Are meerkats illegal to keep as pets?

Question

I live in missouri and I saw a woman at a flea market selling meerkat kittens. Do you know if this is illegal.

Answer 1

YES! They are very illegal. They originate from Africa as you know and they need to dig, they have to dig, they are born to dig.
If they don't have a beach/desert like atmosphere to dig in your house will become their desert. How you ask? Well, unable to use dirt/sand your sheetrocked walls become their "desert". Your floors, carpets, cabinets, wiring, plumbing, ect. WILL be ruined beyond repair in some cases.

It is very cruel to keep Meerkats captive. They need their ENTIRE family to thrive and be truly happy till they go to Meerkat heaven.

They work as a unit. There is your "Alpha" Meerkat (usually a female) who has her "choice" baby's daddy and then there are her kids and the rest of her relatives that all play a vital role in the survival of the ENTIRE Meerkat clan.

To even have a Meerkat outside of a zoo environment in the states is illegal. Infact Meerkats are so tempremental and have such intricate needs many zoo's refuse to raise them in captivity.

That alone should tell people looking to keep one as a pet something. Any person who is selling Meerkats as pets at a flea market should be taken behind the shed and shot! The person who supplied HER with the Meerkats needs the same punishment!

Watch "Meerkat Manor" on the "Animal Planet Channel" also log into the "Animal Planet" site and click on the link for "Meerkat Manor" it is a mad cool site dedicated to not only the show but to educating people on these adorable, misunderstood relatives of the Mongoose.

I fell in love with the little rascals after the first episode I watched.
My husband says "your friends are on tv again" he thought it was funny that there is a reality show for "Meerkats".

If you see this again please call "Animal Control" . The "Meerkat Mashers" need to be stopped! Now you know the dire circumstances behind a person keeping Meerkats captive outside of a zoo setting.

Answer 2

Since meerkats are strictly regulated must have aspecial license to have and meet regulations to keep that is a illegaal act snd should be reprted to the authorities. Also Meerkats live in large colonies so they are very family close and social animals and to sell pups must mean taken away from mother-very cruel and highly illegal. For a meerkat to live alone or as ayoung pup to be taken from mother is devastating and they can die from grief and loneliness. If the fleamarket is near enough I'd go look for the woman and if you saw report her immediately. You can now or when open call your local pound or ASPCA and find the number to call to make sure legal action is taken. The also do NOT make good pets for aare NOT Domesticated animals go to www.meerkat.org and do a search on meerkats for other websites with lots of information. One fact is that Meerkats will bite and are very territorial so i meerkats kept as pets will act the same as they do in the wild and fight viciously to protect thir territory which would be their cage-are not the kind of animals that one can snuggle with or even pet safely for have a very intricate social behaviour system and if the owner unknowingly breaks a behaviour rule the meerkat will teach by nipping and even biting as this is how they teach other meerkats to benave properly. If you are thinking about buying one-do not for even nutrition is difficult since no Meerkat food is on the market and would be impossible to get all they need into one food-their favorite food are scorpions either alive or frshly killed for are NOT scavengers-do not eat dead bugs,animals-although they look cute and people think they want one soon regret-God made many animals that are cute BUT some He made to live with people and some He made to be in the wild-Meerkats were made to live with other Meerkats in the Wild.

Answer 3

Meerkats For Sale

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Are meerkats illegal to keep as pets?
I live in missouri and I saw a woman at a flea market selling meerkat kittens. Do you know if this is illegal.

Answer 5

This applies to monkeys, so probably meerkats as well.

You shouldn't need a permit to keep a meerkat as a pet, since they aren't native to USA. Still, check with your local representatives or humane society and be sure to read A LOT about meerkats before making the commitment of sharing your home with one.

Answer 6

If meerkat ownership in not included in state and local laws in Missouri, requiring special permits and facilities, then it is certainly an oversight. Meerkats are wild animals with a complex social structure. To isolate one or two as pets would be a cruel fate for them.Contact the Missouri Humane Society (site follows).

http://www.hsmo.org/m_animalabuse/reportabuse.php

Also, from the following link:

"Would Meerkats make good pets? - The answer to this question is no, not really. In the United States, you need special permits to keep these animals. The government mandates strict specification for Meerkats enclosures as well as their climate. Meerkats will think your family is their gang and they are the alpha. When you have guest to your home they will get aggressive towards them."

http://www.meerkats.net/info.htm#Meerkat%20captivity

Answer 7

Hop over to this website. Information was interesting.
I love meerkats and watch them on TV but I question how happy they would be as house pets since they are group animals that live in colonies. IN Arizona the weather would support it but it doesn't seem it is legal in the USA anyway but OK in Africa.

http://www.meerkat.org/mammals/meerpet.html

Answer 8

dear moonkisse, oh you bet your sweet bippy they are those little critters areWILD animals, we do not take a wild animal out of the wild that they are used to, and bring it into an unfamiliar place. they can and will attack you .listen,if i had my way and if it were legal i would have a lion cub as a pet.my parents would have 28 fits as well,so give up this idea its not good for you or the poor meerkat. rubberstampr

Answer 9

I really don't know, but I know they keep prairie dogs as pets in Washington. Just a little frame of reference.

Answer 10

Phone humane Society