Joy Why are Guinea Pigs so cute? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Cogni** · #1 10-22-09, 03:48 pm

I couldn't figure out what prefix to give this thread so I picked Joy for the joy I'm getting from looking at my piggies.

I was wondering about whether anyone has any insight into why
guinea pigs inspire the incredibly strong 'cuteness' reaction from people. I was thinking that the smallness and furriness is part of it, but there is also a feeling I have that they remind me of human or animal babies, which must provoke a cuteness reaction in most humans. Even an elderly piggie still has these properties: They have very large heads relative to their body, like human and other babies. They are chubby like most mammal babies. They seem to be very innocent, which full-grown predators don't seem like, since they are capable of killing. All animals are innocent in a sense, but somehow baby animals and all prey animals seem more innocent because of our view of killing. There is also something impossibly cute in the way their eyes look. There is a phrase 'puppy-dog eyes' which gets at the expressiveness of small dog eyes. There is no phrase 'guinea pig eyes' and their eyes don't seem human-like particularly, but still they just give me this almost physical reaction of awww, how cute, when I look at their little faces. Perhaps it is that brightness and shinyness and wide-openness of the eyes, but I am not sure. Maybe there is something in the shape of the face as well--the little nostrils at the end of a wide flat nose. But there are other wide nosed animals that are not so cute.

I was wondering if other people thought about why GPs strike so many people as so overwhelmingly cute.

**akstrohm** · #2 10-22-09, 03:52 pm

Yeah, they're baby-like. You might find the book Survival of the Prettiest interesting. It's not about guinea pigs, but it's easy to read and addresses this concept.

**princesspoppy** · #3 10-22-09, 03:55 pm

It's the nose and lips that make me melt.

**Peggysu** · #4 10-22-09, 03:58 pm

I don't know why they are cute. All I do know is that I love them to death and think they are the sweetest things. I love to watch them play and to cuddle them. I always tip toe around to attempt to not scare them when they are sleeping.

Their goofy antics always make me smiles. They follow me around the room when they know veggie time is near. Heck they do that when I head toward the fridge.

I always hate when people say "it's just a guinea pig" because to me they are so much more.

**BabyBellie** · #5 10-22-09, 04:01 pm

They definately are cute. I think it is the eyes for sure. They just look at you like they couldn't possibly do anything wrong. Even when I get so mad at them, like when pheonix spit his AB's at me yesturday, as soon as I look at them it all melts away. I tell them regularly that they're lucky they're cute

or they would be in big trouble. We used to tell my nephew the same thing.

**Buddy4** · #6 10-22-09, 04:52 pm

What a great question! They are absolutely adorable. I think it's the eyes, too. And now that Buddy lets us pet him so much, we feel even closer. Also the way they sit in the middle of their hay and seem to be staring at you while they are eating. Spike doesn't let us pet him yet but he's like watching a toddler discover his world. I love rearranging their tunnels and hideys because he goes exploring around each one.

**Rnd210** · #7 10-22-09, 05:07 pm

Too me I think they look like little miniture teddy bears, and well I am a sucker for teddy bears in that they have a sweet baby look of being new to this world and I since this every time I see my piggies.

As a few of you have also already said their eyes and nose.

**blackarrow** · #8 10-22-09, 06:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cogni

I was wondering if other people thought about why GPs strike so many people as so overwhelmingly cute.

Couldn't tell you - you either see it or you don't. DS and I certainly think they're cute. The same critters pretty much completely skeeve my husband out, though, LOL.

**Heady** · #9 10-22-09, 07:31 pm

Okay, this might make me the resident weirdo, but as much as I agree about the adorable faces and eyes, in my opinion, the cutest part is their bun-buns. While I lay on the floor during play time, I watch Santino and Barney walk away from me and I just can NOT get over how adorable it is to see these plump little buns with little legs and feet coming out from under it. It honestly reminds me of watching a baby in diapers crawling away. Especially Santino, now that he has the butt haircut. All this long hair on either side of him and a "v" in the middle of his bun-buns where my husband cut it (he's not much of a stylist). Just so so cute!!!!!

**Ted&Ham** · #10 10-22-09, 07:51 pm

I love how they walk and how their little butts wiggle. Their eyes,nose,mouth, everything, makes me melt! I can never yell at them!

**Beahbeah** · #11 10-22-09, 11:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rnd210

Too me I think they look like little miniture teddy bears, and well I am a sucker for teddy bears in that they have a sweet baby look of being new to this world and I since this every time I see my piggies.

As a few of you have also already said their eyes and nose.

I definitely agree that looking like teddy bears is part of their charm. I also think their big, floppy ears with their little tufts of hair are irresistibly cute.

**GizzyandMe** · #12 10-23-09, 12:32 am

Sometimes when I look at a human baby I get a "Blank" feeling like they have no personality! However other times you look at a human baby and you see a personality so strong that you can not help but fall head over heels in love. People tend to call this "Having an Old Soul" --- that is what I see when I look at Gizzy, yes she is small and still a baby but her eyes and attitude tell of a full life!!!

And also when she runs around I tell her "Hey duck waddle what ya doing" she will popcorn like crazy for that sentence but it's true - she looks just like a duck waddling!! How can you not love that!!

**TallulahBear** · #13 10-23-09, 12:51 pm

I think the cutest thing is when they clean themselves. When Sable is cleaning or scratching her hair shakes around all crazy. I love Ansel's chin and mouth...I guess because he likes chin rubs and its so sweet when he sticks his little snout in the air for a scratch. With Sable I love watching her waddle around because the long hair makes her look like a little mop scurrying around. Sable also licks me and there is nothing more adorable than little piggy licks. Sometimes I sneak in their rooms very quietly in the dark to see if I can catch them sleeping.

**Tessa Bea** · #14 10-23-09, 01:03 pm

For me, I supposes, it's their ears, nose, and toeses.

Seriously, guinea pig feet are so cute, I love when Leonidas lays on my husband's shoulder/chest- he always leaves one foot sticking out towards his arm... and their ears, OH their ears! Big lovable flaps with little tufts behind them. I love also how they sniff and look at you nose first when they're curious!