Can Monkeys Make Good Domesticated Pets?

Are you looking for a different pet to raise and love as your own? Do you like to be the person who has the latest and coolest pet? With the new Exotic pet craze hitting the United States, some people are choosing to have pet monkeys instead of puppies or kittens.

Maybe you have thought that Monkeys were only pets that circus families or people of distinct ethnic groups have claimed as their pets, when in actuality they are slowly increasing in popularity with mainstream America.

The sudden increase in Americans seeking out a Monkey as a pet is typically on the rise after a popular movie or television show that stars a monkey has been shown to the public. Whether it is children badgering their parents to go out and buy one, or just the random primate lover who is obsessed with having a monkey as a pet.

Who wouldn't want a cute and cuddly little pet monkey? They appear to be incredibly adorable and almost "human like "pets. Many of us have seen them in action at our local zoos and have watched them interact with other monkeys and primates, and soon realize they could not easily survive in a home based environment that a human resides in. Your average person sees the difference, but there are some people who see things from another perspective and just want to impulse buy a primate without really thinking it all the way through.

Some of the most popular breeds of monkeys to have as pets are the Capuchins, Marmosets and the Tamarins. Bush Baby is also another little known popular breed, which stay small and don't grown very big at all, they also only tend to live around 15 years old, unlike the others. All of these breeds are smaller to medium sized breeds and tend to be the healthiest of all pet monkeys, these creatures most likely will provide you with many years of monkey love.

If you have children, one thing to consider when seeking out a pet monkey is that they can be very territorial. We have all seem monkeys on television and the big screen that wear cute little outfits and play fun little games. Every child at one point has thought about how cute it would be to have a monkey as a pet. Pet monkeys can be very entertaining for children and can provide hours of companionship. But the one problem with Monkeys, similar to humans is they tend to pick out one human in particular that they put their trust and faith in, and they become very attached to that person. Monkeys tend to seek out adults as their choice of guardians as opposed to a child. There have been issues where some primates can be very destructive and show dangerous behavior to small children. So you may want to reconsider purchasing a monkey if you have small children or plan to have small children in the future.

Because of seeing so many monkeys that appear to be vastly intelligent and do these incredibly outrageous tricks, most people assume they will be easy to train and take care of, little do most people know that is not always true, and monkeys come with a life long commitment and full time around the clock care. They do not like to be left alone and if they are, well they can act like an unattended puppy and they can tear up your personal belongings and make a real mess!
What many people do not realize before they purchase a pet primate is that a small domesticated monkey can live in upwards of 40 human years! So if you are 35 now and you want to add a monkey to your family, plan on taking care of this animal until you are in your mid 70's! Now you can tell yourself you will be just as chipper and in shape as you are now in your 30's, but, be realistic with yourself and your family. Do you want to be chasing George the monkey around the house while you are straddling behind in a walker or wheelchair? Do you really think your children or grandchildren will want to take George home with them and turn their house into a zoo? Don't bet on it.

Speaking of turning your home into a zoo, that may be what it resembles if you have your monkey for an extended period of time. Monkeys are three times as active as other household pets and some can be nocturnal such as the Bush Baby breed of primate. This means they sleep all day and by 4pm in the afternoon they are ready to burn off all of that extra monkey energy. Monkeys love to exercise and they can move quite fast when they are in full monkey mode. They love to run around vicariously and they love more than anything to swing from ropes back and forth, this is a second nature technique for them, swinging from tree to tree is how they protect themselves from predators in the wild, so it is an instinct for them. Make sure you have an area that has ropes in which your monkey can swing from. Having the proper indoor and outdoor living and play area for your primate is essential in raising a healthy monkey. The problem is this is a large investment. An enclosed cage with tall fencing would have to be built outdoors so the monkey can play safely.

Monkeys for the most part are omnivores, they love to eat leafy veggies and lots of fruit. This can be costly as they do eat several times a day. Make sure you have the financial means to be able to feed a monkey. Monkeys should not eat people food or scraps, this is hard for their bodies to digest. It has been proven that pet monkeys who eat people food cut their life span in half and have a wealth of health problems.

Speaking of health problems, Monkeys can have an array of health problems and require special immunizations to prevent disease and illness, this can be very costly, not to mention most local veterinarians will not see primates, so you will have to do it yourself or hire a professional to come out and take care of your primate. If money is no object then you really do not need to worry. After maturity it is recommended that many of the monkey's teeth be removed to prevent injury to other humans or to themselves. This sounds drastic but monkeys can physically harm you if they wanted too. They have bad days just like we do, they do tend to be very emotional animals and do not know how to control their feelings and anger most of the time.

Another issue with having a pet monkey is you can not have other pets in the household. Primates do not get along well with other domesticated animals and sometimes can "freak out" or even hurt the animal. So if you want a monkey, make sure that this is the only animal you will ever have.

Monkeys are almost impossible to potty train, they require to wear diapers or be cleaned up after 24/7. This is something to consider also in getting a pet monkey. Think of caring for a special needs child for the rest of it's life, or maybe depending on your age, the rest of your life.

Monkeys come from climates that are very warm and tropical. If you live in a northern state like Michigan, having a pet monkey is probably out of the question. If you love in a sub tropical climate such as Florida,t his is a better home for the monkey, although Florida can get cold at times, be sure to take special care in keeping your household temperature warm and moist, your monkey will thrive in this type of atmosphere.

Want to go on Vacation Next year? Think again. Primates require 24 hour supervision, and they do not always get along real well with other humans, they are very territorial and do not like to be removed from their environment. After research I have not found anywhere where there are monkey day cares or monkey boarding kennels where you can drop your monkey off for a day of play. Most people would probably be apprehensive about staying at your place with your monkey, if you can find someone,well thats great!

The estimated cost of raising a monkey over the course of its average lifespan of 40 years is a meager $ 350,000. That is just for food expenses and basic care, that does not include building cages, vet and medical care or play areas. That is of course f the monkey has no serious medical issues and lives a healthy life.

If you are serious about purchasing a monkey as a pet, these animals can range anywhere from $2500.00 to $10,000.00 a piece. Take careful consideration before buying one, make sure you are ready to take on the commitment. Be sure also to check with your local county and state agencies on being able to have a primate in your household, it may be forbidden or require fees and licenses to keep the animal.

Keep in mind all of the issues that come along with raising a monkey as a pet.. If you are unable to keep the monkey at any given time remember it can be difficult to find a rescue group to take your pet in, most only deal with domesticated animals, not primates. Monkeys are more than just pets, they are human like creatures who are meant to live in an "Rainforest like" atmosphere that most of us would never dream of living in. Taking them out of their natural surroundings and placing them in a human environment can be a challenge for both human and primate.