Meerkats, with their upright stance and perpetually curious expressions, often spark the whimsical thought: “Wouldn’t it be amazing to have one of these adorable creatures as a pet?” Their social behaviors, seemingly affectionate interactions, and undeniable charm can easily lead one to believe they would make an exotic yet loving companion. However, before you envision a meerkat joining your family, it’s crucial to understand the stark reality behind keeping these wild animals as pets. The truth is far removed from the endearing image often portrayed, and centers around the meerkat’s intrinsic wild nature and complex needs.
The Social Meerkat: A Solitary Life is No Life At All
Meerkats, scientifically known as suricates, are inherently social creatures. In their natural habitat, the harsh landscapes of the Kalahari Desert, survival hinges on group living. These animals are “obligatory group-living,” meaning their well-being and safety are inextricably linked to their mob. A solitary meerkat is not just a lonely meerkat; it’s a vulnerable meerkat. Left alone, they become easy prey for predators like hawks and eagles. The seemingly endearing way a meerkat might follow you around isn’t a sign of affection akin to a dog’s loyalty; it’s a deeply ingrained survival mechanism. Young meerkats, constantly under threat, stick close to the group for protection – a 24/7 survival strategy that lasts their entire lifespan, which can be around 15 years. This fundamental need for constant companionship places immense pressure on any human attempting to replicate a meerkat mob.
Unlike domesticated animals like dogs and cats, meerkats have not undergone thousands of years of selective breeding to adapt to human companionship. Their wild instincts remain untamed, their survival mechanisms fully engaged. They find security and comfort only in close physical contact with others, day and night. Therefore, confining a meerkat alone, especially in a cage when it’s “inconvenient,” is an act of profound cruelty. Isolation triggers intense terror, leading to severe psychological distress. This trauma manifests in various destructive behaviors: hysteria, aggression, or obsessive self-grooming, sometimes escalating to self-mutilation. The psychological scars of isolation are deep and lifelong for these intensely social animals.
Nature’s Gardeners (and Home Demolishers)
For those who cherish their gardens, the prospect of a pet meerkat should immediately raise red flags. Meerkats are natural excavators. Over 90% of their wild diet consists of subterranean creatures – grubs, beetles, scorpions, and similar delights hidden beneath the soil. Digging isn’t just about food for meerkats; it’s an innate, instinctual behavior. Baby meerkats begin digging practice as young as 8 weeks old, honing their skills and strength until, by about 5 months, they can spend up to 6 hours daily creating deep burrows. A pristine garden quickly transforms into a lunar landscape under the industrious paws of a meerkat. Even a well-fed meerkat will dig relentlessly to satisfy this deeply ingrained need.
Their powerful forepaws, equipped with long, robust nails, are nature’s digging tools. This inherent digging behavior doesn’t magically disappear indoors. Meerkats will excavate grout from between tiles, shred carpets, and dismantle skirting boards. Plaster walls, cement floors, even furniture and potted plants are not safe from their digging instincts. A “house meerkat” is essentially a miniature, furry demolition crew, unintentionally wreaking havoc on your home. Attempting to suppress this natural behavior is futile and stressful for the animal.
A Meerkat’s Diet: Not Your Average Pet Food
Meeting a meerkat’s dietary needs is far more complex than simply offering commercial dog or cat food. Their primary diet is insectivorous. Insect exoskeletons are rich in calcium, a crucial nutrient for bone and tooth development, especially in young meerkats. This calcium must be supplemented through insects or specialized calcium and vitamin powders; otherwise, young meerkats are highly susceptible to developing rickets, leading to crippling deformities.
Dog food is particularly unsuitable, containing insufficient protein and excessive carbohydrates for a meerkat’s nutritional profile. Meerkats fed primarily on dog food will quickly become obese and unhealthy. Cat food is marginally better but still doesn’t fully meet their needs. Meerkats are adapted to constant foraging and consuming small food items throughout the day, unlike the large, infrequent meals typical for cats and dogs. Their rapid metabolism means they often appear perpetually hungry. Feeding them every time they beg, coupled with insufficient exercise (wild meerkats roam approximately 5 kilometers daily), inevitably leads to obesity and related health problems in a captive environment.
From Cute to… Cautious: Aggression and Scent Marking
While young meerkats may seem friendly and docile, their temperament can drastically change around 6 months of age. They can transform into surprisingly assertive animals, defending their territory and social group with vigor. A pet meerkat, imprinted on humans, will perceive strangers as threats to its “mob,” which is now its human family. This instinctual defensiveness can manifest as aggression towards visitors. Strangers, including children who might appear vulnerable, can become targets of severe bites, with meerkats latching on and causing significant injury. This aggression is not a behavioral issue that can be trained away; it’s a genetically programmed response. Such behavior can create serious social problems for meerkat owners, straining relationships with neighbors and visitors.
Adding to the challenges, as meerkats mature, their anal glands develop, producing a strong, musky secretion. They use this scent to mark their territory, creating a sense of security and “home.” In a domestic setting, this translates to scent marking on virtually every smooth surface in your house. While this behavior is natural for the meerkat, the pervasive musky odor can be extremely unpleasant for human cohabitants.
Ethical Considerations: The Meerkat’s Well-being
The tragic anecdote of a veterinarian encountering a severely mutilated meerkat – obese, castrated, declawed, and with removed canine teeth – underscores the ethical dilemma of keeping meerkats as pets. Such extreme measures to force a wild animal to conform to a human lifestyle are undeniably cruel. Taking on a meerkat as a “pet” is a lifelong commitment, requiring 24/7 attention and acceptance of their destructive behaviors, specialized dietary needs, potential aggression, and scent marking.
Before considering a meerkat as a pet, it’s vital to honestly assess whether you can truly provide for their complex needs and respect their wild nature. For your own sake, and most importantly, for the well-being of these fascinating but inherently wild creatures, reconsider the notion of meerkat domestication. Their place is in their natural habitat, thriving in their complex social groups, not confined within the walls of a human home.
