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Guinea pigs are beloved by pet owners around the world for their gentle and affectionate nature. But did you know that their musical tastes can also be explored? That’s right, guinea pigs can be exposed to and may anecdotally enjoy music – however, it seems they’re more likely easily conditioned to music rather than truly enjoying it.
Uncovering the musical tastes of guinea pigs just may be an interesting part of owning and caring for these beloved creatures. So, if you’re a guinea pig parent, read on to learn if your pet would indeed enjoy music or not.
Do Guinea Pigs Like Music?
Although there is no scientific evidence illustrating that guinea pigs “like” music, anecdotal evidence from many owners of these interesting animals will tell you otherwise. Some owners have stated that their guinea pigs tend to respond favorably when music is played and have reactions to different genres of music.
However, from a scientific perspective, this doesn’t necessarily mean that guinea pigs like or enjoy music. The guinea pig is by far the most commonly used animal model for studying human hearing, largely due to the fact that their hearing is more closely related to ours than that of other research animals, such as rats.1
Guinea pigs have been shown to be trainable to be conditioned to music for a specific reward.2 This means that owners who claim their guinea pigs enjoy music might have inadvertently trained their guinea pigs to act a certain way when music plays. For instance, a guinea pig that was rewarded with a treat while music was playing may learn to act similarly the next time the music is played (for the same treat). This would indicate that guinea pigs are trainable to music, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they enjoy music.
Guinea pigs are also not entirely safe from sounds, either. A sudden burst of extremely loud music or a consistent exposure to moderate levels of noise can definitely have a negative effect on their hearing.3 As such, blasting music to win your pet’s favor might not be the best idea! Rock music might also not be the best for your guinea pig.4
What Type of Music Do Guinea Pigs Enjoy?
This can also be the fun part of bringing music to your cavvy’s life—learning what types of music you both enjoy! While the genre and artist your guinea pig prefers may be down to individual tastes, there are a few things to keep in mind when both playing music for your pet, but also when rocking out to your own tunes.
The hearing range of a guinea pig is around 50 – 50,000 Hz, compared to our range of around 60 – 20,000 Hz. This fortunately means that we share a fairly similar range when it comes to our hearing, but theirs is more sensitive, both at the lower and upper ends of the spectrum.
Why does this matter? If you enjoy music with a lot of deep bass or high-pitched EDM, the extremes might be a bit much for your guinea pig to cope with, particularly if you like to crank the volume up. This doesn’t mean you have to stick to Kenny G or Classical songs, but your pig will thank you for keeping the music in the mid-range, and not playing it too loudly. If the tunes are shaking the room, your guinea pig will not be having a good time.
Why Do Some Animals Respond Positively to Music?
Good question. It seems that many animals find music relaxing because it helps them stay calm and focused. Music has been found to reduce stress and anxiety levels in animals, while also providing comfort and pleasure – and even assisting in concentration and learning. Many studies have shown that when animals are exposed to soothing music, they become more relaxed and their heart rate and breathing slow down. In addition, the calming effect of music can help animals to better cope with challenging situations.
It can also be used to create an environment of comfort and relaxation, providing animals with a sense of safety and security. Animals can also become familiar with certain pieces of music, which can create a sense of comfort and familiarity. This familiarity can help them feel more at ease and relaxed. In a similar way we sometimes use white noise or soothing music to drown out distractions and intrusive sounds, playing music for our guinea pigs can provide a similarly pleasant auditory experience.
Finally, music can provide animals with mental stimulation and help to keep them entertained. It can provide them with a form of enrichment, helping to keep them stimulated and engaged. This can help them to remain alert, while also helping to reduce boredom and anxiety.
How to Make Music Safe For Your Guinea Pig
We’ve already mentioned that guinea pigs are more sensitive to low and high-pitched sounds, and being small creatures, they are also going to be able to hear music at a lower volume than we can. Being that guinea pigs are often easily startled, you should always start with something simple and quiet before exploring whether or not you share a love of indie rock or pop anthems.
Try different genres at different volumes and observe their reactions. If they are agitated, running around, or hiding, they’re probably not enjoying the sounds.
- eating and drinking normally
- moving closer to the source of the music
- relaxing, dozing, or sleeping
If you plan to make music a regular part of your piggy’s life, invest in a separate speaker that you can leave near their enclosure that is always kept at a low volume. With their sensitive hearing, your guinea pigs will be able to enjoy their music even if it is played softly. Never place headphones, sound systems, or large speakers anywhere near your guinea pigs—not only can loud music stress and frighten them, but it can also damage their delicate eardrum.
The Benefits of Exposing Your Guinea Pig to Music
You may be thinking, what’s the point of even exposing my guinea pig to music? Well, exposing your guinea pig to music can provide numerous benefits. For one, it can help reduce stress and anxiety, as music can be calming and relaxing – just like it can be relaxing to humans. Music can also help to reduce boredom and encourage exploration, as guinea pigs are naturally curious creatures. Music can also help to stimulate the senses and provide mental stimulation, which is essential for guinea pigs.
Additionally, music can provide an opportunity for bonding between you and your guinea pig. Listening to music together can help to create a strong bond between pet and owner. This can help to strengthen the relationship and create a more positive environment.
You can try some white noise or nature sounds for your guinea pig too. It can be particularly helpful if you’ve got some noisy construction or a rowdy party.
Wrapping Things Up
Exposing your guinea pig to music is a great way to provide your pet with mental stimulation and help reduce stress and anxiety. It’s essential for pet owners to understand the basics of music selection and how to make sure their guinea pig is getting the best possible listening experience. Remember to start slow and quiet, and experiment with different genres and sounds to see if you and your guinea pig can find some tunes you’ll both enjoy.
Featured Image Credit: PHOTO FUN, Shutterstock
