Pet hedgehogs have become popular in many countries despite welfare needs that are frequently misunderstood and poorly met in captive conditions.
Hedgehog welfare in captivity is compromised by fundamental mismatches between wild biology and typical pet conditions. Animals that naturally roam kilometers at night are kept in cages that prevent normal activity. Incorrect temperature management triggers hibernation attempts in a species whose captive-bred individuals lack the physiological preparation to survive them. The solitary nature of hedgehogs means social isolation is not a welfare problem, but activity restriction and enrichment poverty are.