# Why Is My Hedgehog Making Noise? Squeaks and Clicks Hedgehogs are quiet by nature, but they are not silent. A squeaking noise usually means your hedgehog is startled, annoyed, in pain, or having trouble breathing. Most squeaks and clicks are normal communication, but some sounds point to a respiratory problem that needs a veterinarian. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. ## Quick Answer - A single squeak or series of squeaks when you pick your hedgehog up is usually a startle or protest sound, not a sign of illness. - Clicking, popping, or a wet snuffle that continues while your hedgehog is resting is more concerning and can point to disease in the airways or lungs [1]. - Hedgehogs do make noise, but they are not loud or constant animals. A hedgehog that suddenly becomes very vocal is telling you something changed. - Hissing, puffing, and clicking the tongue are defensive sounds. They mean your hedgehog feels threatened, not sick. - Any noisy breathing paired with appetite loss, weight loss, or a runny nose needs a veterinary visit, not home monitoring. ## Do Hedgehogs Make Noise? Normal Sounds and What They Mean Yes, hedgehogs make noise. Owners often do not hear it because hedgehogs are most active at night and many sounds are soft. Once you learn your hedgehog's normal sound set, changes become easier to spot. ### Squeaks and squeals A short squeak is one of the most common hedgehog sounds. Baby hedgehogs (hoglets) squeak to get their mother's attention. Adults squeak when they are startled, when they are picked up, or when they want to be left alone. A sharp, repeated squeal usually means fear or pain. If your hedgehog squeaks only during handling and settles quickly once it is back in its enclosure, the sound is likely behavioral. ### Hissing and puffing Hissing and puffing are the classic defensive hedgehog noises. When a hedgehog feels threatened, it erects its spines, rolls up, and forces air through its nose and mouth. This is a normal stress response. It is not a respiratory disease on its own. Give your hedgehog time to relax, and the sound stops. ### Clicking and tongue clicking A soft click made with the tongue is often a warning or annoyance sound. Some hedgehogs click when they are exploring or when they are mildly irritated by a cage mate or by handling. This kind of click is rhythmic and comes from the mouth. It is different from the clicking that comes from the chest, which you will read about below. ### Chirping, purring, and snuffling Some hedgehogs make a low chirp or a purr-like sound when they are content, especially while eating or nesting. Snuffling while rooting around in bedding is normal. These sounds are tied to activity. They stop when the hedgehog settles down to sleep. ### Sounds during mating and nesting Male hedgehogs can be quite vocal during courtship, and females may squeal or click in response. Nesting females may rustle and snuffle as they rearrange bedding. Hedgehogs build nests in quiet, low-traffic spots, often in hedges or under bush-like vegetation, so a hedgehog that is busy rearranging its hide is behaving normally [2]. ## Why Is My Hedgehog Making a Clicking Noise? Medical Causes to Rule Out This is the question that matters most, because a clicking hedgehog is not always a healthy hedgehog. The key is where the sound comes from and when it happens. ### Respiratory infection and pneumonia The respiratory system of the African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) is well described in veterinary practice, and disease in these airways is a recognized problem in the species [1]. A hedgehog with a respiratory infection may click, wheeze, or make a wet, rattling sound with each breath. The noise continues while the hedgehog is at rest, not only when it is active or scared. You may also see nasal discharge, sneezing, or open-mouth breathing. ### Pneumonia and lower airway disease When infection moves into the lungs, breathing becomes labored. You might see the sides of the body moving more than usual with each breath, or your hedgehog may sit with its head extended. A hedgehog that is clicking and also breathing fast at rest needs same-day veterinary care. ### Pain and injury A hedgehog in pain may squeal, click, or grind its teeth. Pain can come from a wound, a spine injury, a dental problem, or an internal issue. A hedgehog that vocalizes when you touch a specific area is guarding that area. That is a pain signal. ### Stress and environmental triggers Stress changes hedgehog physiology. Researchers measure stress in hedgehogs using fecal glucocorticoid metabolites, which are hormones released when the animal is under pressure [3]. A noisy, brightly lit, or