Keeping A Pet Squirrel
Introduction
In the United States alone, more than 80 million households have pets. But when people think of having a pet, they usually don’t imagine a squirrel. Still, there are plenty of reasons why some people might find a squirrel to be the perfect companion: some squirrels can be affectionate and playful, it’s often easier for them to adjust to living with humans than other wild animals, and if you get one as a baby squirrel it will generally adapt better to life among humans. There are still challenges associated with caring for your own squirrel: you’ll need lots of time and patience to keep your pet happy and healthy; not all vets are experienced or comfortable dealing with exotics like squirrels; most wild animals don’t make good pets because they’re hard to socialize; and you’ll need an enclosure that will satisfy your pet’s natural climbing instincts.
1. Some people enjoy having squirrels as pets
Some people enjoy having squirrels as pets. They can be very affectionate and cute, and can be trained to perform tricks (such as playing basketball). Many squirrels are litter box trained, or at least use a box with ease if you provide it. Some even enjoy wearing harnesses and being walked around the house on a leash!
2. Squirrels can be affectionate and playful
- Squirrels can be affectionate and playful
Many people who have kept squirrels as pets have noted that their new companions are very affectionate, much like dogs or cats. They may jump on your shoulder, rest against you in bed, or curl up in your lap while you’re watching TV. Some even join in on playtime with your other pets (such as birds or rats). If you enjoy having a furry friend around that’s constantly happy to see you, then squirrels might just be the right choice!
3. It’s generally easier to get a squirrel to accept you as its new owner
Squirrels are very curious animals, and they will approach a new person with the intention of getting to know them. This can be used to your advantage when trying to get a squirrel accustomed to you as its owner. A squirrel may not have been raised by humans and have adapted its lifestyle around the presence of other squirrels because there is little interaction between people and most wild animals. If you have ever seen a wild animal up close (and I highly recommend it), then you know this is true. Squirrels do not seem as bothered by people walking around in their territory, but they also won’t come up and say hello unless they want something from you or if they’re just plain curious about something different in their environment!
Squirrels are also social creatures that need companionship just like any other pet would need companionship from another living thing such as another animal or even another person (yes, I’m serious). It’s important for the well-being of any animal’s mental health that they feel loved by someone else; this helps prevent depression which often leads into bad behavior like destroying things out of spite or aggression towards others who might try waking him/her up early one morning before work starts so he could take care his wife while she was having trouble breathing during labor pains from having twins.”
4. Most wild squirrels don’t make good pets
There are many reasons why wild squirrels do not make good pets, but the most important one is that they’re simply not socialized to be around humans. While some squirrels might have been rescued from being in a park or forest and can be rehabilitated to live happily in captivity, these are exceptions rather than the rule. Even if you find an orphaned baby squirrel, it’s unlikely that you can raise it yourself without prior knowledge of how to care for them properly.
5. Squirrels need lots of attention
If you want to keep a squirrel as a pet, it’s important to understand that they are very social animals. They need to be handled regularly and kept in a large cage so they can play with you. Squirrels can be trained to do things like fetch or roll over.
6. Not all vets are able to treat squirrels
A good vet is an important part of keeping a pet squirrel. You want to find a veterinarian who has experience treating and caring for squirrels, as well as other small animals like guinea pigs, rats, or rabbits. A good vet will be able to recommend a proper diet and provide toys and activities that your squirrels will enjoy. They can also help you with setting up their enclosure so that it’s safe and comfortable for them.
If your vet does not have experience with handling squirrels or other small pets such as guinea pigs, rats or rabbits then it may be best to find another vet that does specialize in these types of animals (such as an exotic pet practice). Additionally if they are unable to give recommendations on what type of food should be given then this may also indicate that they don’t specialize in treating domestic rodents at all which could result in improper care being provided for your new pet!
Squirells can be great pets if you have the time and patience for them
Squirrels are social animals that need to be with other squirrels at all times. They have a strong sense of smell and excellent hearing, so it is important that you take good care of your pet’s needs. You can feed them nuts and seeds, but they also need to chew on something to keep their teeth sharpened. If your pet squirrel does not have enough stimulation, it will start chewing on the furniture or other things in its environment.
Squirrels are very active animals and must be able to climb and jump if they want exercise indoors or outdoors depending on where you live. A tree branch inside has proven useful for keeping squirrels busy because they love climbing up them! If you do not have an appropriate enrichment item in your house like this one then consider getting some toys for them instead such as tunnels made out of PVC pipes which were originally designed for cats but work great here too!
Conclusion
Squirrels are cute and can make great pets, but they’re also a lot of work. If you find a wild squirrel you’re tempted to keep as a pet, our best advice is to just leave it alone. The squirrel will be happier in the long run and so will you!