Together we'll list the pros and cons of having a hedgehog as a pet based on your lifestyle, your ability to care for, and your emotional strength. By closely examining your lifestyle, habits, personality, and resources, we'll help you wade through the benefits and pitfalls before you commit.
Included for your benefit, we've provided this downloadable PDF list to use.
The Pros: Owning a Hedgehog
Lifestyle Related Pros to Consider
- Owners describe it as a very fulfilling and nurturing experience; perfect for introverted personalities
- Creative thinkers will thrive by constantly setting up hunts and playfully strategic cage environments for their hedgie
- Hedgehogs will appreciate calm and quiet environments
Fulfilling and Nurturing Experience
Hedgehogs require a lot of care that can lead to a bonding experience for the whole family. Perfect for introverted individuals, hedgies can often provide comfort for their owners. Place a check in your pros list if you find yourself to be a caring and responsible individual.
Best Friends For The Creative
Hedgehog instincts kick in at night and need to hunt and mimic wild hedgehog-like behavior. This is where your creativity can kick in. You can make it fun for them to reorganize their cages at night or even set up a fun obstacle course or hunt activity for them in a hedgehog safe room.
Loud Environments Not Recommended
If you have a quiet life, hedgehogs will appreciate you. Loud noises stress them out, causing most of them to instantly curl up into a spiky defense ball. As a result, this could lead to illness if they are constantly under stress.
Available Resources To Help Your Hedgie
- Monetary commitment to savings for vet bills is an absolute must
- Individuals with the amount of time and patience available will be perfect owners
- Your ability to provide the necessities of life should be considered
Savings Required for Veterinarian Bills
Hedgehogs will need an exotic vet, making your “having a hedgehog as a pet pros and cons list” an expensive one. You may be taking them for a visit every time an illness or infection arises, or at least twice a year. They do not require vaccinations, but could need medications if they become ill.
Owner Time Commitment and Patience Level
Many hedgehogs are susceptible to wobbly hedgehog syndrome, bacterial infections, kidney failure, cancer, and other ailments. If you are willing to take care of your hedgehog no matter what, you should add this as a pro to your owning a hedgehog pros and cons list.
Are You Able To Provide For Your Hedgehog?
The hedgehog will require a habitat, heating equipment, exercise equipment, toys, and nutritional high-quality cat food. If you have no problem housing your hedgehog and delivering its needs, then add this as a pro to your checklist.
Emotional Strength
- Hedgies can show you affection and appreciation
- Holding these quilly creatures and petting their bellies can make you happy
- Caring for them is satisfying and fulfilling
Affectionate Hedgehogs
If you are a positive and careful person, your hedgehog should adjust to you nicely. Some will even paw at a human's nose, allow themselves to be cuddled with, or fall asleep on their care givers.
Therapeutic Hedgehog Qualities
For anyone who needs a daily dose of adorableness, a hedgehog can provide instant happiness. However, please know that some hedgies will never bond with their care takers. If you have bonded with your hedgehog they may let you pet their bellies; this can be therapeutic for both of you. If that's not the case, then that may be frustrating and possibly hinder your opinion of keeping the little critter.
Quality Time With Your Hedgie
Every time a treat is given and you hear that satisfying crunching sound of the crickets and meal worms being devoured, you will know you brought happiness to your pet. If you thrive by helping another creature, you will love the feeling of caring for a hedgehog.
The Cons: Owning a Hedgehog
Lifestyle Related Cons To Consider
- Hedgie hives will bother those with allergies
- Hedgehogs excrete and defecate as they walk
- Noisy environments are not ideal for their delicate ears
Allergies and Hedgie Hives
Those who are allergic to insect bugs may experience hedgie hives, so keep your hedgehog clean. This fact doesn't have to be a con, just a preventable condition.
Your Comfort with The Mess and Required Space
If you live in a tiny space, hedgehogs require a large cage and safe space to run around. For tidy people though, hedgehogs will not be a good match. If you are determined to minimize the mess, you can try to litter train your hedgie.