frequently disturbed enclosure can keep a hedgehog stressed. Stressed hedgehogs may vocalize more, hide more, and eat less. ### Gastrointestinal and parasitic disease Enteric protozoan parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Blastocystis have been found in hedgehogs, and these can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weight loss [4]. A hedgehog with gut disease may squeak or click from discomfort, especially around feeding or defecation. Loose stool or a sudden drop in weight supports this possibility. ### Post-procedure and medication effects If your hedgehog recently had a procedure or received medication, behavior can change. In one study, hedgehogs given subcutaneous hydromorphone at 0.15 mg/kg or 0.3 mg/kg showed sedation and other transient effects after dosing [5]. Your veterinarian calculates any dose from your hedgehog's weight and health, so never adjust or repeat medication on your own. ## When Normal Noise Becomes a Problem Normal hedgehog sounds are brief, tied to a trigger, and stop when the trigger goes away. Problem sounds behave differently. - The sound continues while your hedgehog is resting or sleeping. - The sound gets louder or more frequent over days. - Breathing looks like work. You see the chest and belly moving hard. - Your hedgehog stops eating, loses weight, or drinks much less. - You see discharge from the nose or eyes, or your hedgehog sneezes repeatedly. - Your hedgehog squeals when touched or handled in a way that used to be fine. - Your hedgehog becomes suddenly very vocal after months of near silence. Any one of these changes moves the situation from "normal hedgehog noise" to "call your veterinarian." ## What to Do Step by Step ### Step 1: Observe before you act Sit quietly near the enclosure at dusk or after lights out. Note the type of sound, how long it lasts, and what your hedgehog is doing when it happens. Write it down. A short video with sound is even more useful for your veterinarian. ### Step 2: Check the basics Confirm the temperature in the enclosure is stable and appropriate for your hedgehog. Check that fresh water is available and that your hedgehog ate overnight. Weigh your hedgehog weekly on a small kitchen scale and record the number. Weight loss is one of the earliest signs of illness in small pets. ### Step 3: Reduce stress in the environment Keep the enclosure in a quiet part of the home away from televisions, doors, and other pets. Provide a hide box and bedding for burrowing. Hedgehogs in the wild choose nest sites with little human disturbance, and they build nests in hedges or under bush-like cover [2]. Recreate that privacy at home. ### Step 4: Handle with calm and consistency Pick your hedgehog up with both hands, support the belly, and let it unroll on its own. Do not chase or grab. Short, calm, daily handling sessions build trust and reduce defensive hissing and clicking. ### Step 5: Add enrichment Offer a running wheel with a solid surface, tunnels, and safe items to push and explore. Foraging for food scattered in bedding gives your hedgehog something to do. A busy hedgehog is a quieter hedgehog. ### Step 6: Keep a sound and symptom log Track sounds, appetite, stool, weight, and activity for one to two weeks. Bring the log to your appointment. Patterns in the log often tell the veterinarian more than a single exam. If you also keep dogs or cats, some of the same principles apply when a pet's behavior changes. You can read about [why is my dog shaking](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/why-is-my-dog-shaking) and about [dog scratching ears and moaning](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/dog-scratching-ears-and-moaning) for comparison. The takeaway is the same: a new sound or new behavior is information, and it deserves attention. ## What Not to Do - Do not punish your hedgehog for making noise. Spraying water, yelling, or tapping the enclosure increases stress and can make vocalizing worse. - Do not assume every click is "just a hedgehog thing." Chest clicks at rest are a medical red flag, not a personality trait. - Do not use over-the-counter human medications, essential oils, or home remedies in or near the enclosure. Small mammals can be poisoned by products that are safe for people. - Do not skip meals or withhold food to "calm" a hedgehog. Hedgehogs have high metabolic needs and can decline quickly. - Do not rely on internet sound charts alone. Recordings help, but a veterinarian needs to examine your hedgehog. - Do not ignore weight loss because your hedgehog "seems fine." Hedgehogs hide illness well, and by the time they look sick, they are often quite sick. ## When a Veterinarian or Certified