Can Meercats be kept as pets, cause they are just too cute and I want one!

[GreenPartyVoter]

[Bunny]

1. Here's a cute one for ya!

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Oooh! Wookit that wittle face!!! *sorry, can't help myself!*

[Crunchy Frog]

2. Probably not, but they are incredibly cute.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. No

"Meerkats do not make suitable pets, and should be left in the wild where they belong. They are highly sociable mammals that constantly require activity and care - they should be seen more as children and less as pets, as far as the degree of attention they require in captivity is concerned.

"When their owners realise how very demanding and destructive meerkats can be in a home with their continuous urge to dig, and how very dependent they are on their owners for everything, the meerkats are often then seen as a liability.

"Additionally meerkats also have a special dietary requirement, including sand and high roughage foods. Captive meerkats are very often obese and very unhealthy due to a totally unsuitable diet and lack of adequate exercise."
http://www.meerkatmagic.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=51

"Now, in the USA (I don't know about other countries), meerkats have some of the stricest laws and regulations on them of any other exotic animal. Meerkats are in the classification of animals that "could cause harm to other people, their property, or their pets." The US Department of Fish and Wildlife and the USDA have classified them as Detrimental Species / Injurious Wildlife. In fact, in zoos, most are turned down for their application to have meerkats. A double escape-proof exhibit is required, and most applications are turned down the first time, still."

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

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Well, no surprise really.. Will just have to adore them when they are

on TV.

[DulceDecorum]

5. I want a meerkat AND a tarsier

but I think they might be sad and miss all their friends.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Those are some disturbingly large eyes.. but he's a cutie

[ChoralScholar]

8. I took this picture at the St. Louis zoo

two weeks ago while on vacation:

[China_cat]

10. Jacksonville, FL also has meerkats.

They started with 3 and now have about a dozen.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. No meercats in Mainezoos that I know of :^(

[cliss]

9. I got a baby pheasant

So cute!!
But once he gets all his feathers and I let him go around outside, I know he will fly away and never look back.
Some animals just can't be tamed.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

12. I already have a ten year old cat who shits on the carpet

and a husband who I have never been able to paper train. Tell me why I need a cuddly Meercat who wants to destroy the rest of my house?

[Lex]

13. I don't think it's mandatory that you have one. n/t

[Goathead]

14. How about an Aye aye?

...consider this, they are in the same order as humans. We're both Primates