Papa, a 4-year-old hedgehog, has a cushy life, said owner Candi Wagner of Fenton.
“He’s spoiled rotten,” Wagner said. “Every time a light comes on he thinks it’s time to eat and he squeals. They normally don’t make noise. When he wants to be fed, he squeals.
“He eats dog food and cat food and, periodically, a strawberry.”
Wagner said she has been a fan of hedgehogs as pets for quite a while.
“When I lived in Montana, I had a hedgehog,” she said. “I wanted one when I got here. They’re hard to find. I got mine from a good breeder in Illinois.”
Papa does not always play well with Wagner’s other pets.
“He loves to aggravate the cats,” she said. “I’ll put him in a little fence (outside of his cage). If the cats jumps in, he’ll chase them out.”
She advocates for hedgehogs as pets.
“They’re quiet and nocturnal,” Wagner said. “They’re very friendly.
“They live seven to eight years, depending on how well they’re taken care of.”
PET SPOT invites readers to tell a story about their pets or nonprofit animal adoption agencies to write about an adoptable pet and submit it, plus an attached photo, to news@leaderpublications.biz. Please include a phone number and city of residence for submissions from individuals and contact information for organizations.
