Are Hedgehogs Good Pets For Kids

However the spines aren t barbed like the quills of a porcupine and the hedgehog ball appears cute or humorous to human eyes.

Are hedgehogs good pets for kids. Overall hedgehogs are relatively inexpensive to maintain as pets. Hedgehogs are a group of old world spiny mammals. They have quills that hurt when they poke you. Most north american pet hedgehogs typically called african pygmy hedgehogs were bredfrom african species and are considered domesticated.

The only sounds you might hear are when your hedgehog is moving things around its cage at night and flipping over the water dish. In my opinion i do think hedgehogs make wonderful pets. Still hedgehogs are quieter than most pets and rarely make any noise. It s too easy for a child to overreact at the unexpected stick of a quill and both the child and your pet could suffer harm.

Some pets learn to respect the hedgehog but some dogs and ferrets treat them as prey. 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. It s best to exercise caution around younger children or pets. When they feel threatened they roll into a tight ball with the spines sticking out.

With a hedgehog you can t go wrong. Hedgehogs are not hamsters or guinea pigs. Hedgehogs can be purchased for varying prices depending on where you live. Other pets are quite smelly and need constant cleaning but that is not the case with hedgehogs.

Naturally curious hedgehogs often become tame and seem to enjoy being handled by. Hedgehogs are actually not suitable for younger children and toddlers don t be alarmed hedgehogs are perfectly suitable pets for kids older kids. These little animals can make terrific companions when housed and fed appropriately and their popularity appears to be increasing. For younger kids they can make excellent pets with some guidance and understanding the importance of proper handwashing to prevent salmonella.

If you re allergic to pet dander the hedgehog is the right pet for you as hedgehogs have no dander. However generally speaking i would not recommend hedgehogs as pets for children. Wild hedgehogs have been living in africa forever but only in recent years have they been kept as 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.

They might be okay for some older kids or teenagers but i would still recommend going with another type of pet. Just like having a hamster as a pet for kids most of the cost will be upfront in purchasing the hedgehog and living arrangement. My 3 children would agree that they are something different fun and entertaining. Hedgehogs are quiet animals and don t make a lot of noise unlike other pets such as your dog.