Hedgehogs are still considered as exotic pets. Exotic is just another word for WILD. They have only been kept as pets for a couple of decades and they still possess many of the wild traits their ancestors do. In the wild, hedgehogs are not social beings! In fact they are fairly nervous little creatures who live their solitary lives scurrying around in the shadows of night in search of a meal or to mate, hoping not to become dinner for birds of prey and other predators. In time with dedication from conscientious breeders the pet hedgehog may very well one-day be considered as a truly domesticated pet. When we choose to keep them in captivity and make them our pets we need to accept and appreciate their natural predisposition and be committed to interacting with it on a daily basis in order to keep it trusting of people.
Most exotic mammals are not like domesticated cats and dogs. People thinking of keeping hedgehogs as pets, need to consider that whereas a dog loves constant attention a hedgehog is far more likely to appreciate its own space and company. They are not usually animals that you can teach to be obedient. They don’t really care if you, their owner, is pleased or displeased and do not care how much you love it or how much it would mean to you, if he / she would love you back. It cares about its own survival!
Because they are not like dogs and cats does not mean they will not make a nice pet. Constant attention, patience and lots of socialization are the key to building a trust between you and a hedgehog. Once a hedgehog recognizes your voice and smell and realizes that you are not a threat it will look to you as a provider of food and also as a safe place to be. They are capable of bonding with their caregiver and to many people, there is no better pet than a hedgehog.
Thu Apr 12, 2012 3:05 pm
