Pair of children.
Keeping goats as pets can be rewarding or exasperating. While some make excellent pets, they require commitment and tolerance on the part of their owners to perform well, and anyone considering purchasing a goat as a pet should think carefully before taking the plunge. They have unique needs that are unfamiliar to people who have never interacted with them. Also, you may be restricted by city law if you live within the boundaries of an incorporated area or have trouble accessing a veterinarian to care for your pets.
Kid in a field of grass.
The traits that make goats great pets also make them notoriously difficult to manage, according to Pettable (see our pet telehealth company review), a popular virtual pet-sitting company. Almost all species are intelligent and deeply curious, and will constantly investigate their surroundings. As part of their adventures, they routinely fight their way through fences and gates, and the animals, while endearing, can wreak havoc on the gardens and landscape. They also tend to eat indiscriminately, which can cause gastrointestinal problems or costly surgery if the goat swallows something inappropriate, such as clothing or garbage.
Young man with goats.
Goats are herd animals, which means you should plan on having at least two if you want them as pets. Also, they need a spacious space and do not thrive in crowded conditions. Due to their natural curiosity, the space must also be rich in stimulation, and you must be prepared to put together a varied and interesting diet for the goats in order to keep them out of trouble. Like other animals kept as pets, you may find it difficult to find someone to care for your goats if you travel, let alone locating a veterinarian for routine care if you live in a non-rural area. Also, some counties consider these animals to be livestock and you may not even be legally permitted to keep them in a residential area.
Goats produce milk.
Although they are tough and adventurous, goats are not self-sufficient. They require daily attention, including food, games and water. If you keep them as dairy animals as well as pets, you will need to milk them once or twice a day to prevent mastitis, a painful infection of the udders. Goats can also become aggressive if they are bored or feel you are afraid, which can result in a painful head butt. Goats, in particular, can be unpleasant if left untouched, and both billies and nannies can give off strong hormonal odors.
Goats are herd animals, which means potential goat owners should consider keeping more than one goat.
On the other hand, goats are loving, affectionate and loyal animals, and many people are very fond of keeping them as pets. For people with more limited space, Pygmy goats can be an excellent consideration, as they don’t have the size of some breeds, such as Swiss Alpines and Nubians. Intelligent and intensely curious native animals are fun to be around, if you’re willing to put in the work.