Aliaa Amirah and her mother became curious about hedgehogs after seeing many videos of the porcupine-like creatures online.
“My mother decided to contact a reputable local breeder she found on Facebook for more information on hedgehogs and how to care for them,” Aliaa told FMT.
After a month of research, her mother brought home the newest member of their family – an adorable little ball of spikes.
Aliaa named the four-toed hedgehog Laici, and has been caring for him for three years now.
Laici may be small in size, but he is ever ready to explore new areas and toys, sniffing and biting whatever he finds along the way.
Despite his intrepid streak, this curious little hedgehog gets extremely shy, especially around unfamiliar faces.
“Laici also gets really fierce when he is frightened. If anyone or anything surprises him, he will puff up and raise his quills and hiss loudly,” Aliaa revealed.
On most days, Laici enjoys relaxing and taking a snooze as he listens to classical music.
“Laici does not make a lot of noise. Because of this, he loves people who can also appreciate a quiet moment,” his human added.
Cuddles are very important to Laici. When held, he will instantly fall asleep – although, being a prickly little creature means it is extremely important to handle him with care.
Laici is usually a happy hedgehog until it is time to have a bath. “He will always try to run away the second he hears the splashing of water,” Aliaa said with a laugh.
“But, once he is in the warm water, he calms down and actually allows us to clean him.”
Hedgehogs have a pretty simple diet and, most days, Laici mainly enjoys eating dry hedgehog kibble.
He also enjoys high-quality dry cat food, and absolutely loves crunchy dried mealworms.
Even though it is common for a hedgehog’s diet to include fruits, seeds and nuts, Laici does not enjoy these. He does, however, enjoy the occasional not-so-gentle nibble of human fingers.
Due to his shy and timid nature, Laici is very good at playing hide-and-seek and is always looking for new places to hide.
One of his favourite locations is on top of a pile of clothes, and he even occasionally manages to crawl under the laundry to enjoy a peaceful nap.
“Hedgehogs are scent-orientated, and Laici especially loves to sleep on clothes that have recently been worn,” Aliaa shared. This shows you how much he loves his human family!
Finally, Laici has the strange hobby of collecting newspapers and clothing, which he will drag to all corners of the house to sleep with.
“It is as if he is a tiny-spiked dragon that is guarding a treasure trove,” Aliaa chuckled.
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.