Key Takeaways
Hedgehogs can be handled safely when they are calm, with their quills lying flat.
Each hedgehog's comfort with being cuddled varies and depends on their personality and previous handling.
Hedgehog quills are sharp and rise when threatened, but they do not typically break human skin.
Many people who have never touched a pet hedgehog before wonder if hedgehogs are really prickly or spiky and if they are soft enough to hold. They wonder why anyone would have a pet that they can't even pick up or cuddle. But thankfully, hedgehog owners everywhere know that their beloved pets are definitely able to be handled if done so correctly.
How Do You Handle a Hedgehog?
When a hedgehog is at ease, its quills lie flat and relaxed. This is the ideal time to hold a hedgehog without concerns about the quills pricking you. The quills naturally lie flat along the back and sides, pointing towards the tail, so as long as you don't stroke against the grain, you should be safe from any pokes.
In contrast, a frightened or agitated hedgehog will have raised quills that point outward. Trying to handle a hedgehog in this defensive posture is sure to be a prickly experience and is usually only done with the aid of a thick towel or while wearing gloves to protect your hands.
Credit: Kirill Bordon / Aurora Photos/Getty Images
Do Hedgehogs Like to Be Cuddled?
How much a hedgehog enjoys being held or cuddled is different for each one. It depends on the personality of the individual hedgehog and how much handling the hedgehog has had in the past. Some hedgehogs do seem to like to snuggle up to their human companions, while others might be shyer or simply prefer exploring and moving about over sitting still and cuddling. Some hedgehogs are tolerant of being held but prefer to snuffle around and explore (or find a quiet corner of the couch for a nap) over being held. It is hard to predict the personality of an individual hedgehog, though it is safe to say that with patience almost any hedgehog can at least be held.
Hedgehog Quills and Hedgehog Fur
Hedgehog bellies are covered with soft fur but their sides and backs are covered with stiff quills. A hedgehog is covered by approximately 3,000 to 5,000 quills, so that makes them pretty spiky! These quills are sharp (though, unlike a porcupine's quills, they are not barbed) and are controlled by a series of muscles, so when a hedgehog feels threatened the quills are raised to stand on end. When the muscles are relaxed, the quills lay flat. In addition to making their quills stand up, the hedgehog will roll into a ball when they feel threatened to protect their soft undersides.
This way all that is exposed is a hedgehog ball covered in quills (which makes an effective defense system). Even in this state, you can touch a hedgehog without too much damage (few hedgehog owners are ever poked hard enough to break their skin). However, try to avoid getting your fingers trapped by a hedgehog rolling into a ball as they are strong and being squeezed and poked at the same time is sure to be painful for you!
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