Skunks as pets?

Does anyone own or know anyone who owns a skunk as a pet? where do you find legalization laws in regaurds to owning one?

I went to a Pet Expo in Cleveland one year and there was a couple with skunks. I think it was more of a rescue situation, they weren't just some random person who had skunks as pets.

I have heard they are very similar to cats, can easily be litterbox trained and are treated just like cats. They have free roamed of the house, sleep in bed with you, etc... as long as you train and introduce them properly. I don't know, I would never buy one from a breeder as I wouldn't want to be promoting breeding wild animals for pets, but I bet you could find some on petfinder.com if you are really interested in adopting one.

Long time ago I saw a skunk in a pet shop. At the time I really wanted it But the owner asked if I had cats - yes, and he told me no way would you ever put a skunk and a cat together - they will fight.

Skunks also are diggers and their claws will tear up carpet, etc. easily. They are nocturnal too. Of course if you did find one for sale it would be descented

I think you probably have to have a permit from your state to have one - its like raccoons and other wild animals - most cases you need special permits.

Here are the list of states that allow ownership.
Legal States

And here is the Owners of Pet Skunks website, full of other useful information.
OOPS

Skunks are one of the exotics I always wanted to own, unfortunately, I've never lived anywhere that it was legal to do so.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

Long time ago I saw a skunk in a pet shop. At the time I really wanted it

But the owner asked if I had cats - yes, and he told me no way would you ever put a skunk and a cat together - they will fight.

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Too bad that pet shop owner didn't know better. Maybe it was when skunks were first becoming more common as pets (not that they are really common now but you know what I mean) They won't fight with cats if they are properly introduced like any other animal and both spayed or neutered and supervised at first. They can peacefully coexist. Skunks tend to get mean when they are kept in a cage and ignored, which hopefully wouldn't happen in the first place. They are very friendly animals. Keep their claws clipped like cats and they should be fine.

I have even heard that skunks in the wild are friendly enough to come right up to you. But you can't really do that now with worry of rabies and disease. Plus people usually freak out and run the other way when skunks come around. But if there was no disease and people stayed calm and let the skunk approach, they are naturally very mellow friendly animals.

im not thinking of getting one.. but was always curious because i have skunks who come to my house to eat... a momma and her 4 babies... its so cute but since i know they are deadly sprayers and carriers of eveyr disease under the sun... ijust watch them from my glass sliding door...and they come right up to the glass like let me in lol!!

Originally Posted by Jen

I have even heard that skunks in the wild are friendly enough to come right up to you. But you can't really do that now with worry of rabies and disease. Plus people usually freak out and run the other way when skunks come around. But if there was no disease and people stayed calm and let the skunk approach, they are naturally very mellow friendly animals.

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This is so true, but I had never paired this together... Kind of a funny story. My neighbor got a telescope for her kids for Christmas and asked if I wanted to come out with her one night to test it out (we love looking at the stars). So we went out and set it up and took turns. Jean was looking through the scope when I saw something moving. What I saw was a skunk and Jeans hand going out to pet it (she was looking through the scope, not paying attention adn thought it was her black cat Rudy). I yelled out, Jean its a skunk! And she was up off the ground in a second and we RAN to teh porch. After that moment of panic we burst out laughing and couldn't stop. Jean almost pet a skunk . I think we told the story so well that her daughter is sure she was there when it happened hehe.

Oooh! I love skunks! I have always wanted one as a pet but alas... I'm sure it will never happen since I've just about met my animal quota as it is!

I also want a pot belly pig! What am I talking about- I want my own little Noah's Ark

Being in the country, we've had our share of skunks and coons coming to the house - they wanted the barn cats food. So we started putting the food/water on a high table - one that coons and skunks cannot climb. It worked well once the food was off ground level.

BUT we had one skunk that wanted to make a home under the well cover - which we did not want. I don't mind the coons, but I'd rather not have a skunk hanging around. We have the barn cats and a dog, so you can understand why

Anyway, one morning early I surprised a skunk on the porch steps and was very lucky I didn't get sprayed. But I cautioned DH to check under the car before he started up the engine.

Wild skunks are not fun to have around. BTW baby skunks are full loaded so be careful!

I don't wanna sound rude or anything,, but aren't there enough kitten and cats in the world who need good homes, that skunks who are outside animals by nature, should really stay there.. No offense,, I just have such a hard time hearing of kittens and cats who are killed on a daily basis because no one wants them,, when people are wanting skunks as pets..

That might sound mean,, I don't mean to offend,, I had to say something..
Heather

Did you know that these skunks are cast offs?
The by-products of the near dead fur industry like the ferrets, not taken from the wild, these animals have been captive bred for at least 100 years.

They are just as deserving of a home

As mentioned skunks have been bred in captivity for a long time... They are not wild-caught. In fact you can find people breeding skunks for temperament, color, etc just like with purebred cat breeders! They even hold skunk shows like they do for dogs/cats/ferrets/rats/etc...

I've always thought about owning a skunk, but they're illegal here... I guess I'll just have to stick to ferrets.

Noting that Massachusetts is NOT presently a state where skunk ownership is legal, I will share my memories of a fellow MIT coed bringing in her pet skunk Magellan Dustmop. Undoubtedly captive-bred and certainly de-scented, he was a dear little creature, but his fur was more like a bear than a dog, let alone a cat.
Since I put out catfood every night for various stray & feral cats, other creatures come by, especially in winter. I had a skunk around for most of last winter, but I just tried not to scare it & hoped the visiting raccoons were equally considerate. (They were.) It spent time under the house, but I guess it felt at home & unthreatened by us.