Primates As Pets

Many people have a soft spot for baby monkeys. Just one look into their oversized brown eyes and a glance over their mess of fur can disable even the hardest heart. Over the years, Hollywood has even contributed to the idea that primates can coexist with humans as pets and even friends but the reality is monkeys are still wild animals and most of the time, they are unfit to live in suburban homes as pets. Those cute, innocent baby monkeys mature sexually between 18-24 months and can often turn violent or aggressive with his or her owner and visitors.

There are rare cases where primates work well as pets but because of how unpredictable they can be, it is important to understand what exactly one is getting into when adopting a primate as a pet.

Problems with Primates as Pets

Primates can live between 20 and 40 years and need a great amount of attention from humans. Some can even develop social behavior problems if they don't get enough attention. It is important to remember:

Monkeys need a lot of attention and don't take to new people very well
Primates can be very expensive to care for
Monkeys are illegal in many states
Babies turn in to adults quickly and can turn aggressive
Primates can pass many diseases to humans
Many cannot be efficiently toilet trained and can be messy
Some will be destructive if they get bored
Above all you should remember that primates are wild animals and can resort to natural instincts in certain instances and can act violently. Taking care of a primate is a big commitment and should be treated as such.