Behavior Professional Should Be Involved Call an exotics veterinarian if your hedgehog has noisy breathing at rest, a wet or rattling sound, nasal discharge, or any change in appetite or weight. Respiratory disease in hedgehogs is a recognized clinical concern, and early treatment matters [1]. If your hedgehog squeals when handled and you cannot find a physical cause, a veterinarian can check for pain, injury, or dental disease first. Once medical causes are ruled out, a certified behavior professional who works with small exotic mammals can help you build a handling and enrichment plan. ## Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian This article cannot tell you what is causing your hedgehog's specific sound. Only a veterinarian who examines your hedgehog can do that. Individual cases need a veterinarian. Contact an emergency veterinary hospital right away if your hedgehog is open-mouth breathing, gasping, or breathing with obvious effort, or if it collapses or cannot be roused. Call for a same-day appointment if your hedgehog has a new clicking or wet sound at rest, nasal or eye discharge, a sudden drop in appetite, or a squeal when touched. Schedule a routine visit if the sounds are mild but new, if your hedgehog is slowly losing weight, or if you want a baseline exam for a hedgehog you recently adopted. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is a squeaking hedgehog always in pain? No. Squeaking is often a startle or protest response, especially during handling. Pain is possible when the squeak is sharp, repeated, and tied to a specific touch or movement. If the sound is new or your hedgehog seems uncomfortable, have it examined. ### Can a hedgehog make clicking sounds when it is happy? A soft tongue click can happen during exploration or mild annoyance, and it is not a sign of joy in the way a purr is in a cat. Chest clicking at rest is different and can point to airway disease. Judge the sound by where it comes from and whether it stops when your hedgehog relaxes. ### Do hedgehogs make a lot of noise at night? They can be active and audible at night, but they are not loud animals overall. Rustling, snuffling, and wheel running are typical. Constant squeaking, wheezing, or clicking through the night is not typical and should be checked. ### Why does my hedgehog hiss when I pick it up? Hissing and puffing are defensive responses to feeling threatened. Your hedgehog is telling you it is uncomfortable, not that it is sick. Slow, calm, consistent handling and a quiet enclosure usually reduce this over time. ### Should I record the sound before calling the vet? Yes, a short video with clear audio is very helpful. Capture the sound while your hedgehog is resting, plus a clip of it breathing normally for comparison. Bring the recording, your weight log, and a note of any appetite or stool changes to the appointment. ## Related Articles - [Why Is My Hedgehog Hissing? What It Means and What to Do](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/small-mammal-care/why-is-my-hedgehog-hissing) - [Why Is My Hedgehog Shaking? Causes and When to Worry](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/small-mammal-care/hedgehog-shaking-causes) - [Why Is My Hedgehog So Grumpy? Behavior and Health Clues](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/small-mammal-care/hedgehog-grumpy-behavior) ## References 1. [Hedgehogs and sugar gliders: respiratory anatomy, physiology, and disease](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21601815/). The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice, 2011. 2. [Evaluating Different Factors That Affect the Nesting Patterns of European and Algerian Hedgehogs in Urban and Suburban Environments](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38136812/). Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2023. 3. [Spikes in the data: biological validation and applications of an assay for detecting faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in Western European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42639151/). Conservation physiology, 2026. 4. [A Thorny Tale of Parasites: Screening for Enteric Protozoan Parasites in Hedgehogs from Portugal](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38275786/). Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2024. 5. [Subcutaneous hydromorphone hydrochloride provides antinociception with transient adverse effects in four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38306798/). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2024. ## Further Reading - [Merck Veterinary Manual: All Other Pets](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/all-other-pets)