Are Hedgehogs Good Pets For Kids

Still hedgehogs are quieter than most pets and rarely make any noise.

Are hedgehogs good pets for kids. The african pygmy hedgehog is the most common domesticated hedgehog. However the spines aren t barbed like the quills of a porcupine and the hedgehog ball appears cute or humorous to human eyes. Other pets are quite smelly and need constant cleaning but that is not the case with hedgehogs. When they feel threatened they roll into a tight ball with the spines sticking out.

If you re allergic to pet dander the hedgehog is the right pet for you as hedgehogs have no dander. These little animals can make terrific companions when housed and fed appropriately and their popularity appears to be increasing. Overall hedgehogs are relatively inexpensive to maintain as pets. Wild hedgehogs have been living in africa forever but only in recent years have they been kept as pets.

Hedgehogs are quiet animals and don t make a lot of noise unlike other pets such as your dog. The dream every momma has is for her child s pet to be odorless. The only sounds you might hear are when your hedgehog is moving things around its cage at night and flipping over the water dish. For younger kids they can make excellent pets with some guidance and understanding the importance of proper handwashing to prevent salmonella.

They have quills that hurt when they poke you. Kids aged 10 12 years and up that can understand rules know the importance of handling the hedgehog properly and can dedicate themselves to protecting the well being of their pet. Hedgehogs are not hamsters or guinea pigs. Hedgehogs can be purchased for varying prices depending on where you live.

Younger children should probably not handle hedgehogs at all. Most north american pet hedgehogs typically called african pygmy hedgehogs were bredfrom african species and are considered domesticated. However generally speaking i would not recommend hedgehogs as pets for children. My 3 children would agree that they are something different fun and entertaining.

With a hedgehog you can t go wrong. Hedgehogs are actually not suitable for younger children and toddlers don t be alarmed hedgehogs are perfectly suitable pets for kids older kids. It s best to exercise caution around younger children or pets. As a hedgehog breeder my opinion is a firm no as negative points hedgehogs are exotic pets that have a lot of care requirements they are more expensive than say a rat hamster or bunny would be.

In my opinion i do think hedgehogs make wonderful pets. They might be okay for some older kids or teenagers but i would still recommend going with another type of pet. Hedgehogs are a group of old world spiny mammals. Some pets learn to respect the hedgehog but some dogs and ferrets treat them as prey.