What Colors Do Guinea Pigs Like? (And Hate?)

Do you ever wonder if your guinea pigs can see colors? A lot of people wonder that. If they can, what colors do they like?

Guinea pigs like bright colors like blue, green, and red. These colors appear fun and lively to them. Although their favorite color is debatable, research shows they like bright, primary colors.

Darker colors like black and brown can scare some guinea pigs. Darker colors remind them of predators, just like in the wild. So, if you use dark colors as part of their decor, make sure to add some lighter colors to balance it out. You don’t want your guinea pigs to feel scared in their own home!

What do you think about that? I think it’s interesting too. Keep reading to learn all about guinea pigs and colors.

But before diving into that topic, let’s take a little peek about the ins and outs of guinea pigs eyesight.

Let’s Talk About How Guinea Pigs See

This is something you don’t see on many websites. So it’s important that you pay attention. I’m not bragging, but…

Guinea pigs have unique eyesight. They see differently than other rodents. And I know your question is how?

Guinea pigs have better vision than most animals. They can see many things at once and they’re not colorblind.

Their facial structure also helps them see in all directions (up to 340 degrees) with no problems at all.

Their eyesight is very good and they can see many things without moving their eyes. This is one of their main survival methods in the wild. Their wide range of eyesight helps them to spot predators quickly.

Guinea pigs keep their eyes open all the time, even when they are sleeping!

Although cavies have good vision overall, they have some limitations. They can’t see things far away very well and they also can’t see in great detail. Cavies have dichromatic vision but they have issues with depth perception.

Colors Guinea Pigs Like

You have a favorite color right? Most people have more than one. And yes, many piggie owners believe their guinea pigs have favorite colors too.

I kinda agree with them. Wanna know my reason? Well, keep reading.

Guinea pigs seem to like red, blue and green. Let’s find out more about this.

Red

Just from social evidence, it seems like red is a bit of a fan favorite. Maybe it’s because guinea pigs have predators of other colors (usually darker ones like black and brown), but not red. Red is a happy color that looks attractive to them.

Blue

Blue is another color that cavies seem to like. Maybe because of the cool vibe it gives off, but many people believe this too.

Some experienced piggie owners have found that their guinea pigs like blue things. They’ve all got their reasons (we’ll get to that later).

Do you think that means it’s true? Well, not really. Maybe the pigs were just excited. But then again, they might really like blue.

This is all so exciting, right? I know it feels great trying to figure out our furry babies’ preferences.

Green

Ahhh yes, the list is incomplete without green. I think you can guess why. 

The thing is, guinea pigs love to eat greens. They eat a lot of herbs, green veggies, plants, etc.

This means that they obviously would love the color green or at least see it as a “safe” color.

Green represents refreshment and food for them. It means more exercise for their teeth and more nutrients for their bodies.

Many of our furry friends love to eat. So anything that looks like food is usually welcome. Green is a favorite color for many of our piggies; most of their treats are green.

Colors That Guinea Pigs Probably Hate

Before we start this section, it is important to note that the information here is based on research and surveys. This information is based on the opinions of many guinea pig owners.

It doesn’t make it a fact, but you can’t dismiss it either. 

So, what colors do our furry friends dislike? And why do they dislike them?

Let’s see.

Black

Guinea pigs are scared of darker colors because they see them as the colors of predators in the wild. Predators with these colors often scare guinea pigs. So, I think that’s a pretty good reason to dislike it, don’t you?

Remember that our cavies’ eyes don’t see well-detailed images. That’s why they see predators as huge black things.

Guinea pigs sometimes get scared of you. This usually happens when you bend over to pick them up. They see the you as a predator and try to run away.

The point is that large dark looming figures scare guinea pigs.

Brown

Brown is also a not-so-bright color. Plus, brown is the primary color of many wild animals. Many guinea pig predators have brownish feathers or furs.

Asides from wild animals, your pet dogs may also scare them. That’s because dogs are bigger than cavies and can intimidate them.

It may be worse if your dog is black or brown. So, now you finally know why your piggie’s scared of your four-legged friend.

Do you think your guinea pig has a favorite color yet? You might have found out which one it is. It’s okay if you never thought about doing that before.

I know you’ll like this part, read on.

Favorite Guinea Pig Colors (Pet Parents Weigh-In)

I manually surveyed 42 guinea pig owners. This was to find out if their piggies have a favorite color.

