Cats and dogs are the perfect definitions of cuddly pets. A hedgehog, however, with its prickly sharp quills, isn’t exactly a pet you would think of snuggling up to.
But ask any furparent who owns a hedgehog and they’ll likely tell you what bundles of joy these little darlings are.
Rhyan Chang and his sister, Yvonne can attest to that: they are the proud furparents of Oreo, whose extremely cute face and sweet nature warms their hearts.
They are especially tickled by Oreo’s tendency to daydream. “He just stares at the ceiling. He won’t move at all and seems to be just enjoying his life,” Rhyan, 32, told FMT Lifestyle.
Oreo also has a habit of burrowing and it’s the sibling’s couch that he chooses to perform this activity in. So, the policy in the Chang household is: look before you sit.
And just so you know, daydreaming and hiding in the couch aren’t Oreo’s only pastimes. He’s quite the fitness freak too. “He has a running wheel, and he spends time on it,” said 26-year-old Yvonne.
Oreo came into Rhyan and Yvonne’s lives in 2021, one year after the sibling’s other hedgehog, named HH, passed away, leaving a void in their lives.
Adopting Oreo, Ryan shared, has helped them overcome their grief of losing HH. According to Yvonne, they chose the name “Oreo” because the hedgehog’s brown and white colouring reminded them of the famous biscuit.
These days, Oreo, who they estimate to be about four to five years old, is thriving in his new home.
He enjoys a daily diet of kibbles mixed with chicken and egg, and when he’s hungry, he knows how to communicate his needs: he either scratches the wall, walks around frantically or nudges his food bowl – how smart is that!
Fruits, however, are something that he doesn’t fancy, although Yvonne has attempted mixing these with his food. “Once he tastes it, he will puke it out,” said Yvonne.
The prickly one can also be picky about the humans he mixes with. If he isn’t comfortable with someone, he curls up into a tight ball and raises his quills!
Crazy about their pet hedgehog, both Rhyan and Yvonne have their special moments with Oreo.
“At times, I’ll take him to my bed, and he’ll just lay there quietly with me,” Yvonne said, adding that although it’s usually only for an hour before he gets restless, she has come to cherish these times.
It’s different with Rhyan. “When I go out or come back, he’ll come out of his cage and just look at me. And I’ll say hello or goodbye to him. The routine makes me happy and relieves any stress I feel. He’s a good companion.”
This article was written by Sheela Vijayan @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.