freak them out with loud or jumpy beats.

Why Should I Avoid Playing Heavy Music?

Some guinea pigs may respond well to rock or metal music, but this is pretty unlikely. This is because the loud, thumping sounds can easily frighten or stress these small animals. So, it’s something you’ll want to consider before exposing your guinea pig to these sounds.

Can I Play Loud Music Around My Guinea Pig?

Regardless of the genre, it’s best to avoid playing too much loud music around cavies. Whether it’s classical or rock, it’s the volume that could damage the sensitive ears of your furry little pet.

Through research, scientists conclude that prolonged exposure to loud music can damage their auditory systems. The results of loud music are far more damaging to the sensitive hearing of a guinea pig than that of a human.

While it’s okay to turn up your favorite tunes every once in a while, you’ll want to avoid exposing your pet to prolonged episodes of loud music.

Why Don’t Guinea Pigs Like Loud Music?

In the wild, guinea pigs rely on their strong senses of hearing and smell to alert them to any impending danger.

As their hearing is more sensitive than ours, loud music can quickly become overwhelming for them. Plus, they may feel that they need to take a defensive stance if they sense danger around them.

The hearing range of a guinea pig is around 150-50,000Hz, which means they can find both loud and high-frequency sounds to be annoying and stressful. And any piece of music whose beat is too loud can cause damage to your pet’s ears over time.

What Music Should I Play For My Guinea Pig?

After a long day at work, you may want to curl up with your guinea pig and chill out with some background music, but what will your guinea pig like best?

Every creature is different, but many respond to either classical or jazz music, so this could be a good place to start depending on your personal preferences.

What Are The Best Songs For My Guinea Pig?

The “best songs” for your guinea pig depend entirely on their preferences and your music tastes. We do, however, have a few suggestions to get you started:

Nuvole Bianche – Ludovico Einaudi
Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy
Prelude in E minor – Chopin
Waltz of the Flowers – Tchaikovsky
Prelude in C Major – Bach
Comptine d’Un Autre Ete – Yann Tiersen
No Surprises – Radiohead
The Scientist – Coldplay

In addition, there are a range of specially tailored guinea pig playlists on YouTube, Spotify, and other music streaming platforms that you can play to relax your pet.

How Do I Know Which Music My Guinea Pig Likes Best?

To find out the musical preferences of your guinea pig, you can conduct a few simple tests. While your pet can’t tell you which songs they like best, you can look out for several signals that suggest that they are enjoying the music.

Start gently with music on low volume or even in another room and see how they react. Are they on high alert because they sense that danger is close by, or do they seem still and relaxed by the tune?

Signs that indicate your furry friend is enjoying the music include:

Closing their eyes
Making noises that suggest contentment, such as purring
Eating while the music is playing
Jumping in the air (otherwise known as popcorning)
Continuing to behave how they usually would if you weren’t playing any music.

How Do I Know If My Guinea Pig Doesn’t Like music?

When you play music around your guinea pig, you can look out for a few signs that will tell you that they’re not enjoying or are frightened by the sound. These include:

Overactive behaviors
Becoming hyperactive
Engaging in behaviors that are different from those which they would usually display

If your guinea pig begins to whine, shriek, or chatter their teeth, it’s a fairly clear sign that they are experiencing fear and distress.

In this case, it’s best to turn off the music. As soothing as it may be to you, you must remember that the wellbeing of your guinea pig is also important, and they deserve to feel comfortable at home too.

Will Music Scare My Guinea Pig?

It all depends on what type of music you play, but certain noises are well known for scaring guinea pigs. It would be good practice to avoid these noises where possible:

Loud or heavy music
Sudden bangs such as a door slamming
Loud speakers such as sib woofers (especially if you can feel the vibrations, which are particularly discombobulating for your guinea pig).
Fast-paced, loud sounds such as sirens and some types of music
Raised voices or shouting

Should I Bother Playing Music For My Guinea Pig?

By no means do you have to play music for your guinea pig, but there are several benefits.

Think about how you use music in your everyday life. Do you use it to cheer yourself up when you’re feeling down? Or to get you energized for the day ahead? While guinea pigs have different responses to stimuli than humans, research suggests that several animals positively react to music.

Is Music Soothing To Guinea Pigs?

Where guinea pigs are concerned, not all music is created equal. But there is reason to believe that soft, harmonious melodies could be an excellent way to soothe these small pets.

Sounds such as piano music, relaxing vibes, or even running water can soothe your pet and provide them with a sense of comfort when you’re away from home.

Guinea pigs are highly social animals, so if they enjoy music, it can be a great way to make them feel less alone when you’re out.

How Can I Relax My Guinea Pig While I’m Playing Music?

If you want your guinea pig to experience positive associations and feel calm when you play music, there are several actions you can take.

Try providing a tasty treat for them to enjoy, such as a slice of apple, strawberry, or cucumber. Talk to them softly but firmly, pick them up with two hands, and snuggle them gently into your chest. Stroking your pet is also a good idea, as is tickling behind its ears.

Final Thoughts

There’s no definitive answer whether or not guinea pigs like music or what type of music they enjoy the best.

Though it’s likely that these furry little creatures find soft, melodic tones to be the most relaxing and will enjoy either classical or smooth jazz music.
But, just like us, every cavy is different, and you could have a rock star guinea pig in your home.

Do Guinea Pigs Like Music?