Hedgehogs like to be petted gently on their back in small circles, the sides of their face, behind their ears, or their belly, but only when they are relaxed and trust you. You should use firm, deliberate pressure, not light strokes, to avoid tickling them, and always approach from underneath to avoid startling them, as they dislike being picked up from above and may curl up.
Hedgehog are spiked covered prey animals prone to anxiety. While belly rub/cuddle posts get a lot of attention they are the exception due to good breeding/luck not the rule. It is very possible a hedgehog will never be comfortable being handled even after concerted effort.
Despite their preference for limited physical affection, once your pet hedgehog has adapted to being handled and settled into its environment, you can gently stroke their quills and allow them to climb up your arms and explore various areas under supervision.
The easiest way for you to pet a hedgehog is to let it do the work for you. Once your hedgehog is moving around in your hands it is likely to “root” under your thumbs. Pay close attention for opportunities to rub your hedgehog from its nose to the top of its head.
Observe your hedgehog's body language; a relaxed hedgehog will have its quills relatively flat, while a stressed hedgehog will ball up tightly. Signs of a Happy Hedgehog: Active exploration: A happy hedgehog will readily explore its environment, sniffing and investigating new objects.
The average hedgehog is content to do its own thing and may not show any outward sign that it cares about its owner's existence unless you have a treat in your hand. Despite their somewhat solitary nature, they can become very affectionate with their owners and will even enjoy snuggling on your lap.
Just like any other pet, hedgehogs love treats. Waxworms are a favorite with these guys. You can also offer Hedgie some cooked chicken, turkey, or egg. Low fat/high protein wet cat or dog food is also fine, as is the occasional pinky mouse.
As pets, hedgehogs can recognize and remember their owners' scent and voice, making them a loyal and affectionate companion. They can also quickly learn routines and habits, such as when it's time to eat or play.
Although hedgehogs do bite, their tiny teeth are unlikely to cause you very much pain. The force of a hedgehog bite is typically linked to what your pet is feeling. An angry hedgehog could cause a bite that hurts a bit.
Eyes and ears: Hedgehogs have pretty poor eyesight, so they instead rely on their sense of smell to get around and hunt for food. Hedgehogs have short ears, mostly concealed by their fur.
If your hedgehog is unusually still in the evening—sleeping in short, restless bursts, waking and dozing repeatedly, or staying sluggish when they would normally explore—it can be a sign of unhappiness or even illness.
Hedgehogs have prickly quills along their back to protect them from predators. They are shy animals and will roll up into a tight ball and hide their face if they are frightened. Always approach a hedgehog slowly and handle them with a small towel so you don't prick yourself on one of their quills.
Hedgehogs mainly eat creepy crawlies
The majority of their diet is made up of invertebrates (or creepy crawlies). We know what they eat from scientific studies that have analysed hedgehog poo or looked in the stomachs of hedgehogs killed on roads.
Making Friends With a Hedgehog
Adult Hedgehog Looking Busy - Leave Alone
And nursing mothers may take a break from the nest during the day to go and look for food and water. So, if you see a decent-sized adult out and about looking busy during the day it is probably fine and you should leave it to go about its business.
Hedgehogs are solitary animals in the wild, so they may be shy and wary of people. Building trust with a pet hedgehog takes time, patience, and a gentle approach. If you get a hedgehog when it's young and slowly acclimate it to being handled, they can be playful, but they may never become cuddly.
Tell everyone you know: Hedgehogs are not “pets.” Never buy a hedgehog or any other animal. If you're ready to open your heart and home to a companion animal, open-admission shelters are the first and best place to look.
Signs of stress
Many hedgehogs are busy and want to try to explore but a stressed hedgehog will be much more persistent and not easily distracted. The stressed hedgehog may also twitch or shake its head nervously. It is almost as if the hedgehog is saying “Sensory overload. I can't take it anymore.”
Scent & Taste
If you smell good, and taste good through licking… watch out! Sometimes hedgehogs will lick salt from sweaty hands and become tempted to bite, because they like the salty taste. When a hedgehog bites due to taste and smell it is exhibiting normal, but unacceptable behavior.
Hedgehogs are known to be very communicative when it comes to their needs, and often make a low purring sound when they are happy or content.
Hedgehogs will not usually eat and sleep in the same place so it's best not to offer food inside the home (except perhaps to tempt them in initially). Once there is a resident, move food away from the box so as not to attract predators or rival hedgehogs to the site.
However, when compared to ferrets, monkeys, dogs, cats and squirrels; hedgehogs don't score quite so high on the critter IQ test. Hedgehogs can easily learn to recognize their owners and things that are “food” related, but as far as tricks are concerned, don't be surprised if you don't have much success.
Toxic foods for hedgehogs include chocolate, caffeine, dairy products, and certain fruits like grapes and citrus. It's essential to avoid these items to ensure your hedgehog's health and well-being.
In the wild hedgehogs will travel for miles each night foraging for food, this instinct to roam means that hedgehogs require larger enclosures than you may expect, and a wheel for exercise is an absolute must.
The British Hedgehog Society recommends that in captivity adults should be fed a meat- based tinned dog or cat food mixed with unsweetened cereal (Weetabix, oats or bran). Complete dry cat biscuits are good for the teeth.