Why Does My Guinea Pig Like to Sit on My Chest?

Have you ever gotten comfortable on the couch only to have your guinea pig sneak up to you and lay on your chest? You may be asking why this happens. What does it mean? Is this typical guinea pig behavior?

So, why does my guinea pig like to sit on my chest? When a guinea pig sits on our chest, it indicates that it feels safe in our presence. Guinea pigs are frightened small creatures who frequently hide. Take it as a compliment when it sits on your chest.

There are several reasons why guinea pigs may sit on your chest, and we shall discuss them all in this article. Also, we will examine what you should do if it sits on your chest, among other related topics.

Why Does My Guinea Pig Like to Sit on My Chest?

It signifies affection if your guinea pig likes to sit on your chest. Guinea pigs have a sense that tells them they are tiny and can be prey for any surrounding predators.

In the wild, predators pursue, capture, and eat guinea pigs. So that is why their instinct is to run away every time you try to touch them. Despite being domesticated for a long time, guinea pigs must still be very alert to their surroundings.

Even if the scenario is safe and straightforward, such as stretching your hand to the guinea pig, it will still be terrifying. They are often fearful and want to hide. Guinea pigs may take some time to get used to you. However, they become very trusting and affectionate once they learn who you are.

So if your guinea pig is lying on your chest, consider yourself quite fortunate. Here are some answers to the question, “why does my guinea pig lay on my chest?”

● As a sign of affection

Guinea pigs are highly expressive creatures. They will express how much they adore you. If you have a pet guinea pig, you will be able to tell if they love you or not. Many guinea pigs will lie on your chest to show that they love you. Most of the time, guinea pigs stay alert when their owners are around. So when your piggie lays on your chest, it lowers its guard, which means it trusts you.

● For comfort

Guinea pigs love napping on surfaces where they feel cozy. If that happens to be your chest, your guinea pig will lay on it.

● For Warmth

Like humans, guinea pigs enjoy being warm and cozy. So they might snuggle up to your chest because it feels warmer there. The ideal temperature for guinea pigs is 18-24 degrees celsius. So, avoid keeping your guinea pigs in rooms with extreme temperatures, either too hot or too cold.

● For security

When guinea pigs are comfortable around you, they deem you safe to be around you. Most guinea pigs run away from their owners because they do not feel safe enough. So the less comfortable your guinea pig is, the happier it is.

What Should I Do If My Guinea Pig Sits On My Chest?

Here is what you should do when your guinea pig sits on your chest:

● Put on an old cloth on

Guinea pigs tend to poop and pee occasionally. So when you are playing with your piggie, it can forget that it is not in its cage and end up peeing on you. That is why it is good to be prepared by wearing old clothes you do not care so much about.

● Add a blanket

As we said earlier, guinea pigs like to be warm and cozy. So by adding an extra fleece blanket, you provide a much more comfortable sleeping space. You can just drape the blanket over both of you.

● Be cautious

The guinea pig might doze off and fall off your chest. So ensure you bring it closer to the middle of your chest rather than the edge. Guinea pigs cannot tell when they are about to fall, so it is better if you take caution.

Is It Okay If My Guinea Pig Sits On My Chest?

Yes, it is okay. Guinea pigs will sit on your chest as a sign of affection towards you. Guinea pigs are very social. They will always want to be around you when they feel comfortable around you. When they sit on your chest, it is a great bonding moment between the two of you.

Treasure such moments because it takes a lot of time for guinea pigs to be entirely comfortable with their owners. However, ensure the guinea pig is warm enough when it lays on your chest. Also, do not do anything to spook your relaxing guinea pig. Either by shouting or making any sudden movements.

How Do Guinea Pigs Show Affection Besides Sitting On My Chest?

Here are some tips that your guinea pig loves you:

● It does not run away from you

Guinea pigs are naturally inclined to run away from anything or anyone. So if your guinea pig does not run away from you when you approach it or hold it, it loves you. You will notice that it will only let you carry it, not anyone else.

● When you can hand-feed it

The easiest way to get your guinea pig to eat from your hands is by enticing it with its favorite treats. This technique may not work when a guinea pig is new to your home.

Keep trying to hand feed it by leaving trails of treats that your guinea pig can follow up to your hand. Once it gets used to your scent, it will naturally come up to you.

● When it does not bite you

Guinea pigs will bite when feeling threatened and unsafe. It will bite you if you try to touch a guinea pig. So, if your guinea pig does not bite or nip at you, it signifies affection.

● When they recognize your voice

When you talk gently to your guinea pig, it will associate your voice with love and affection. With time, it will start responding to your voice by running up to you whenever you speak. Even if no treat is involved, the guinea pig will be happy to hear you speak.

● When it ‘popcorns’

Pop-corning is a nickname for when a guinea pig hops up in the air. A guinea pig will popcorn when you are around because it is happy and exciting.

How Do I Stop My Guinea Pig From Sitting On My Chest?

Sometimes it might be a little bit too much to have your furry friend on your chest. Here is what you can do:

Lay a blanket on your lap. Guinea pigs love being comfortable and cozy. So, a warm blanket on your lap will help to keep the guinea pig from sitting on your chest.
Feed it treats away from your chest. Guinea pigs are highly motivated by food. So, keeping a few treats close to your lap may encourage your piggie to keep from going to your chest.
Snuggle it in the middle of the day. Guinea pigs are most active during early mornings and late evenings. So, if you snuggle with them in the middle of the day, they might not be very energetic to climb to your chest.

In the End

Why does my guinea pig sit on my chest? It is because it trusts you enough to be around you. However, you will have to earn their trust first. They will sit on your chest for warmth or comfort. When your guinea pig does not run away from you, it trusts you.

Remember that your guinea pig loves you. It will let you hold it or hand feed it. Feed it its favorite treats to make it get used to your scent. It is okay for your guinea pig to sit on your chest, so do not worry about it—all the best with your furry little friend.

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Why Does My Guinea Pig Like to Sit on My Chest? – [Explained!]