Why does my guinea pig purr when I pick her up for a cuddle?

[Baguettes]

She is quite happy to be picked up from her house. She comes out for cuddles (as does her other half) about three times each day. They are indoors so get a lot of love and attention!

However when I pick her up and sit her on my shoulder she does the funny guinea purring / vibrating BRRRRRRRRR sound. She'll do it a couple of times as I stroke her and then she stops. Normal little chattery happy squeaks follow.

Does anyone know why she might be making this noise? Is it unhappy / territorial? She loves cuddles and will curl up on me while we watch telly so I don't think she's frightened...

[AMcoffeeLover]

My boy used to do this (and rub his boy bits on me) everytime I got him out. Spoke to the vet who said its just him claiming me as his

[StayGoldPonyBoy]

Our female used to do this, I thought it was like a 'claim' sort of thing too!

[Baguettes]

Really?! That's cute! I thought she was annoyed with me!

[AMcoffeeLover]

I found having a top that you always hold them in stopped it happening as you smell of them already. I loved the sound but his bits rubbing made me stink!

[Baguettes]

I can imagine - that smell is quite...distinctive. The top thing is good advice. I don't mind her purring; it's a very cute sound and it feels funny when she vibrates and her little ears wobble Luckily she doesn't indulge in any rubbing activities.

[AMcoffeeLover]

I work from home and used to sit on the floor so he could run around me. Used to confuse people I was on the phone with as they just heard random vibrations as he'd jump on my lap!

[Baguettes]

Sweeeeet! Our couple are elderly rescue pigs enjoying their retirement and despite encouragement, do not enjoy exercising

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Purring can mean different things-

A brisk, short Brr in response to a noise
A low, continuous purr (accompanied by a stiff bodied , weaving snake like gait) is called Rumblestrutting, usually males showing off but females do it too.

A happy, prrrrr when you stroke their fur is just that , happy to be there.

(What you can try is playing some guinea-pig noises on YouTube and see their reaction. Sometimes they're "AyeAye" sometimes .
Our little pig GP5 was sitting on DD bed with GP3 and GP4. We played some Guinea-Pig Singing noises. She went storming off to find the intruder and give them a pasting)

[BreadmakerFan]

I've been hoping that purring = happiness. My boy is very loud at times and long lasting.

He's started running around when I am hoovering nearby and I'm not sure if he is excited or has suddenly developed a fear of the vacuum.

[Baguettes]

70 @ your bouncer pig

They do the brisk purr when we rattle car keys.

They do the strutting purr when they are having a domestic in their house.

She does the gentle purr when I stroke her on my shoulder.

I thought it might have been unhappy but this thread has reassured me she is just enjoying a snuggle. She's a complex little thing, love her.

[Baguettes]

Where do they make that noise from anyway? Their throats?

[measles64]

We had gerbils that purred I did not know GPs did it as well.

[sanfairyanne]

cute

if you purr back she will purr back to you

extra cute

[Baguettes]

Really? I'll try that tomorrow

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Our Teddy boar is the squeakiest guinea we've had. If I whistle, he'll wheek back.

(And he's one of those wheek when he hears food types )

[foxmitten]

This thread has made me incredibly bloody for guinea pigs! Sadly we do not have enough room for them at the moment.

My friend at school used to have the most adorable GPa, they were huge and I swear they used to smile when they were happy!

[Baguettes]

So I purred at her this morning and she purred back

Cute wee furball.

[AMcoffeeLover]

They do smile when they're happy! my big girl laughs if you tickle her sides! and my little girl "puts her hog up" (the fur between her shoulders/ears) and dances like pumba from the lion king and grins when she's happy.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Our boar does the guinea-pig equivilent of toddler planking (you know when you try to get your small DC into their buggy or car seat and they go straight and rigid so you can't strap them in......?)

When we catch GP6, he stretches his back legs back, pokes his nose forward and makes his spine go rigid (unlike the girls who relax and curl)
It always feels like he's going to slip out my hands, I don't know whether to grab his bum or front half while my other hand is round his belly.
So I put him up to my neck and he headbutts.

Little blighter, he;s settled in well so now he's taking the mick

They have been enjoying some late evening grazing and don't want to be caught .

[AMcoffeeLover]

Awwww my girl does that after a cuddle when you tell her its bed time