I've got a hedgehog!

jennyr

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Tonight, because I was expecting a friend to arrive late off a plane, I went and switched on the outside lights and there was a little hedgehog on the terrace! I guess it was attracted by the garden fountain and pool. I have never seen one in this country before, though I used to have them in my garden in London. All cats were in of course, as it was dark, so I don't know how they would have reacted to each other. I put some milk out for it - another mouth to feed! But it is nice to think it is there.
 

gailc

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I don't think I've ever seen one (perhaps a zoo??) I've seen pictures of them and they look so cute. Is that true????
 
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jennyr

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I will try and get some pix but it could be difficult - I don't know what time it will be around. I would have to sit in the dark looking out the bottom window all evening. It looked like quite a young one and in good condition. The only problem with hedgehogs is that they are generally riddled with fleas and I don't think it would let me Frontline it!
 
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jennyr

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Can I ask why you don't like them? Is there something I don't know? The ones that lived in my garden in London were never any trouble and they ate slugs and snails.
 

jcat

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Jenny, be careful with the milk - hedgehogs can't tolerate lactose, so the only milk they should get is the lactose-reduced kind, or "cat milk". Otherwise they get the "runs". They generally do very well on canned cat food. Ticks aren't the only problem. They often have lung worms.
 

wellingtoncats

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Originally Posted by jennyranson

Can I ask why you don't like them? Is there something I don't know? The ones that lived in my garden in London were never any trouble and they ate slugs and snails.
Well I'm pretty sure here in NZ they are riddled with disease and such - they are also considered a post here in NZ so I don't care for them.
 

fwan

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I love Hedgehogs and foxes!
we used to have 2 hedgehogs in london and 3 foxes that my mum used to feed everynight
 

stormy

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When we first moved to this town in the '70's there was quite a few night critters, raccoons, opossums and skunks. The raccoons used to come to the screen door and beg for food! And one time I seen an opossum at the window looking in at me!
Don't seen them anymore though!
 
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jennyr

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Don't worry - the milk I put out was goat milk, which is safe for cats and hedgehogs! It had all gone this morning, though whether it was the hedgehog or Sisco, the feral cat, who took it I have no idea.
 

shem

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Awww how lovely. I love hedgehogs. They are sooo cute, bless. My mum had a family living in her garden, Id spend hours out there when I lived at home waiting to see them, they like cat food!!
 

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Originally Posted by jennyranson

Don't worry - the milk I put out was goat milk, which is safe for cats and hedgehogs! It had all gone this morning, though whether it was the hedgehog or Sisco, the feral cat, who took it I have no idea.
I put out Whiskas cat milk for them, and chicken cat food. We seem to have four this year. They're really cute creatures, though my husband keeps telling me that I feed them too much - we're having a real problem with slugs this year, and he thinks my putting out food is cutting down on the number of slugs they eat.
 
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