If you are considering a new, small pet and aren’t sure about hedgehogs this article explores everything you need to know about: Are Hedgehogs Good Pets? We will review the good and bad about hedgehogs including:

• Are hedgehogs good pets for you?
• Do they need special care to thrive in captivity?
• Are hedgehogs low maintenance pets?
• Are they suitable for first-time owners?

Are Hedgehogs Good Pets?

Whether hedgehogs make good pets is a matter of opinion.

Hedgehog babies are called kits. Kits stay with their mother until they reach about six months old. At this point, the mother starts to leave her kits alone while she goes out to hunt for food. When she returns home, she carries her prey back to her nest where she eats it. She then takes care of her young until they are able to fend for themselves.

When keeping hedgehogs as pets, the pet owner serves in the role as mother and must provide food and protection.

Are Hedgehogs Good Pets for Kids?

Hedgehogs are relatively small animals that don’t require much space, so they might be more appropriate for someone who lives in an apartment than a dog would be. However, hedgehogs are also wild animals that don’t readily adapt to living with humans, so they might not be the best choice for an inexperienced or impatient owner.

With adult supervision, proper education, and diligence a pet hedgehog could be a good pet for kids.

Are Hedgehogs Good Pets? – Pros and Cons

1. Hedgehogs are cute.

Hedgehogs are adorable little creatures that have been around since prehistoric times. These animals are nocturnal and spend their days sleeping and eating.

2. Hedgehogs make great pets.

They are small, quiet, and generally easy to care for.

3. Hedgehogs are good companions.

When you get a hedgehog as a pet, you will have someone who loves you unconditionally. Hedgehogs are extremely loyal and can be affectionate towards their owners. If you want a companion that will keep you company, look no further than a hedgehog.

4. Hedgehogs are fun to watch.

You can watch your hedgehog playing in its enclosure. If you plan to handle your hedgehogs you will need to keep them socialized to you by providing time out of the cage and engaging with you on a regular basis, and possibly several times each day.

You can even take them outside if you live somewhere warm enough.

Hedgehogs are very active and playful. They enjoy exploring their environment, but they should be supervised at all times when out of the cage to keep them safe and away from mischief and predators (the family dog or cat).

5. Hedgehogs are safe.

Hedgehog bites are not harmful to humans. Hedgehogs are usually not aggressive toward people, but like most animals, they become defensive if they feel threatened. They are quite friendly and gentle as pets when proper care is provided. They are also very clean animals and do not shed fur.

6. Hedgehogs are affordable.

If you decide to adopt a hedgehog, you can expect to pay between $20-$30 per month. That’s less than what you would pay for a dog or cat. A hedgehog kit costs anywhere from $50-$100 depending on how big the kit is.

7. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and are most active at night.

8. Hedgehogs are solitary animals in the wild and prefer to be alone.

9. It can take a while for them to warm up to their owners and some never do.

10. They have quills for protection, so other pets sometimes get poked or injured if the get too close. It’s dependent on whether the hedgehog feels threatened.

11. Hedgehogs are not legal pets in some states / areas, so before purchasing a hedgehog check your local regulations. They are not legal to own in all geographic locations. It’s best to learn the rules before you start looking for a hedgehog for sale.

Before you buy a hedgehog, watch this video for a veterinarian’s perspective.

Why Are Hedgehogs So Popular?

Hedgehogs are among the most popular exotic pets. They are small and cute, but also relatively cheap and easy to keep in captivity. The hedgehog lifespan ranges from 4 to 6 years.

This has made them a popular choice for pet owners of all ages. Their small size and low maintenance requirements make them suitable for people who live in small spaces, such as apartments, and people who don’t want to spend a lot of time taking care of their pets.

If you have other pets in the house, you should consider whether you can properly supervise them living together. This will protect your other animals from being bitten and will protect the hedgehogs from being harmed by predators.

Is it Hard to Care for a Hedgehog?