Are you ready to check out some pet owners’ opinions?

Here’s what they had to say:

• Some piggie owners believe their piggies like blue color.
• Several others are sure that their cavies’ favorite color is red.
• A few others said their fur babies love yellow.
• A few owners insisted that their cavies have many favorites.
• Many piggie owners said their cavies obviously love the color green.

It seems like everyone has an opinion about this. But how do they know for sure? Are they just guessing?

To answer those questions, I picked up some of their explanations.

Story time: some piggie owners said their piggies tried to lick their nails. Why? Because they had their nails done with bright colors like red and blue.

One owner however insisted that her piggie loves blue nails only. She said she also uses blue bowls for that piggie.

Another piggie owner said his cavy only goes into the green hidey hole. He said he made multiple hidey holes, but his cavy chose the green one.

And my last scenario… this one’s pretty interesting.

Apparently, this woman’s piggie has a preference for yellow bedding. So she got two pieces of colored fleece bedding (yellow and red). But even if she changed the bedding position, the cavy will lay on the yellow part.

Yes, it’s confirmed. Guinea pigs can be very picky about their food AND the décor of their cages.

And now, on to the stats:

30% (which is 13 piggie owners) said their cavies love the yellow color.

25% (which is 10 piggie owners) said their cavies love blue color.

30% (which is 13 piggie owners) said their piggies love green color.

15% (which is 6 piggie owners) said their furry pals love red.

Yeah, that’s about it. Now let’s answer some of your FAQs in the next section.

What’s Your Guinea Pig’s Favorite Color?

Your guinea pig might like one color more than the rest. It may be red, blue, green, or yellow.  There are few techniques you can use to identify the color your piggie likes the most.

While feeding your cavy, you can put the food in different colored bowls. Put the same food and the same quantity in each one.

Check which bowl your fur baby decides to eat from.

Repeat this many times or at least for five days. If your piggie keeps choosing one color, then bravo! You’ve found your cavy’s favorite color.

And if not, your furry friend probably likes more than one color. So be observant, trust me, it’s fun.

What Colors Can Guinea Pigs Not See?

There is no proven fact about colors that guinea pigs can’t see. But cavies can see and differentiate MOST colors, especially primary colors. The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.

Guinea pigs can see black too. They get scared of it. As for colors they can’t see, there is no evidence yet. Cavies aren’t color blind, so they should be able to see almost all colors.

What Color Are Guinea Pigs Attracted To?

Guinea pigs are attracted to green color. They can also be attracted to red, yellow, and blue colors. All these colors have one thing in common: they’re bright and lively.

It’s safe to assume that guinea pigs have an attraction to bright stuff. Plus, it’s reassuring because those colors aren’t predator colors.

Many piggie owners use colorful bedding for their fur babies. And yes, I think it works in making them happier. Not to mention it makes their hutch look pretty.

Are Guinea Pigs Sensitive To Colors?

Yes, guinea pigs are sensitive to colors, especially green. Some piggies are also sensitive to red.

Guinea pigs can see most colors, but their vision isn’t as good as humans. They can see major colors though.

What Do Guinea Pigs Hate The Most?

Guinea pigs hate predators and they hate being stressed out. Your fur babies hate being scared into hiding. They also hate threatening or uncomfortable situations.

There are many things that can stress out your guinea pigs. Let me give you some examples of things your guinea pigs hate.

These things include:

• Sudden loud noises
• Other large pets like dogs
• Toxic or intense scents
• Predators
• Being picked up or carried around
• Extreme heat or cold
• Being wet

All of the above are things our little furry friends don’t like. There’s none that comes close to the fear of death and the fear of predators. 

So, always keep your cavies safe and away from those things.

Final Thoughts

Guinea pigs are special animals that we love. It’s interesting to know that they can see colors too.

I’m definitely showing my new nail art to my fur babies. Gotta show them some bright colors!

Guinea pigs see many colors. You should not expect your cavy to have one favorite color. There is no specific favorite color for all guinea pigs.

Just like humans, different animals have different preferences. Some may like blue, while others may prefer yellow.

I think it’ll be fun to try the food bowl thing though, don’t you? Let’s try it!

Does your guinea pig have a favorite color? Mine seemed particularly fond of green. Why don’t you let me know in the comments below?