Meerkats, with their upright stance and perpetually curious expressions, often evoke a strong desire to be kept as pets. Their social antics and seemingly affectionate nature, as seen in viral videos, can be incredibly appealing. You might find yourself thinking, “They are so cute and they love you, look how they follow you around and try to cuddle!” This sentiment, however, often stems from a misunderstanding of meerkat behavior and needs. So, Can A Meerkat Be A Pet in a responsible and ethical way? The reality is far more complex than those endearing online clips suggest.
Unlike domesticated animals like dogs and cats, meerkats remain fundamentally wild creatures. Their survival instincts, honed over generations in the harsh environments of the Kalahari Desert, are deeply ingrained and not easily overridden by human affection or comfortable homes. Understanding these instincts is crucial before even considering meerkat ownership. One of the most significant of these is their absolute dependence on social structure. In the wild, a solitary meerkat is a vulnerable meerkat. They are, as the original article states, “obligatory group-living mongoose species.” That charming behavior of following you around isn’t a sign of budding companionship; it’s a desperate survival mechanism. A young meerkat separated from its mob is in constant danger, and clinging to your heels mimics sticking close to protective group members. This survival imperative is a 24/7 reality for them, lasting their entire lifespan, which can be up to 15 years. This inherent need for constant companionship places an immense burden on any human attempting to keep a meerkat as a pet.
The Profound Social Needs of Meerkats: Why Isolation is Cruel
Meerkats are not just social animals; they are communal beings who thrive on constant interaction and physical closeness within their group. This “togetherness” is not a preference; it’s a fundamental requirement for their psychological well-being. They derive security and safety from being in close proximity to their mob, day and night. Imagine the distress, then, of a meerkat kept as a solitary pet and confined alone, especially during the vulnerable hours of darkness. Confining a meerkat in isolation, particularly after it has become accustomed to human interaction, is described as “the pinnacle of cruelty” in the original article. This isolation triggers extreme anxiety and terror, leading to severe behavioral problems. These can manifest as hysteria, aggression born out of fear and frustration, or obsessive self-grooming, sometimes escalating to self-mutilation as a desperate attempt to cope with the trauma of perceived abandonment. These are not simply behavioral quirks; they are profound indicators of deep psychological distress stemming from their unmet social needs. The trauma inflicted by isolation is not easily overcome; it leaves lasting scars on the meerkat’s psyche.
“Home Improvement” by Meerkat: Destructive Digging Instincts
For those who cherish their gardens or the pristine condition of their homes, a pet meerkat presents a significant challenge – their innate digging behavior. Meerkats are natural excavators. In the wild, over 90% of their diet consists of subterranean insects, grubs, beetles, and scorpions. Digging is not just about foraging for food; it’s an instinctive behavior deeply ingrained in their nature. Even a well-fed meerkat retains this urge to dig. As the original article points out, young meerkats begin digging as early as 8 weeks old, honing their skills until around 5 months, they are digging for up to 6 hours daily. This relentless digging transforms any garden into “a miniature minefield” in a matter of days. Their powerful forepaws, equipped with long, robust nails, are perfectly adapted for excavation. Trying to suppress this digging instinct is futile and goes against their very nature.
This digging behavior doesn’t magically disappear indoors. A house becomes an extension of their natural digging environment, with predictable consequences. Grout between tiles is excavated, carpets are torn apart, skirting boards and even plaster walls or cement floors become targets. Stuffed furniture and potted plants are also not safe from their digging endeavors. The original article aptly describes a “house” meerkat as a “one-mongoose demolition team.” This destruction is not malicious; it’s simply the expression of a powerful, natural instinct that clashes dramatically with the expectations of a domestic pet.
The Meerkat Menu: Dietary Needs Beyond Pet Food Aisles
Meeting a meerkat’s dietary needs is another significant hurdle for potential owners. Their natural diet consists primarily of insects. Standard commercial dog or cat food is simply inadequate to fulfill their nutritional requirements, particularly during their crucial early months. Insect exoskeletons are rich in calcium, essential for bone and tooth development. This calcium intake must be replicated through insect supplementation or calcium/vitamin powders to prevent debilitating conditions like rickets in young meerkats. Dog food is particularly unsuitable, containing insufficient protein and excessive carbohydrates, leading to obesity. While cat food is marginally better, it still doesn’t align with a meerkat’s natural feeding patterns. Meerkats are adapted to continuous foraging and consuming small food items throughout the day, not the large, infrequent meals typical for dogs and cats. Their rapid metabolism further exacerbates this need for frequent feeding. They often exhibit constant hunger and begging behavior. Overfeeding in response to this begging, coupled with the limited exercise opportunities in a domestic setting compared to their wild counterparts who travel approximately 5km daily, quickly leads to obesity and related health problems.
From Cuddly Cub to Cautious Combatant: Meerkat Aggression
While young meerkats may initially appear friendly and docile, this can drastically change as they mature, typically around 6 months of age. This is when their adult instincts kick in, particularly their territorial and defensive behaviors. A human-imprinted “pet” meerkat often perceives visitors as threats to its territory and “mob” (its human family). This can lead to aggressive behavior towards strangers. The original article warns that any unfamiliar person can be attacked and severely bitten. Meerkats are known to latch on and bite to the bone, refusing to release their grip. Children are particularly vulnerable targets as they may be perceived as weaker and less threatening, making them easier targets in the meerkat’s eyes. This aggression poses significant social problems for owners, potentially straining relationships with neighbors and visitors. It’s crucial to understand that this aggression isn’t a sign of a “bad” meerkat; it’s an instinctive defense mechanism, genetically programmed and unalterable by punishment.
Adding to the challenges, mature meerkats develop anal glands that produce a strong, musky secretion. They use this scent to mark their territory, which, in a domestic setting, translates to marking “almost all smooth surfaces in a house.” This scent marking provides the meerkat with a sense of security and “home,” but it is often highly unpleasant for human cohabitants.
The Ethical Consideration: Meerkat Welfare vs. Human Whim
The original article recounts a veterinarian’s distressing experience with a meerkat brought in for euthanasia. This meerkat was morbidly obese, neutered, declawed, and had its canine teeth removed – a horrific example of mutilation in the name of pet ownership. Such extreme measures highlight the fundamental incompatibility between a meerkat’s wild nature and the demands of a domestic lifestyle. Attempting to force a wild animal to “fit” into a human mold by suppressing its natural behaviors is, as the article concludes, “nothing but sheer cruelty.”
Choosing to take on a meerkat as a “pet” is a commitment that extends to 24 hours a day, for the entirety of the animal’s potentially long life. It means accepting the destruction of your home and garden, providing a specialized and demanding diet, and managing potentially aggressive behavior towards visitors, all while enduring the pervasive musky odor of their scent markings.
In conclusion, while the image of a pet meerkat might be appealing, the reality of meerkat ownership is far removed from the idealized picture. Considering their profound social needs, destructive instincts, specialized dietary requirements, potential aggression, and the ethical implications of keeping a wild animal in captivity, the answer to “can a meerkat be a pet?” is a resounding no for most people. For your own sake, and most importantly, for the well-being of the animal, it is essential to reconsider this notion and appreciate meerkats in their natural environment or dedicated wildlife sanctuaries, rather than attempting to force them into the role of a domestic pet.
