Hedgehogs Are for Sale but Are Hedgehogs as Pets Really a Good Idea?

They Smell Less Than Rats, Live Longer Than Hamsters, but Still Might Not Be the Perfect Pet to Put Under the Christmas Tree This Year

Although you may find a "hedgehogs for sale" listing in your local paper or even hear someone talking about hedgehog pets being perfect because of their quiet nature, there are some states where hedgehogs as pets are illegal. With Christmas fast approaching - a time of year when pets are routinely given to children as gifts - think twice before putting a hedgehog pet under the tree.

Hedgehogs As Pets Are Illegal In Some States

These areas include California (which is also the state the prohibits ferrets), Hawaii, Georgia, New York City in New York, Lawrence in Kansas, Fairfax County in Virginia, and Douglas County as well as Omaha in Nebraska. Moreover, in other areas hedgehog pets may only be kept if certain legalities are observed.

Arizona, New Jersey, Maine, Wisconsin and Wyoming permit hedgehog ownership only to those with a valid permit while Idaho and Oregon only allow African Pygmy hedgehogs as pets. To this end those who have hedgehogs for sale routinely inform potential customers that they will not ship the little animals to certain areas.

Hedgehogs As Pets Are A Good Choice For Those Who Like Pocket Pets But Detest The Smell And Frequent Burials

Should hedgehogs as pets be legal in your state, and if you have found someone with hedgehogs for sale, you will undoubtedly rejoice in the notion that hedgehog pets are by far less odiferous than rats or even hamsters.

Moreover, unlike with a rat or hamster, you do not have to hold the biennial burial and consoling of the kids when the critter dies. A pet hedgehog, if properly cared for, can actually live all the way through the elementary school years.

Hedgehogs As Pets Are Not A Cheap Hobby

Unlike mice or rats, hedgehog pets do not always take to a wheel or ball, and instead need a cage that is amply sized to accommodate their roaming nature. Moreover, frequent outings are also a requirement for a happy hedgehog. Failure to heed this warning will result in an overweight, unhealthy pet.