Hedgehogs are increasingly popular as pets but have complex needs that most owners are poorly prepared to meet. Understanding their welfare requirements prevents common and preventable suffering.
Hedgehog welfare in captivity depends critically on owner education about their specialized needs. Exercise deprivation causes obesity and metabolic disease. Inadequate diet causes malnutrition. Solitary housing is appropriate for their naturally solitary nature but enrichment is essential. The hedgehog-keeping community has developed excellent welfare resources, and welfare outcomes in well-informed keeping contexts can be very good. The challenge is reaching uninformed first-time owners before welfare problems develop.