Do guinea pigs jump when scared

Can guinea pigs jump? Is it even possible with such cute little legs?

Have you ever noticed your guinea pig jumping around? Or perhaps you’ve seen a video of a jumping Guinea pig, and now you’re wondering how and why they jump?

Guinea pigs are a very interesting species. Though it might be strange to consider that guinea pigs can jump, they actually can! And quite high too!

To figure out the physicality behind their jumping and why this jumping behavior might be happening, we need to look at the evolution of this behavior.

Guinea Pig Jumping Development

Guinea pigs have been domesticated for an extremely long time. Some reports even say that they have were domesticated as early as 5000 B.C.

Guinea pigs were first domesticated for food by the tribes in the Andean region of South America. Then, after the Spanish conquest in 1532, they were selectively bred by the Spanish people.

The resulting varieties became the ancestors to many of our modern breeds today.

As guinea pigs were brought to Europe, they quickly became popular exotic pets. Queen Elizabeth I is famously reported to have been a fan of guinea pigs.

As you can see, guinea pigs have been companions to humans for a very long time!

Their behavior has been heavily affected by their time in captivity, and it is possible that many if their behaviors have developed due to their proximity to humans.

Can Guinea Pigs Jump?

So, the guinea pig’s behavior has been heavily influenced by their domestication, but what does this have to do with jumping? Can guinea pigs jump?

This is debatable. One source reports that “guinea pigs do not jump or climb” while another claims that “a happy guinea pig will jump straight up in the air.”

This can lead to a lot of confusion among pet owners. Both authors can’t be right… or can they?

A lot of the confusion lies in the fact that while guinea pigs do jump, it isn’t the sort of jumping we would imagine.

Guinea pigs bounce more than jump. This behavior is called popcorning because the guinea pig will often resemble a popping piece of popcorn.

And whether this counts as jumping or not depends on who you ask.

A guinea pig isn’t about to jump over something even moderately high, and most guinea pigs do not have the ability to jump up onto things.

However, a Guinea pig will bounce upwards, which might be considered jumping by some.

Why Do Guinea Pigs Jump?

Now that we know the answer to “Can guinea pigs jump?” we can answer the question “Why is my guinea pig jumping?”

What does it mean when guinea pigs jump?

Guinea pigs bounce and jump because they are happy. It is a response to happiness and excitement.

Just like a small child might bounce up or down when presented with a piece of candy, a guinea pig might popcorn when given his or her favorite treat.

How High Can Guinea Pigs Jump?

The answer to “Do guinea pigs jump?” is – well, kind of.

On discovering this, another common question you may have is: “How high can guinea pigs jump?”

It is important to know how high a guinea pig can jump to avoid them accidentally bouncing out of their cage.

It is extremely uncommon for a Guinea pig to jump in an attempt to escape. But, you don’t want your excited guinea pig accidentally jumping somewhere they shouldn’t go!

In general, the highest any guinea pig can bounce is 12 inches, or a foot.

So, if you make sure that all your cages and boundaries are at least this tall, you shouldn’t have to worry about your guinea pig accidentally jumping over them!

Guinea Pig Jumping and Twitching

It is not uncommon for guinea pig owners to mistaken their pet’s normal, popcorning behavior with a seizure of some kind.

However, seizures are rare in guinea pigs, and popcorning is absolutely normal.

In fact, it is a sign that your guinea pig is happy and well taken care of!

A true seizure will involve the guinea pig falling unconscious and lying on his side or back. Popcorning takes place with the guinea pig upright.

With some careful observation, it is pretty easy to tell the difference.

If you are wondering “Why is my guinea pig jumping and twitching?” you shouldn’t panic!

But if you’re worried about your guinea pig, it is never a bad idea to get them checked out by a vet. Your vet can help you correctly identify behaviors and medical conditions.

Can Guinea Pigs Jump?

As we’ve discussed, the answer to “Can Guinea pigs jump?” depends on who you ask.

Some might consider their popcorning behavior jumping, while others might not.

So, what do you think? Can guinea pigs jump? Does yours?

When a guinea pig is happy and excited, it will often ‘popcorn’. This describes the sudden jumps performed by guinea pigs, sometimes from a standing position, sometimes in mid-stride, and often involving a change in direction and an endearing squeak! But why do guinea pigs popcorn?

What does it mean when guinea pigs popcorn?