Hedgehogs are Stressed by Loud Sounds
If you have a young family with children under twelve, we do not recommend a hedgehog in your environment. For rambunctious individuals, owning one could be a con.
Required Resources For Healthy Hedgehogs
- Large budget for unplanned exotic vet bills
- Commitment required for all stages of a hedgehogs life
- Ability to provide a spacious and nurturing environment
Plan to Budget for the Vet
A visit can range from $100 to thousands of dollars depending on the amount of tests and procedures required. We recommend that saving at least $500 is best.
Ownership Only for the Dedicated
Caring for your hedgehog from start to finish can be difficult; but very honorable. If you cannot handle such heartache and possible hardships, add a check to your cons list. Hedgehogs can be fine one day, but ill the next.
Providing Your Hedgehog's Needs
Hedgehogs require a room temperature of around 75-80˚F and a light cycle of 12 hours. If you can't provide the necessary equipment, then add this to your cons list. Nutritionally speaking, hedgehogs require someone who is willing to research a desirable hedgehog food list to give them the best quality of life possible.
Emotional Strength
- Their short life span and possible complications can break your heart
- Hedgies can be stubborn and some never bond with their human
- Most will not potty/litter train
A Hedgehog's Lifespan and Illnesses
Hedgehogs have a very delicate lifespan, ranging from one year to a max of seven. Some hedgies can live longer or shorter depending on how they were bred. All hedgehogs you purchase should be USDA certified and come from a registered breeder. In “Where To Buy A Baby Hedgehog“, we aim to educate you on what to check for before buying a hedgehog. Just to warn you, deadly conditions can spring out of nowhere. If you are not prepared for all that, add a check to your cons list.
A Hedgehog's General Demeanor
Some hedgehogs can be stubborn, never really taking to their human companion. Be prepared to love your hedgehog no matter how much it hisses at you, curls up into a ball around you, or prefers to hide. Add this to your cons list if you would want a more social and loving pet.
Keeping Up With The Mess
Referencing the point we made that hedgehogs are really messy, there is a possibility that you can potty train them. Hedgehogs can be stubborn by nature, and will most likely not take to a new routine. If you cannot accept training them may not be possible, then add this as a con on your list.
Final Thoughts – Hedgehog as a Pet: Pros and Cons
Hopefully you have your list filled out by the end of this. If not please go back through our bullet points and add any pros or cons you may think of.
The Biggest Pros and Cons Mentioned Were:
Hedgehog as a Pet: Pros
-A Gentle and Quiet Companion
-Nurturing and Caring Experience
-Creativity and Mental Happiness
Hedgehog as a Pet: Cons
-Can be messy
-Short Life Span and Possibility of Illness
-Possibility of Never Bonding
Owning a Hedgehog: Is It Something For You?
Do not feel defeated if you admit a hedgehog is not your ideal companion. Not everyone can handle the mess, the lifespan, or provide the living space requirements. Another thing we did not mention was you need to be able to handle live bugs for feeding. If you can see past these things and give it the nutrition and environment it needs to live a “ful-quilling” life, a hedgehog is for you!
Continue Learning About Hedgehogs:
If you have decided that owning a hedgehog sounds heavenly, then we recommend you continue reading our basic guide on things you need to know about the health, nutrition, and attitude of hedgies. Come learn all the basic information you need to know to be a hedgehog expert.
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I wanted a hedgehog for years and I finally got one. Prickles was a cuddler and loved to sleep on my chest. He waited for me to kiss on his cheeks and when I stopped, he would turn his head and look at me like, “Is that all??” Unfortunately, I lost him just before he turned 4 years old. It about killed me, but I had already decided I would always have a hedgie. I have rescued two now, Weezer and Cooper, neither of which is as cuddly as Prickles was, but Weezer does like to be held in the evenings, and Cooper just likes to run all over me. I love my hedgies and I highly recommend them as pets!
Thank you for sharing your experiences with hedgehogs with us Beth. Obviously we think they’re great pets too! As long as the potential owner has realistic expectations about hedgehogs as pets, they’ll be rewarded with an animal that will steal their hearts.