Why does a chinchilla scream and squeak at night and during the day – the reasons for making strange sounds

Pet store salespeople often assure customers that chinchillas are quiet and silent animals, but this is not true. And when they come home with a new pet, the owners wonder why the chinchilla screams, squeaks or grumbles angrily. Only by learning to correctly recognize the sounds and signals made by the chinchilla, the owner will be able to easily understand what exactly the pet is trying to “tell” him.

What sounds do chinchillas make?

Furry animals express their emotions and feelings using various sound signals. Depending on the situation, these rodents can make both melodious cooing sounds and fill the apartment with a loud, sharp cry.

• if the animal grumbling with displeasureperhaps he is hungry and asks to be fed. Also grumbling chinchilla can attract the attention of the owner, demanding communication;
  

  

• the squeak of an animal indicates that the rodent is dissatisfied or annoyed with something. If a fluffy pet squeaks nervouslywhen touched or picked up, it means that he does not want to be disturbed;
• pleasure or satisfaction chinchilla expresses with a soft grunt. For example, the animal grunts with its nose when it eats a favorite treat or takes a sand bath;
• pet snorts like a hedgehog – it means that he is interested in something or studies an unfamiliar subject;
• sound reminiscent of quack duck, the rodent publishes if it is annoyed by the owner’s obsessive attention. Thus, the pet communicates that he is angry and demands to be left alone. If this is not done, the chinchilla may even bite the owner;
• for chinchilla pain moaning or whining softly. If the rodent makes such sounds, the owner needs to examine the pet. Perhaps he was injured while running in a wheel, or injured himself on a sharp object;
• loud noise frightens and annoys the animals. If in the room where the cage is with the pet, the TV is on loudly or music is playing, he can protest hoarse croaking sound.

Important: do not be afraid if the chinchilla makes strange sounds while eating. Absorbing food, the animal can grunt or squeak with pleasure, like a rubber toy.

How do chinchillas communicate with each other?

Living in numerous groups and colonies, chinchillas talk to each other using a variety of sound signals. Using sounds of different volume and tone, fluffy rodents call relatives to a joint meal, report readiness for mating and inform each other about possible danger.

The meaning of the signals emitted by chinchillas:

• inviting a friend for a walk or a fun game sounds like melodic squeaking. That is why the chinchilla sometimes squeaks while running around the apartment, because she wants a friend to keep her company;
  

  

• manifestations of love, understanding and care between a couple of chinchillas are expressed in cooing and pleasant melodious trills;
• when a tribesman interferes with the animal to rest or encroaches on its food, the chinchilla expresses its indignation and protest dissatisfied hoot;
• animals use screeching and hissing sounds, accompanied by a gnashing of teeth to intimidate relatives. This happens if the animal wants to scare away the opponent from his female or drive him out of his territory;
• the danger signal with which the rodent informs fellow tribesmen about the approach of a predator sounds like dog intermittent barking. Sometimes chinchillas bark if they feel threatened by a person (for example, the animal has not yet had time to get used to the owner or got an appointment with a veterinarian);
• fluffy animals express rage and anger with strange sounds, remotely reminiscent of laughter, so from the side it seems as if the rodent is laughing.

Sounds and signals of chinchillas during the mating season

The male begins his courtship of the female during estrus with inviting low-profile cries, making it clear to the future partner that he is ready to mate.

Females do not always favorably accept the advances of the gentleman, and express dissatisfaction with a sharp and angry snort. At the same time, the male whines and squeals plaintively.

If the female’s malicious grumbling did not scare away the persistent suitor, and the mating process was successful, the male after it makes short hoarse sounds resembling hiccups.

Sounds made by baby chinchillas

Unlike adults who talk to each other or to the owner only on rare occasions, chinchilla babies are more sociable and talkative:

• hungry cubs publish loud piercing squeaks. So they call their mother to them, demanding to be fed;
• also small chinchillas squeak loudlyif they are lost and cannot find their mother;
  

  

• well-fed and happy babies express satisfaction iridescent melodic cooing. In a dream, cubs can squeak and snore subtly;
• if the baby was disturbed by a careless touch during sleep or feeding by a careless touch, he shows dissatisfaction panting or grumbling;
• fuss and funny games of little chinchillas are accompanied by a quiet squealing and chirping, similar to the chirping of birds.

Why does a chinchilla scream at night

In their natural habitats, these furry animals are nocturnal, hiding in the daytime in burrows and rock crevices. The habits of domestic chinchillas are no different from the behavior of their wild relatives. The rodent can rest all day in his house, becoming active only after dark.

At night, the pet starts a noisy fuss in its cage and often at the same time makes loud cries. And it is not surprising that waking up in the middle of the night from the heart-rending cries of the animal, the owners are frightened and do not know what to do in such a situation. But in most cases, you should not worry, because the animal’s nightly cries have a simple and logical explanation.

At night, chinchillas scream if:

• the animal is simply bored and the chinchilla screams, demanding communication and attention from the owner;
  

  

• the owner forgot to leave a treat for the pet and the offended rodent begs for a treat with a loud cry;
• the fluffy pet wants to run and asks to be let out of the cage;
• fright can also cause the animal to cry. If the chinchilla makes short, sharp cries, it is likely that the animal was frightened by a loud noise or an unfamiliar sound;
• if there is a cat in the house, then it is possible that it was she who frightened the rodent, sneaking up to his dwelling at night. Therefore, a small pet yells loudly, signaling to the owner that he is in danger and needs protection;
• when there are several chinchillas in the cage, night screams may indicate that the pets started a fight over food or toys;
• the quiet cries of the animal in a dream indicate that he is alarmed by something or had an unpleasant dream.

Important: if a chinchilla screams for no apparent reason for several nights in a row, then the animal may have fallen ill and is suffering from pain. In this case, the little pet must be shown to the veterinarian.

Chinchillas are shy, vulnerable and gentle creatures that require a special approach. To win the trust of a fluffy rodent, the owner should be patient and surround him with attention and care. And when a warm trusting relationship develops between the owner and the little animal, the owner will easily learn to understand the unique and diverse language of his beloved pet.

Video: chinchilla sounds