Most hedgehogs should be kept indoors to protect them from predators. Keeping them inside also prevents them from bringing parasites or diseases into your backyard and spreading them to wild animals.

If you are thinking of keeping a hedgehog for a pet, you need to understand that hedgehogs will be more work than cats or dogs.

The Truth About Pet Hedgehogs

If you are planning to get a hedgehog as a pet, then you should understand that they are not like other pets. They are more like having a wild animal living in your house.

While they might be cute and cuddly when they are babies, they will grow up to be prickly and independent adults. They may not remain cuddly as adults.

You can keep them as pets if you are committed to providing a safe, clean, and healthy environment for them. But you can’t just keep them in a cage and feed them every once in a while.

You need to provide your hedgehog with a safe and comfortable environment to live in. Hedgehogs are not like cats or dogs that can roam freely around the house.

Provide them with a warm, clean, safe area where they can roam around and sleep.

More Common Questions and Answers About Hedgehogs

• You’re probably wondering, “Do Hedgehogs Bite?” Yes, they might if startled or if you are handling them when they want to be left alone. With time, you will learn their preferences.

• Are hedgehogs spiky? Yes. They sure are. They have thousands of quills for protection.

• Are hedgehogs nocturnal? Yes. They prefer the nighttime, which impacts their appeal as pets for some potential owners. But so are house cats, and that doesn’t seem to have reduced the numbers of cat owners.

Are Hedgehogs Cuddly?

Hedgehogs are not naturally cuddly animals. They are meant to be out in the wild and are not domesticated like cats or dogs are.

When they are young and still with their mother, they are cuddly and sweet, but they become prickly as they age unless properly socialized and that socialization is maintained as the become older.

Many hedgehogs don’t let you touch them, and others are aggressive.

Hedgehogs are solitary animals. This means that each hedgehog should have its own cage.

What do Pet Hedgehogs Eat?

Hedgehogs eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. They also eat small insects and occasional mice.

Their diet consists mainly of insects and worms, although they do eat some fruit and vegetables. They are considered omnivores, meaning they can eat both meat and plants.

If you are going to keep your hedgehog as a pet, you need to make sure that you give it a balanced diet. You should talk to your vet about what foods are best to feed your hedgehog.

You can buy pre-made hedgehog food at your local pet store. However, you should supplement it with extra fruits and vegetables to make sure that your hedgehog gets all the nutrients it needs.

Provide your hedgehog fresh, clean water at all times.

How Much Does It Cost to Own a Hedgehog?

If you want to keep a hedgehog as a pet, you need to be prepared to spend money.

Hedgehogs don’t eat a lot, but they do need a suitable home to live in.

If you keep your hedgehog indoors, you need to provide it with a large, warm, and safe area. You also need to feed your hedgehog a balanced diet and give it fresh water at all times.

Depending on where you buy your hedgehog, and how many accessories you need, you can expect to spend anywhere from $50 to $200.

This is just the initial investment. You also need to spend money on food, cleaning supplies, and extra cages for your hedgehog’s company.

Keeping these little guys can add up to be a very expensive hobby.

The Bottom Line About Pet Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are adorable and interesting animals. However, they are also wild animals that don’t adapt well to captivity.

You need to be prepared to keep your hedgehog happy and healthy by learning and educating yourself about them before you buy one.

If you are going to keep a hedgehog as a pet, you need to understand that they require more effort than other pets.

• They need a warm and safe place to live.
• You need to feed them a healthy diet.
• You need a veterinarian who treats hedgehogs.
• Be prepared to spend a lot of time with them.

So really, are hedgehogs good pets?

They make great pets for some people and terrible pets for others.

If you are interested in getting a hedgehog, check the web for hedgehog forums, discussion groups, social media posts about what it’s like to own them. With time and patience, and some time on the internet talking to current owners, you’ll learn whether hedgehogs are good pets for you, specifically.

If you are still looking for the perfect pet, but don’t want a cat or dog, please read our article about pet rabbits.

Here are some additional ideas for good apartment pets for kids.