Guinea pigs, being naturally portly, need all the exercise they can get in order to stay trim. It is thought that when guinea pigs popcorn it is part of their natural workout. You can find out more about guinea pigs and their exercise requirements in our How Much Exercise Do My Guinea Pigs Need? blog. It may also be a behaviour that causes predators to stop in their tracks, out of sheer surprise, giving the guinea pig an increased chance of escaping unscathed.

Not all guinea pigs entertain their owners with popcorning, but most of them do. The usual reason why guinea pigs popcorn is happiness. They’re simply having a good time, they become excited, and pop! They are literally jumping for joy. Well, most of the time…

Do guinea pigs popcorn when scared?

Popcorning in guinea pigs is certainly not abnormal, although guinea pigs may occasionally popcorn out of fear. You can easily tell when this is the case – was there a sudden noise, for example, or did the guinea pig spot a cat or dog or some other potential danger? If fear is the trigger, the guinea pig will run for cover after landing, and will often make some alarm calls too.

In most cases, however, a guinea pig will ‘freeze’ rather than popcorn if it perceives danger. This is a behaviour common to all rodents (and rabbits too). Read more about rabbit behaviour in the Learn to Read your Rabbit’s Body Language from Omlet.

Popcorning can be seen in many young mammals (although it is only called popcorning if a guinea pig is involved). Young lambs are a classic example. The behaviour is often part of a running and jumping combination, actions known to guinea pig lovers as zoomies.

Encouraging a guinea pig to popcorn

Although guinea pig popcorning can’t be taught to a guinea pig as such, your pet can be encouraged in various ways. Offering a favourite treat often inspires the behaviour, and in a keen guinea pig pop-corner, the very sight of the treat might, in time, produce the behaviour. At this point, it crosses over into training territory, and if you use a command word (such as ‘popcorn!’) each time a treat is offered, you are in with a chance of making your pet associate the word with the treat. This means, in theory, that simply saying ‘popcorn!’ will cause the guinea pig to jump for joy!

Guinea pigs love exploring new toys, and these will often produce a spell of guinea pig popcorning, too. The excitement often lasts, too, and a new hay station, ball, ramp or section of a guinea pig tunnel will often produce a popcorn jump several weeks after the item was first introduced.

Regular play sessions with your guinea pig will be a source of pleasure for your pet, too. If they feel safe with you in their run, guinea pigs will sometimes popcorn their way into double figures. If you pick them up, and cuddle them, it will often inspire popcorning when the guinea pigs are back on the ground. 

If you have a secure space outside the guinea pig cage, this can provide great stimulation for inquisitive guinea pigs. Supervise your furry friends as they nose through the space, and count how many times they perform a popcorn! This should only be allowed outdoors if the space is completely secure and safe for guinea pigs (i.e. no gaps in the fence, no other pets, no toxic plants), and if the outdoor temperature is warm (a minimum of 64 F).

Why do guinea pigs do ‘zoomies’?

It’s a little odd that the guinea pig, a short-legged animal that lacks the ability to climb very well and is usually unable to jump over an obstacle, should be able to perform these vertical take-off manoeuvres. Younger guinea pigs tend to jump highest, and more portly specimens will seldom attempt to perform zoomies and popcorns. Younger guinea pigs, in general, will do most of the running and jumping, letting off all the excess energy associated with youth and vigour!

Novice guinea pig keepers have been known to mistake guinea pig popcorning for a seizure. Once you take time to watch your guinea pig you will soon spot the difference, however, as the guinea pig popcorning will become a very familiar sight, and there is no confusing the two. A guinea pig that is having a seizure will fall on its side and wave its legs around, often with jerky motions to the head. The attack will last several seconds too, unlike a swift popcorn. If, after jumping or falling, a guinea pig fails to get back to its feet immediately, it’s time to consult the vet. 

Guinea pig popcorning and guinea pig zoomies are two of the things that make guinea pig keeping such great fun. These little furry characters are so full of fun, it’s contagious!

Whilst guinea pigs do a pretty good job entertaining us with popcorning, make sure that they have everything they need to stay amused with Omlet’s range of guinea pig products. From the Zippi Guinea Pig Tunnel System to the Caddi Guinea Pig Treat Holder, your furry friend will absolutely love these awesome accessories!

This entry was posted in Guinea Pigs