Do you own a hedgehog as a pet?
How is its temperament?
Does it let you handle it often, and if so, does it seek your affection?
Have you had any issues with its health?
Would you recommend one as a pet?
Asking because I want a small, sweet, cute pet that is also independent and easy to manage.
I do not have time for a dog or cat, nor do I want to spend a fortune.
Thanks in advance.
Hedgehogs are not pets, they’re wild animals. If you want a small pet look at getting a gerbil, hampster, fish, etc.
Like medea says, it’s not a pet, we have a kind of “house” hedgehog pet
but it strolls around in our yard and eats our catfood and occasionally we see it walking with it’s younglings 
but we don’t touch it or try to get it closer to us, we just leave it be and it eats all the insects etc and sometimes annoys our chickens lol
I had young hedgehog, but not as pet, more like I found it on the street, because it was lost and almost dead.
Had it for 1 year or less, feeding it etc, then I went to national park and set it free.
It’s wild, mostly nocturnal animal, so he had to go. They definitely require more attention than a dog or cat. Also if something happens, vet care can be very expensive since they are considered exotic animals.
Had also pigeon, same story, young one felt out of a nest (or got pushed out, because was sick), but still saved it.
Either way, I don’t recommend hedgehog as pet. Get a cat if you want truly independent pet.
I thought the same thing. But there IS a domesticated species. But I still wouldn’t recommend getting one.
“Most North American pet hedgehogs,typically called African pygmy hedgehogs,were bred from African species and are considered domesticated.”
“I want a small, sweet, cute pet that is also independent and easy to manage”
That describes a cat perfectly. If you “don’t have time for a dog or a cat”, I would recommend NOT getting a pet at all. Except maybe a goldfish. These are animals. Living, breathing animals that demand AND deserve your affection and attention. Not just a status symbol to show your friends once in a while.
Cats are cute but very emotional and always looking for your attention - if they are in mood of course. You need time for any pet, but cats are no pets, you are their pet.
That is not true. We had a cat that we would see maybe once every 2 or 3 days. She would come home to eat, or to sleep if the weather was bad. That’s it. She WOULD demand our attention once in a while, but not even close to “always”. She just loved to be outdoors. Winter time she would come in at night to sleep, or during the day in storms. Summer we rarely saw her. She was also the best mouser I have ever seen by far. There were NO mice, moles, or any other rodents outside or in my house (it’s very old). Just squirrels. We haven’t seen her, unfortunately, in a year. She disappeared last August and we never saw her again. She was 13 years old. Rodents are around again. I’ve seen 3 mice in my house in the last few months. I have a Yorkie and he chases them away. But he hasn’t caught one. The cat would sit and wait for hours if she had to. She ALWAYS got her prey. I remember once seeing a mouse scoot behind the washing machine. the cat did too. I told him she knows. You’re toast. Next day she comes out of the washroom mouse in her mouth.
It differs from cat to cat and what breed is it. I had indoors cats in mind, which are more affectionate and attached to their owners…as you are their only interaction besides inanimate objects.
I would suggest a ferret. Last ferret I had was super relaxed all the time and loved to be held and pet.
I’ve had indoor cats also. I have never owned, or known someone else who owned, a cat that “always” sought attention and/or affection. You said cats are independent. It is impossible for something to be “independent” and “always looking for attention.”
Independent - “not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence…”
Cats can be, and often are, affectionate. But they will seek your attention and affection when THEY want it. Which is nowhere near “always.” Even for indoor cats.
Edit: To be clear, I am sorry if it sounds like I am being confrontational. I’m not. But you are giving somebody advice based on facts which are not true.
I said that IF they are in mood they will always seek for attention. At least mine does.
As for independent, what I meant was that cats are easier to care for than, for instance dogs, as cat is perfect animal for those that don’t want/can’t to go outside with them constantly - you just need litter box and you are set.
Moral grandstanding and lecturing, and assumptions to my character…wow…
African pygmy hedgehogs have been domesticated for over 30 years.
Haven’t “lectured” anyone. Oh well, I’m outta here.
Cheers.
Sorry Martimus, but wanting to get a pet because it’s small, cute and sweet isn’t a good enough reason to do so. You should only get a pet of any kind if you’re willing to give it a “forever” home and the dedicated care it needs.
“They’re not easy to keep and you need to be dedicated,” admits Emma, a dog trainer from Lancashire, who has kept hedgehogs for nearly a decade."
I can appreciate your concern for the hedgehog, but by what authority do you assume to tell me what legally aquired pet I should be keeping and taking care of? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not assume that someone with the time and money and compassion to take care of a hedgehog wouldn’t do so, and please don’t apply your own morality to my life in an attempt to control me. I will do the same for you.
I’m not applying my morality or trying to control you. Simply pointing out that the reasons you give for wanting a pet are unfortunately the sort of reasons that end up with pets being abandoned. “Oh mommy, look at that cute little puppy. Can I have one?” Year or less later said puppy is abandoned because it’s grown too big, too aggressive through poor handling, etc.
If I were a reputable hedgehog breeder and you came to me with the reasons you give, I’d refuse to sell you one. But there are plenty of unscrupulous breeders out there who’ll happily take your money.
IF you’re willing to put in the work and IF a hedgehog is really the pet you want then please, please, PLEASE try and rehome an abandoned one rather than giving money to unscrupulous sales people. The hedgehog will thank you - and so will I. If you decide on another type of pet and rehome that I’ll thank you for that too.
To be fair, you DID say that you"do not have time for a cat or a dog." A hedgehog will require time also. Getting a pet and then having it be by itself with little human contact for long periods of time is unfair to the animal. Nobody here cares what pet you get. However, medea, and myself also, DO care about the quality of life said pet might be in for. And the reasons you gave indicated that would be poor quality. You asked for advice, you got it, and then you didn’t like the advice you got. But the advice you got was based on the limited info we had available.