Absolutely not, no way, never! They're not domesticated animals, they're wild animals. There are very few who could truly replicate the conditions needed to ensure the welfare and happiness of a meerkat, and I can't really see what pleasure someone would get from keeping them either, they don't strike me as the sort of animal that would like a cuddle xox

It's a 100% no from me. They're wild animals. They should be in the wild.

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Our little furry family:

Dobby- Male CC Powderpuff puppy.
Maisey- Female grey & white fancy rat.
Lillian- Female albino, seal point fancy rat.

As a general rule I never take on a pet that might eat me!

100% definite no from me, i cant stand seeing them in a zoo let alone in someones house as a pet.

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Bob the Chinese Hamster, Jamie the African Pygmy Hedgehog, Bugsy and Nelson the Guinea Pigs, and Stewie, Dora, Jessie and Billy the BunniesR.I.P My Beautiful Bridge Babies

A big no from me, I love the little things to bits, but a big part of their charm is seeing them in their family groups, interacting & showing their proper natural behaviours, in their natural environment

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Glad everyone seems to be saying a big no to this. I imagine animal rescues will be totally swamped next year with meerkats, micro pigs & pygmy hedgehogs.

We've seen how pet crazes end, staffordshire bull terriers are the UK's biggest dumped, abandoned, beaten dog, and shelters, both private and RSPCA are overflowing with unwanted or mistreated staffs.

The status dog craze was popular among 'chavs' but chav seems to be blending in with allsorts now, and perhaps the dogs are not so much of a status symbol as more people, even chavs, become more aware of their plight. 99% of people, even 'chavs' wouldn't dream of harming an animal, but some people just have no idea how to care for them.

Exotics, spiders, snakes, wild cats, meerkats & primates either need very specialised owners with lots of experience, or they should be in a zoo, where their natural habitat will be brought as close as possible to the wild.

I have seen youtube vids from America of people keeping prairie dogs, groundhogs, racoons, and even larger primates like chimps in their homes. I understand perhaps if someone finds an abandoned baby animal, such as a prairie dog, and wishes to raise it. They should however still check with local laws and seek advice from a specialist before keeping the said creature as a family pet!

Meerkats demand such high standards of habitat & care, I think it should be illegal to keep them in a chinchilla cage cooped up inside a house. Infact it should be illegal to keep any wild animal other than those traditionaly kept as a pet without a license and a 6 monthly inspection from DEFRA or your animal regulator.

I keep rats, and I try to provide my rats with things they would encounter in the wild, like grass, earth to dig in, sometimes with added mealworms, which they love. I also, controversially, give my rats locusts & crickets sometimes, as wild rats eat insects. I make sure they have space to skip & jump, climb & swing. Rats are highly adaptable, keeping them is quite easy with a few years experience behind you.

Meerkats however, no. I don't think I could mimic a meerkat's natural habitat or provide for what it's instincts demand, therefor it is not a pet I would ever dream of keeping in my home.

Americans also keep cats like cougar in their houses! Then, when the animal attacks someone, it's the ANIMAL that is blamed & destroyed! If there is one thing I cannot stand, it is animals being put down for following their NATURAL instincts. Wild animals attack other animals, humans are animals, what do they expect? A persistantly aggressive dog, then maybe it is the kindest option, but a wild animal that was never intended to be domesticated, then NO, destroying it is wrong. You can't punish an animal.

Meerkats are no different, soon they will be getting blamed for spreading a disease or whatever.

Also, if/when unwanted meerkats are released into the British countryside, notable damage will happen to native flora & fauna, animals like dormice, voles & other small woodland creatures will take the brunt once meerkats start reproducing & establishing colonies in the countryside.

Then it will be up to hunters & pest controllers to deal with the problem, which is not ideal and is cruel, but will there be another choice? I am thinking a repeat of the mink & coypu problem.

There's even sightings of wallabies roaming free in some part of the UK, not sure where. I believe these people too, irresponsable animal ownership has and will lead to this problem again and again.