Kittens and Hedgehogs

[Dezzi]

Siouxsie

Lydia

Both kitties snuggling (Siouxsie near the top, Lydia near the bottom)

The three hedgehogs (males at the back, female near the front)

Lydia and the female hedgehog

Lydia and the albino male hedgehog

Siouxsie and the normal male hedgehog


Yes, I realize that hedgehogs aren't usually housed together, however the female and the younger "normal" male are both fixed. I don't have to worry about them reproducing and they don't fight at all. They've all three been together for their entire lives and even though they're past sexual maturity, they get along great.

The photos of the hedgehogs and the kittens were taken with me sitting right there. The hedgies aren't scared of the kitties by any means, and the kitties respect the quills. We always joke that "our cats have pets" because they LOVE the hedgehogs. You can tell by the body language in both photos that there is no predator/prey going on, just curiosity. It's at the point now where the kittens get excited and flop on their backs purring any time we take the hedgies out of their cage. When the albino managed to escape the original cage they were in I found him because Lydia was MIA and Siouxsie was sitting next to the closet meowing. I opened the closet door and found Lydia curled up with him, both happily sleeping. I still keep an eye on them when they're out because hey, freak accidents can happen, but I don't worry about them being together at all.

[Hamsters82]

Aw, so cute. I wonder how the kitties felt when they first felt the quills...ouch. Although if you pet them a certain way you won't get pricked.

The albino one is nice too; I've only seen one when I worked at the nature center. All of them are nice pictures and all of your pets are cute.

[Dezzi]

I don't find the quills hurt at all. I have never used gloves to handle them, always bare hands. They don't like when they are first lifted out of their cage, so depending on how they're responding sometimes I'll lift them with a t-shirt that smells like me and then transfer them to my hands. They progress through distaste by balling up, then puffing the ball, then hissing, then clicking, and finally biting. If they are clicking at me I'll use a blanket, because they're fine as soon as they're up and I don't want to get bitten. (I could scruff them, but I'm trying to get them to associate my scent + lift = good.) When they're scared and puff their quills at you, it's kind of like pressing your hand against a cheap plastic comb. It's not overly comfortable, but it doesn't hurt. If you run your hand along the direction of the quills lying flat, they're actually almost soft.

When the kitties poked their noses they went wide-eyed and backed up and gave this "WHAT IS THAT" look at me, but when they get their paws poked they're just like "oh right, those are pokey" and stop.

[Die Fledermaus]

Cute indeed. I'll post some of my cat/rabbit photos soon.

The cats always rapidly, almost fearful, move out of the way if a rabbit starts hopping toward them. But more on that soon.

Here in NYC, hedgehogs are. . . illegal!! So are ferrets. And many others critters some that even make sense not to have. But hedgehogs?! Some years ago I posted the actual list on RR, I think in the Animal News forum, for those interested.

[pinky]

Are Chinese hams illegal in NYC? They used to be in CA and may still be. In NJ a few years ago they required a permit; it may still be this way. DF, this may explain why you have never seen one in the flesh.

Dezzi, how nice that your "kids" get along! What do hedgies eat?

[Die Fledermaus]

I do NOT recall seeing Chinese hams on that list, which I am sure can be found, likely in the Animal News forum, for those who wish to look.

Gerbils are illegal in CA.

Ferrets are illegal in NYC as Rudy Giuliani HATES them. I think he is nuts. RUDY FERRET RANT

[Dezzi]

Hedgehogs are illegal in a lot of areas! I have to get a friend of mine to look after them when we go visit certain family/friends because I can't get a permit to travel with them within some states, and I don't want them to be confiscated. Rats are illegal in Alberta, and they go WAY overboard on that.LINK HERE

Commercial hedgehog food doesn't have the nutritional requirements hedgehogs need. In fact, some of them contain seeds (which present a choking hazard) and raisins (which are toxic). A high-quality cat or kitten food is much closer to their nutritional requirements. We give all the kids Innova Wild Prairie mix as their staple food and then the Grasslands mix added to it for variety every now and then. The hedgies get treats of mealworms, crickets, fruits, and veggies. If we're making roast chicken or hard boiled eggs and that type of thing, they'll get a little piece as a treat as well.

I have video of the little female hedgehog free-running with the kittens from the other day. Couldn't get it to upload properly to youtube from my iPod, but it's on Facebook if you've got it. (add Destiny Dizzy) It's super adorable how excited the kittens get when the hedgies are out.

[Die Fledermaus]

I assume hedgies need a much higher protein diet; they do eat a lot of bugs in the wild.

Guess I have to go underground to get certain animals in NYC. The list includes iguanas. A friend had several of them and she was always concerned someone would turn her in. She also had a P-Dog.

Sent you a Friend request on FB.

[Die Fledermaus]

I saw the videos on Dezzi's Facebook. Very interesting, and a unique situation. Safe, but not to be done by others. The cats learned as kittens to stay away from the quills!

I recommend people check out her FB videos. And other photos.

[Dezzi]

Definitely a unique situation. Not one I recommend to others, but am lucky enough to experience with my own animals. And they're still kittens, although they don't look it much any more. I'm scared to see how big they'll get, haha.

[Die Fledermaus]

Just wanted to be sure people know mixing cats with animals that size is a bad idea, usually.