Meerkats

[ChameleonFan1989]

My local pet store sells these for £400 and a family member is interested in keeping one. I know very little about these as pets. Has anyone here had any experience with them? What are like to keep etc

Thanks

 

[DavidBuchan]

I have no experience at all....but I was at a zoo recently and the keeper very strongly warned everyone who would listen not to get one (they are very social, need a family group, lots of room, places to dig and burrow - they will destroy soft furnishing much worse than any cat or dog, etc, etc, etc)
There were lots of other reasons that I can't properly remember - he had a proper little rant. So lots of research needed I guess................

 

[millerman6401]

i didnt even know you could get these as pets 0.o

 

[Olimpia]

For all the reasons listed by David, it seems like a bad idea as well. I'd stick to more traditional small furry pets like rabbits or ferrets.

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

Oh I would not do that...as a social animal that needs a family group it would be like taking a wolf and keeping it as a pet. They will be super neurotic because nothing in their world is right and they don't know how to deal with it without the support of their social structure. That is instinctual, you can't just tame them out of it. It will be scared and probably aggressive because it doesn't know how else to react to a big predator without its family group to protect it. I doubt they are even born in captivity, they're probably taken from the wild as youngsters to be sold. And even if they were born in captivity, that does not make them domesticated, or even at the least, tame. BAD idea. If they want a cool little critter that's similar get a ferret! They are great little pets full of energy and entertainment.

 

[kinyonga]

I have to agree...they need a family group. At the zoo if one is taken to the infirmary, a group is usually taken with it...which indicates how much they need to be in a group.

"Meerkats make very poor pets. They bite, and the bite can become infected. They stink, and will scent-mark their owner and the house (their "territory"). Being a pack animal, they may become hysterical if kept as single pets"...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meerkat

 

[Syn]

I think my nieces are meerkats.

 

[kinyonga]

I think you're a meerkat too Syn!

 

[Syn]

I think you're a meerkat too Syn!

But but but I don't scent-mark my house!

 

[ChameleonFan1989]

Thanks for the replies guys. In the UK there is a commercial for compare the meerkats.com and since then some pet stores near me have been having these in stock, £400 for 1 even though they need to be in a group.

It's my grandparents who want one and I'll make sure to pass this info onto them sadly they won't see beyond the cuteness and look at the commitment and the environment they need.

 

[DavidBuchan]

Thanks for the replies guys. In the UK there is a commercial for compare the meerkats.com and since then some pet stores near me have been having these in stock, £400 for 1 even though they need to be in a group.

It's my grandparents who want one and I'll make sure to pass this info onto them sadly they won't see beyond the cuteness and look at the commitment and the environment they need.

That's exactly why the rant started.......I didn't mention the ad myself because not so many people on here are British and I wasn't sure where you are........
If that's the case then just tell them not to get one - how old are you?, you must have some standing with them ? Threaten them with the RSPCA or just tell them you won't ever visit if they get one.........you have to stand firm if you don't want them to ruin an animals sanity - it'll either turn into a little furry ball of rage or terror. They need real looking after......
I would also check that the pet shop know what they are doing............it sounds like it might actually be worth checking with the RSPCA about whether it's even legal to sell them........

 

[DavidBuchan]

I just realised I could guess how old you are from your name, lol........I'm a bit slow, eh?

 

[DavidBuchan]

But but but I don't scent-mark my house!

Lol, really? What kind of perfume do you use.........

 

[ChameleonFan1989]

That's exactly why the rant started.......I didn't mention the ad myself because not so many people on here are British and I wasn't sure where you are........
If that's the case then just tell them not to get one - how old are you?, you must have some standing with them ? Threaten them with the RSPCA or just tell them you won't ever visit if they get one.........you have to stand firm if you don't want them to ruin an animals sanity - it'll either turn into a little furry ball of rage or terror. They need real looking after......
I would also check that the pet shop know what they are doing............it sounds like it might actually be worth checking with the RSPCA about whether it's even legal to sell them........

I'm 22

I actually checked with the RSPCA website, according to them it is legal to keep and sell Meerkat's as long as their environment is up to standards and doesn't require a license.

My grandparents saw them when I popped in there to see if they had chameleons in stock as I didn't own one and last time I went in June they had about 4-5 meerkats in a large indoor enclosure in the same area were they sell puppies.

 

[Syn]

Lol, really? What kind of perfume do you use.........

...none? Unless you count deodorant. But that, uh, deodorizes.

 

[pssh]

How about a ferret? They make much better pets! Or maybe a sugar glider even? The ferret would be the closest though.

 

[DavidBuchan]

...none? Unless you count deodorant. But that, uh, deodorizes.

Ok, I'll try again.... just for fun, you understand .......any air freshener? Joss sticks? Help me out here....you ever brought any flowers in to make the place smell nicer?

 

[ijmccollum]

Want cuteness and something easier to deal with - tell them to go with a sugarglider. Leave the 'meers alone.

 

[Carlton]

Actually, I think the closest pet to a meerkat would be a captive bred prairie dog (except that meerkats aren't rodents and p dogs are). I know people in the USA breed and keep them but don't know about the UK.

 

[pssh]

I dunno, aren't prairie dogs super group oriented too? I imagine it would be much harder to care properly for a prairie dog compared to a ferret. But then again, ferrets are predators of prairie dogs, sooo...