What makes hedgehogs happy

But if you are patient and persistent with routine bonding sessions, eventually the hedgehog will become curious and want to explore what is outside of the snuggle sack. If you are doing all of the above and your hedgehog is still having difficulty, it could be due to perfumes, soaps, shampoos or detergents that have a strong odor and are making your hedgehog uncomfortable. Hedgehogs are very sensitive to new and unusual smells and new lotions and perfumes often irritate their strong sense of smell.

You may also want to try to reduce or eliminate the use of strong smelling perfumes and lotions until your hedgehog has bonded with you. Since hedgehogs use their sense of smell to recognize you, it is also wise to stick with the same deodorant, laundry detergent, soap and shampoo during bonding time.

If you are still having difficulty, try a new location for a bonding session. Take your hedgehog outside if it is a nice weather and see if hedgie perks up. Sometimes just a new location will help. It is always best to keep your hedgehog in the most low traffic, quiet room of the house.

Sometimes, a hedgehog will worry about other pets in the home. Like people, cats, and dogs, all hedgehogs have different personalities. Some need more attention than others to get used to their owner.

However if you follow the steps above, it may help your hedgehog spend less time curled up in a ball, and more time crawling around, playing and exploring its new home. Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Tips on Working with a Shy Hedgehog. Bowls are the best choice, tongues can sometimes get stuck and eyes poked and hurt, if you use a water bottle. Hedgehogs like to climb, but unsupervised climbing should be prevented to avoid injuries from falls. Large, clear Sterilite bins quart are our choice, just leave the lid off.

Tanks and aquariums should be avoided. Surprisingly an ideal hedgehog food is actually made for cats! Commercial hedgehog foods should be avoided since they lack the nutrition needed. High quality dry cat food is the best choice.

Look for one that lists meat as one of the the first two ingredients. Hedgehogs can be picky eaters, so you might have to try a few before finding one your hedgie loves. Your hedgehog will also need fresh mealworms as a supplement to dry cat food. Feed a few each day, depending on the size of the mealworm. Do not feed freeze dried insects to avoid digestion problems, some very serious that can lead to death. Also avoid insects from your garden or other natural areas as they might contain pesticides.

Because they are nocturnal, hedgehogs do best with a consistent source of light for about hours each day. The two best choices for bedding are paper based bedding , or fabric liners made of fleece easy to make yourself by cutting fleece to size.

We like the paper based bedding best because it gives the hedgehog a chance to burrow and dig around. Bedding should be changed times a week, and the wheel will need to be cleaned daily. This should help get you on your way to having a happy and healthy hedgehog! Just remember that they need a lot of handling to become more friendly, best done in the evening when they are starting to wake up.

Snoring at night is a sign your hedgehog is happy. Hedgies have a cute little snoring noise that usually indicates that they are enjoying a peaceful sleep. If they make this sound during the day, you might want to get that checked since it may signal that they are having trouble breathing.

When your hedgehog is happy, it will seem more relaxed, comfortable in your home, and around you. If you provide your pet with the essentials like a wheel, enough room in its cage, and regularly take it out of the cage for cuddles, stimulations, water, and food, they are most probably happy. It is essential to acknowledge that hedgehogs are naturally not as emotionally expressive as we would want them to be the same applies to showing happiness. Hedgehogs are naturally shy and timid because they are protecting themselves from predators.

Pet owners love to establish a friendship with their pets. For pets such as dogs and cats , this friendship is usually mutual, and the pet will equally grow fond of their owner. Whether hedgehogs are affectionate or not, we understand it is a matter of concern that requires attention.

Hedgehogs are affectionate animals. How much affection a pet hedgehog shows you is dependent on its past and personality. Some hedgehogs are very affectionate and will even kiss or nibble their owners most of the time, while others will rarely do this. Also, hedgehogs will display affection to their owner once they become used to them.

When new, a hedgehog will hiss and huff if you try to hold them but will become friendlier once they discover you have good intentions for them. They will also be more affectionate when they feel threatened, especially when a new person tries to hold them or during a vet visit. In these cases, your pet will come near you and try holding your hands for you to protect them. While they are wonderfully fascinating creatures with quite the intelligence, hedgehogs are solitary animals that will often prefer keeping their own company.

You may be wondering whether your hedgehog can show affection. Hedgehogs show affection to their owners through certain unique actions such as poking their head out of the hiding place once they hear your voice. Some may also lay spread out, fully relaxed when snuggling with you, as pointed out earlier. Also, if your hedgehog has a particularly social nature, they may express affection by waiting at the front of their cage when awaiting you. Most hedgehogs will become accustomed to particular schedules, for instance, waiting for you during their regular playtime.

Some hedgehogs will go all the way and even offer their owners some nose kisses and nibble them affectionately while some will huff as an acknowledgment when handled. Personalities play a significant role when it comes to how affectionate hedgehogs are. Hedgehogs show the most affection when they are in threatening situations, for instance, during a vet visit or any unknown person attempting to hold them.

In such situations, they show affection by trusting you with their life. At the beginning of your journey with the hedgehog, you must acknowledge that they will take their time to embrace and accept the new surrounding and new owners. Expect them to huff and hiss when you hold them before they slowly begin to warm up to you. So, how long will this take? Your behavior towards the hedgehog is also a significant determinant of how long it will take to get used to you.

Therefore, right from the start, spend time with your hedgehog. Allow them to sleep while curled up in a blanket while on your lap. The first two weeks you spend with your hedgehog are the most important determinants to shaping their reception to you and how long they will take to get used to you. Just remember that they are in a new environment and are beginning to learn to trust you. The hedgehog is also adjusting to the scary and exciting combinations of smells in their new home.

Expect them to ball up more often and take their time to unball.