He is incredibly charming!But it is not surprising that it has not yet become a completely common pet. After all, a domestic raccoon is something between a cat, a dog and... And a bear cub (or a monkey)! Although in many countries domestic raccoons are quite popular, there are also countries where keeping them at home is legally prohibited. After all, it is a representative of the wild fauna. Nevertheless, the raccoon is not so exotic anymore, it copes well with the role of a pet, brings no less joy (though more trouble) than the usual four-legged inhabitants of our homes.
general information
The New World is considered the homeland of these animals, butToday they live not only in America. And the raccoon has generally settled almost all over the world due to the fact that it perfectly acclimatizes and adapts to life next to humans. In the wild, these animals live in mixed forests near water bodies, and lead a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle, getting food in the dark and resting during the day. The raccoon has a strong build and is not very large in size (like an average dog): the body usually does not exceed seventy centimeters in length, and weighs ten kilograms. Its distinctive feature is relatively short paws with long and surprisingly mobile fingers. And the raccoon also has very beautiful (and, alas, valuable) fur: soft and thick, gray-brown in color. The raccoon is also characterized by an amazing concern for the "cleanliness of food." Before eating a piece, it dips it in water and rubs it with its paws, as if washing it. Hence the name "raccoon". By the way, he is not particularly picky about food. He eats everything: bird eggs, chickens, fruits and vegetables, and any grain crops. And this is also a very smart and clever animal, with natural curiosity and cunning. But with all that, this intellectual is prone to scandals and fights.
Portrait in the interior
A domestic raccoon (or rather a tamed one) is verysociable. If he settles in your house, then get ready to give him a lot of attention, which he will certainly demand (and it is possible that in the middle of the night). He will want to be played with and entertained, petted and fed. By nature, the raccoon is an egoist and will not tolerate your love for other animals or small children. The raccoon's curiosity, in our opinion, goes beyond all bounds. For him, there are no forbidden or inaccessible places in the apartment. So you will be guaranteed disorder. And if you want order in the house, you will be forced to provide the raccoon with a separate "living space" or never leave him unattended. But in fact, everything is not so terrible. If you take a very small raccoon into the house, then with the right upbringing it will turn out to be a good pet, getting along well with people. True, for this you will have to put in a lot of effort and patience. The raccoon, although smart, is stubborn. And if he gets tired of learning, the student can easily show aggression or just turn his back on you, demonstrating his unwillingness to learn. But with time, a common language will be found, and the student will understand prohibitive commands well.
Conditions of detention
To contain such a hooligan after allwill need a specially equipped room, but not a cage. It needs a special house, which would be spacious enough, have a sleeping place, a toilet and a "tree" for climbing. Only a well-behaved pet can be allowed to move around the entire apartment. A domestic raccoon will certainly explore your entire (entire!) house in search of secluded corners to hide food and simply out of curiosity. So the ideal place to keep such an "exotic" would be an outdoor enclosure. You can feed it regular dog food, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits, poultry and fish. A couple of times a year it needs to be bathed with shampoo. And to provide the raccoon with water entertainment, you can fill the bathtub with water and let it play in it. Raccoons are generally very playful, and therefore it is interesting to watch them. So, frankly speaking, raccoons in domestic conditions are a troublesome business (and even to some extent dangerous). But if you are not afraid or stopped by possible troubles from such cohabitation, then you can join the very numerous army of raccoon lovers and acquire this charming and unpredictable hooligan. Just remember that this egoist considers himself the center of the universe and does not intend to share your love with anyone. We recommend reading:
