AboutLaura T. Expertise Any questions regarding housing, feeding, or other care for pet hedgehogs or whether a hedgehog would be a suitable pet for a particular person or family. Also able to answer most breeding questions and willing to suggest questions to ask a veterinarian if an animal requires veterinary care.
Experience I have had pet hedgehogs for the past eleven years and have seriously bred them, focusing on excellence in health and temperament, for the past nine years. During the entire time I have owned hedgehogs I have provided rescue services whenever needed. I have been involved with several nationwide hedgehog organizations and am one of the owners of a large social and advisory site for hedgehog owners. With the help of colleagues I developed a test for hedgehog temperament that has been used both nationally and internationally by hedgehog organizations, breeders, and fanciers.
Education/Credentials BS in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Have done extensive independent study on care of hedgehogs, including studying information on their lives in the wild and veterinary publications both on the internet and as recommended by our veterinarian.
Past/Present Clients Kansas State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Sedgwick County Zoo, Garden City Zoo
Expert: Laura T. Date: 4/14/2008 Subject: hedgehogs pooing indoors
Question please advise. we have a hedgehog which lives in our garden.All is fine apart from every night he comes through our catflap and poos in our dining room. We cannot lock the flap because of the cat. We just wondered if there was anything we could put down at the entrance to deter him (e.g lemon juice or something) Its great he,s around and the cat and dog take no notice of him, its just the poo thing. Thanks for reading this, please help. Nigel
Answer I don't really have any experience with Euro Hedgies, so all I can do is try to come up with suggestions based on my experience with the African hedgehogs. You might be able to deter him with some sort of pepper, but I would be concerned about either him or your cat getting it in their eyes or nose, so I would be hesitant to use that. What I would try would be some sort of a physical obstacle, either something difficult to climb over (but that the cat can leap) or something like the slightly sharp pads they sell to put in potted plants so the cats don't dig in them. You would need to be careful as I know you don't want to hurt him, but it can be VERY hard to deter a determined hedgehog!! If you think your cat would tolerate it you might try locking the door just for a night or two to get him out of the habit, or getting one of the doors that only opens for an animal wearing a "key" of sorts on its collar. Hopefully this gives you some ideas to help solve your problem, I'm sorry I don't have an actual "solution" for you!
