What are the cons of having a pet monkey?

Monkeys can carry parasites and zoonotic diseases that are dangerous to humans. They may seem to be in perfect health, but when they inevitably bite or scratch you, you may end up with a variety of health issues passed to you from your monkey that were dormant in the monkey’s system.

What are the pros of having a pet monkey?

One of the benefits of having a monkey as pet as opposed to other household animals is that monkeys have opposable thumbs. If trained properly they could lend a hand with chores around the house. With this in mind monkeys would be considered more of an investment instead of an unnecessary cost.

What do I need to know before buying a monkey?

Things to Consider Before Buying a Pet Monkey

• The cost of buying and keeping monkeys.
• The potential for aggressive and destructive behavior.
• Inability to house train them and the cage requirements.

Can you potty train monkeys?

No. Most monkeys cannot be effectively toilet trained. In addition, as they’re attempting to potty train, they tend to throw their poop and play with their pee. Because of this, pet monkeys have to wear diapers throughout their lives.

Is it possible to have a pet monkey?

A pet monkey cannot do without your attention when life gets busy or circumstances change. They do not grow up and mature like human children do. They are, in essence, permanent toddlers. Monkeys may not take well to new people in your life (including spouses and children) and make it hard to get away for vacations.

Why are monkeys so expensive?

Monkeys are expensive to house (you need a secure enclosure, proper permits, and sometimes additional insurance on your homeowner’s policy) and feed; some even require specialized diets that can be time-consuming to prepare. A significant time commitment is also needed just for routine care and clean-up after a pet monkey.

Do squirrel monkeys make good pets?

In some parts of South America, squirrel monkey pets are not out of the ordinary—even though, as my mother can attest, they do not make good housemates. “I would never want one in my house,” says Anita Stone, a primatologist at Eastern Michigan University who has studied squirrel monkeys in Brazil for more than a decade.

What do monkeys need to be happy?

Most importantly, a monkey needs a large amount of social interaction and attention. A pet monkey deprived of your time and attention will develop not only severe behavior problems such as screaming and biting but also psychological issues that can be difficult if not impossible to remedy. Illustration: Kyle Fewell.