How to calm my Guinea pig when he is scared?

[AdiaMiller]

My Guinea pig Oscar was brought home a few days ago. He is getting used to his surroundings every day. However, my mom works at home. She puts these parts together and puts them in a box. They are very loud when they hit the box. After a while as they pile up though, they are quiet. When they're loud, he makes this noise that sounds like an owl. Like a purr, but really low sounding. Every time it hits the box he makes that sound. What is bad is that my mom vacuums everyday. The vacuum is old.. and loud. Oscar's cage permanently stays in this hall. I'm afraid he will be terrified of it. I can't pick him up yet. I tried, nut he squirms and runs back in his cage. Even if I talk to him and pet him. Is there a way to calm him? Or just have him get used to the noises. Thanks!

[Dee_E]

The noises might be hurting his ears, especially the vacuum. Is there somewhere else he could live in your house?

[bpatters]

He'll get used to the vacuum. Mine used to scurry under things and hide, and now they come investigate the nozzle when I vacuum their cage.

I'd think he'd also get used to the other noises, but can't your mom put them in the box a little more quietly?

[tabikat55]

He'll get used to the noise with time. My house is extremely noisey (5 children, 3 dogs, loud music and vacum cleaners) They don't even hid anymore.

[mufasa]

I agree with the others that'll he'll get used to the noise. It takes time because guinea pigs are prey animals, and being nervous and flighty is a survival mechanism for them. But both of mine have learned to accept even louder household noises like the vacuum as the norm. It just takes a lot of patience.

[bpatters]

We recently had our kitchen remodeled, and even all the noise of demolition and hammering didn't faze my two.

[MissJean]

My pigs don't even care when my husband is shooting scary aliens in some video game. They get used to things quite nicely after a time.

When I got my first two I would only whisper around them, in fear I would startle them. I got over that pretty quickly!

No worries!

[spy9doc]

I totally agree........he will become accustomed to the noise. I sometimes use the hand vac in my piggy cage with them in it. Cavies will often rumble when they hear a noise that irritates or startles them.......television included.

Mine are the world's biggest music critics! My partner plays amplified harmonica and they will often growl when he plays.

How to calm Oscar? I have always had a habit of picking up a scared piggy, holding it on my chest, and talking quietly and soothingly. No matter where we are or what the situation, if Chester is scared, he will head to my chest to his place of safety if at all possible. It goes without saying that if that is their place of safety, then one should never discipline or scold them when they are in that position.