Meerkat Adventures- Are Meerkats good pets?

Image courtesy of Meerkats.net

Often people see these adorable animals and couldn't picture a better pet. But they are wild animals and as much happiness as they give you, they are not meant to be pets for 3 very simple reasons. 

1) They are social animals. They live together in groups of about 20 to 30 meerkats which are made up of hierarchies of families. Having a meerkat live without these groups cause them huge amounts of distress and unhappiness. When they live alone the trauma of not living in a pack often leaves them depressed and they lose hair and may even turn to self harm. 

2) Meerkats are used to foraging and hunting for their food so they tear up couches and carpets from their desperation to dig and scurry. They are very active creatures and spend most of their time doing this in the wild.  To try and inhibit this in a meerkat only causes harm and distress in the animal. It will also destroy your home and leave you resentful and angry at the animal. 

3) These animals are bad pets because they are wild and their instincts never truly leave. They see their owners as other meerkats. They don't see you as an owner. If they become angry and frustrated and the hierarchy seems to be weak they may bite you and attack you because that is what is done in the wild. Most meerkats that are adopted into homes end up in animal sanctuaries or in homes where they are abused because they are misunderstood. If you are thinking of getting a meerkat as a pet - don't.   If you want to see these animals in the wild visit Meerkat Adventures just outside Cape Town in Oudtshoorn for an up close and intimate peek into the lives of these adorable little animals.

Image courtesy of Meerkats.net