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My small spotted genet.
The small spotted genet is native to north Africa excluding the Sahara, central-eastern Africa, and south-western Africa, but has spread to Europe, where like ferrets, they were kept since the middle ages as pets to catch rodents. They are one of the most widespread carnivores, and the most widespread viverrid. They prefer to live in forests and dry areas. They basically live all over Africa excluding the tropical rainforests and the deserts.
The Small Spotted Genet has a body length of approximately 20 inches (50 cm), with a tail of equal length. Their body is long and lean, set on short legs. They weigh from 2 to7 lb. (1to 3 kg). Their base pelage is yellowish to grayish in color, with small spots on its body often set in an almost striped pattern, with stripes on the tail. It has a black muzzle, with white around the eyes and mouth. They can erect a mane of hair along their back when frightened. Like all viverrids, they have well-developed perineal glands used to mark territory. Genets have 40 teeth. Females have 4 teats, and males have a well-developed baculum. Both the front and hind feet have five digits, with well-furred soles and semi-retractable claws. Their eyes are large and round, and their ears are large and triangular shaped.
Positive Aspects About Owning Genets
If you get them early and spend much time with them, genets can become very attached and loving.
They are fun and amusing, insatiably curious, and very playful.
They like to climb on you, be next to you, and sleep next to you.
They are small, weighing between 5 to 10 pounds, somewhat like a male ferret.
They are easy to care for and can be litter trained.
They will form a strong, soul-satisifying bond with you that will last a lifetime.
They are beautiful, exotic creatures.
They purr.
Negative Aspects About Owning Genets
Their claws can leave you scratched up.
They can easily jump and climb up to forbidden places.
They tend to be independent like a cat.
They are naturally nocturnal so will wake you up in the middle of the night to play.
They may become noisy when not happy with their current condition (ie. being caged up).
They require rather large caging.
They can be skittish and frighten easily. When scared, you are better off letting them run in order to avoid accidentally getting scratched up.
They can easily crawl into small places and can become a danger to themselves.
They are extremely fast and can get loose easily, even when wearing a harness.
They tend to bond with only one person. Will not hurt someone else, but will generally only like you. Also requires the time every day in order not to revert back to "touch me not" tendencies.
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