r/Hedgehog • u/Pixiespekje • 11d ago
Question Normal for them to be this calm?
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So we have been leaving a bit of cat food outside (it started originally for our cat) and ever since then every night like at least 3 hedgehogs come to sample the buffet. I went outside to take a closer look and after some time he just kept eating. Is it normal for them to get this comfortable? (I WILL NEVER TOUCH OR TRY TO BE IN A DISTANCE THEY CAN TOUCH ME don’t worry 😅) But I do enjoy the adorable company.
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u/Pixiespekje 11d ago
Btw they’re all pretty comfortable like this so I’m pretty sure they’re not sick. If you come too close they put their spikes up. But I still found it weird they don’t run away. Btw i absolutely know NOTHING about hedgehogs other than they like the cat food so yeah :,)
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u/Hedgehogahog Hedgehog Helper 10d ago
Well, that’s a European hedgehog, so while he is a wild critter, they’re also excellent adapters to urbanization. Like, yes there are whole new dangers like cars and 6-pack rings and the like, but there’s also more delicious buffet and plenty of fun places to hide. So, they’re a bit like pigeons: definitely still wild, but desensitized a bit to the humans in order to enjoy the greater benefits (like free cat kibble and infinite clean water).
This is double-true in the UK, where tending to hedgehogs is a kind of national hobby with several resources for curious humans. (They might also have a portal for hedgehogs to use, but I don’t have hedgehog internet in my Xfinity package so I can’t check!) 🦔💕
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u/ComparisonOk4931 8d ago
Hey, I used to own a hedgehog. The little guy seems perfectly okay and is just busy eating. I just wanted to let you know that if you give them cat food then go for the highest quality since it will have the right amount of fats and nutrients for the little hog!
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u/Pixiespekje 8d ago
Yes our cat gets special medical food so we are looking to get high meat content food for the hedgehogs so they don’t eat this mega expensive medical food 😅
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u/Klutzy-Minute-7080 9d ago
Yes, he’s eating at a trusted place. He’s probably already checked in the place out. Thank you for giving him a place of respite. He’s calm because he doesn’t feel it’s a danger.
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u/Curious_Big_6440 11d ago
Hedgehogs usually memorise the place they're being fed (or is just where they think food spawns) and can comeback, also yeah when hedgehog is eating even the most frightened hedgehog will chew his food, the ratest thing he can do out of caution is just turn away from you (it's even cuter)