4 Things to Avoid When Buying a Monkey

monkeys

1. Monkeys stink

A monkey has a musky smell that will linger around the house. Monkeys also urinate and poo in the house and can cause a mess. They will eat and throw their own faeces at times too, as part of their natural behaviour. Some monkeys are trained to wear nappy’s to toilet train them, but they can restrict their muscle growth and stop their tails from growing properly. The nappy also causes them discomfort, and many monkeys do not like wearing them.

2. They are wild animals

Monkeys are not domesticated and can be aggressive, dangerous and unpredictable. Even when tame, they are not suitable as pets and should only be kept in zoos or by people who work professionally with them. Monkeys can carry parasites and zoonotic diseases that can be harmful to humans. They can also bite and scratch, and their teeth are sharp enough to penetrate skin. They can be a threat to children and elderly people, as well as other animals.

3. They need lots of space

A typical house cannot provide the habitat that a monkey needs. Monkeys need a lot of space to explore and play, which is not something that can be accomplished in a small home or backyard. They will often destroy furniture, chew on cords, leashes and cleaning products and can get into anything that catches their eye. They can even cause damage to the home’s roof.

4. They are very expensive

The costs of caring for a monkey are high and can add up to thousands of pounds. In addition, buying a monkey fuels the exotic pet trade and encourages breeders and poachers to continue their cycle of breeding and killing.