chesneypig
Junior Guinea Pig
My Guinea pigs have started doing this fake shivering thing we think to get our attention anyone else’s piggies do this? And it’s not cold which is a usual reason to be shivering
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Shivering
- Thread starter chesneypig
- Start date
Can you please specify the context of the shivering and if possible take a video (please upload on a public setting on a service platform like youtube that doesn't requite a member sign-in and then copy across).
Are they shivering in the cage only when they know you are looking? Have you double checked that they are not doing it when you sit still at a distance for a while so they forget your presence?
Or are they shivering when you are holding or touching them (which is fear)?
chesneypig
Junior Guinea Pig
Like we will wrap them up in a blanket and lay them under our blankets and they’ll start shivering they really only do it when they’re touching us or know we’re watching them
So they shiver when you are holding and touching them - so they sound to me like they are scared and don’t want to be held or wrapped in blankets
I agree with @Piggies&buns . This is unfortunately not attention seeking but fear shivvering. Please stop wrapping them up and making them feel trapped. Try to build up a fun relationship based on trust with them that doesn't involve petting sessions from which they cannot escape or tell you their own mind. There is a whole world of interaction that you can discover by sharing your piggies' world instead of focussing on making them share yours.
Guinea pigs are prey animals. As owners it is important that we consciously avoid settings that can make them feel trapped and played with by a larger predator.