Jack has a bit of a cuddle

[ChezaTheLoneWolf]

Its Cuz I Love Meerkats and I would spend everyday with mine I Just love how they sound and make there bark noises Also what makes them cuddle like how do you get them to cuddle with you besides You spending time with it.

[jackandmila]

@ChezaTheLoneWolf You'd need to spend every second with them is all. But like I said it doesn't always work. Never ever hurt them, don't shout at them, never hit them even if they are violent to you - if you hit them they are more likely to bite you, like dogs, it teaches them to be more violent and meerkats always fight back even against much bigger foes. If they are naughty you can spray them gently with water or isolate them so long as you do it immediately. They love cuddles naturally.

[ChezaTheLoneWolf]

Can I Train It to be nice and all Cuz Im Looking in to buying one soon a friend of mine is buying me one as a gift can you rain them easily and make them tame I am wondering I Love meerkats

[jackandmila]

@ChezaTheLoneWolf You can't really train them. If you give them *loads* of attention - as in spend all day with them when they are in their first year at the least - you have a better chance of them not being vicious, also you have make sure they meet tons of people and spend lots of time with them. But there is nothing that you can do to be sure it will grow up friendly. Some are, some aren't. Some bite all the time, some bite rarely, but they almost all bite. I've been *really* lucky with mine

[ChezaTheLoneWolf]

@jackandmila yeah I can do that I train dogs I use to tap my dogs in the nose to make them mind but I am never violent to my dog I am looking to buy an extotic animal lisense cuz where I live its not allowed unless you have the liesence Yours are so cuddley like though and so cute. And Does a yard thats big help the meerkat to cuz its a great place for running around I play with my little dog all the time in the yard.

[jackandmila]

@ChezaTheLoneWolf well yes - they like to go outside and in. Check they are ok with your dog - if it is a terrier type it will probably attack them - they are roughly the same size as a really large rat and some dogs want to kill them.

[ChezaTheLoneWolf]

@jackandmila I Have A Lab And Little Dog I Don't Have no terriers I just have a big yard and my dogs have been around cats and all so I don't think they would bother it plus what helps a meerkat be all cuddle like cuz my bf wants to see mine and where do u live at anyway to have them.

[ChezaTheLoneWolf]

Hey If you have big yard is it good for meerkats cuz I might get one soon I have a big yard

[jackandmila]

It's a risky business, meerkat ownership. You need gardening gloves and a willingness to lose a finger. Mila pierced the nose of a family member attacking her face, and Jack once pierced a friend's nose too - he'd been cuddling up to her neck, nobody saw it coming.

[jackandmila]

They are a bit random. A breeder I spoke to said about one in 100 is properly tamable, the rest will bite. Mila attacks everyone she sees except us, Jack bites sometimes. One guy I know hand-reared his female. She nipped a bit occasionally, then one day out of the blue she ripped half his achilles tendon off. He has a great big hole in his ankle and trouble walking. It's no joke...!

[PinkPunkyKat]

I think if I was bit by one, it would be very easy to forgive them.

[jackandmila]

@PinkPunkyKat I think you'd find it harder if you were in the clinic with your hand all swollen up to the size of a baseball...

one meerkat owner I know actually lost most of his achilles tendon one side - his hand-reared female ripped it off! They can be really good or really bad :-)

[PinkPunkyKat]

@jackandmila Now I'm beginning to understand why they put zoo meerkats to sleep when it is time for them to see the vet. After what I've been through with other people, I still think it would be easier to forgive a meerkat biting my fingers off. From what you describe, they seem to only bite people they do not know or that they consider part of their group. They are VERY teritoral in the wild. If a person gets one as a pet, they should know what they potentialy are in for.

[jackandmila]

@PinkPunkyKat You are so right.

My experience is that the females are more inclined to bite strangers. The males are quite gregarious with strangers, if not entirely trustworthy, but Jack quite often bites family members - people he knows will love him anyway - probably for dominance reasons. Mila already knows she is superior I think :-)

[PinkPunkyKat]

@jackandmila You should put up a sign that reads, "Beware of attack meerkats".

[jackandmila]

@PinkPunkyKat The sign says:

"Our animals look cute, but they are highly territorial with a vicious bite, and the skunk may spray if alarmed." :-)

[PinkPunkyKat]

@jackandmila You can have pet skunks most places in the US but most people usualy have their "stinker" removed so they can't spray. I always though it seemed cruel.

[jackandmila]

@PinkPunkyKat That's illegal in the UK now! Arthur is neutered but smellable!

[PinkPunkyKat]

@jackandmila It should be illegal in the US too.

[PinkPunkyKat]

Are they usualy this friendly? Can you come up to them, pick them up and cuddle them or do you have to let them come to you for cuddles. I've been obsessed with meerkats for years. I mean obsessed. I litteraly would not talk about anything else for years. I'm considering getting one of my own in the future even if I have to leave the US.

[jackandmila]

@PinkPunkyKat Can't see if I replied to this - yes with us they are usually this cute, but they can get in a bad mood and bite.

[evanrx8]

can you have this animal in canada?

[evanrx8]

can you have this animal in canada?

[firebirdcrazygrrrl]

Your meerkats are so cute! Jack sounds like he's "purring"!

[jackandmila]

Their favorites are: brussel sprouts, french beans, sugar snaps, garden peas, sweetcorn (not canned), carrots, parsnips and kumera. They also like kidney beans, hummous, cabbage, tomato and all sorts of stuff! They really like a varied diet, they get easily bored. And Mila loves mint Aero (she is a girl after all) but she's not allowed much. She likes pork scratchings too, but again rarely gets them. Jack likes steak.

[MeerkatGal]

That's good to hear! I didn't know meerkats liked their greens. Haha, glad you're taking good care of them! ^_^

[jackandmila]

Well - yes. He's been on a diet since this movie was made! So has Mila. They are very svelte now. They were eating too much chicken but now it's mainly bugs and veggies. They aren't pleased but they are healthier :-)

[PinkPunkyKat]

@jackandmila I know what you mean, my bearded dragon HATES her greens and vegetables.

[MeerkatGal]

He looks very comfortable there!

He has quite a belly, what do you feed him ? :P

[taramasalata2]

yup, Jack the Naughty Weasel.

[MeerkatLovePL]

Meerkat in house?? :-\