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Palm Civet
(Paradoxurus mermaphroditus)

Interview with Dustyann Schoening

Positives of palm civets as pets?
The Palm Civet can make a wonderful pet, but a lot of patience must be exercised by the owner. They do enjoy the company of humans. They can become very comfortable in your home, and in time, you won’t remember what it was like to live without one.

Negatives of civets as pets?
They do have an odor, which is not overwhelming, but it is obvious. It smells a lot like hot buttered popcorn. They CAN have an aggressive side, even when raised as total “pets”. Sometimes as they get older, playing with them can inspire their aggression. They are NOT vicious, but when they are upset, they can inflict a pretty good bite.

Anecdotes/stories about your Palm Civet pet?
I have about a million stories that involve Cecil, but one of the funniest things he ever did was: I had brought in a pretty large section of Buffalo fur that one of my Buffalo had shed, and I set it on the table. Cecil noticed it immediately, and he grabbed it and took off down the hall with it. He thought he had quite the prize! He played with that fur for hours, and it ultimately became his favorite thing to sleep with. He had that fur for about 6 months, before I finally took it away from him because it was so badly worn from being drug around the house everyday.

Another thing about him is that he is a bandit! If you are eating something, he will come right up and take it from you, or at least steal a bite, if he thinks it smells good! Pizza is his FAVORITE thing to steal.

Do they have scent glands or an offensive smell?
They do have scent glands. Whether the smell is offensive or not, is a matter of personal preference. They do omit more of an odor when they are alarmed or startled by something. I have another pair (Sylvester and Sylvia) and they live outside, and you can always tell when something upsets them, because the popcorn smell filters into the house.

What is their average life span?
I believe they live about 15 years on average. (My pair were acquired from a Zoo in 1996, and were about 8 years old when I got them.)

Do they enjoy interaction?
Yes they do! They become very personable, and LOVE to be in on everything!

What is their general personality, disposition, and attitude?
I have 3 Palm Civets. Cecil, who was purchased as a 6 week old baby, and the pair, which were Zoo exhibit animals until they came to live with me. The adults were NOT pets, by any means, when I got them. I don’t know what type of human interaction they experienced before, but for the first few weeks, they pretty much kept to themselves. But after seeing me so often everyday, they became curious, and in time, looked forward to my visits into their enclosure. Their attitudes changed from meek to very “outgoing” in a very short time. Cecil, on the other hand was always a little love bug. He was already spoiled rotten at 6 weeks when I bought him, and he has just become more of a pet over the years. (He is now 5 years old.)

Are they sweet and petable, or mischievous and playful?
They are all of the above! Cecil just loves to kick back and sit in your lap and get all of the attention you are willing to give, but he also likes to play chase with you, and expects you to chase him back! He will find a dark place to hide in, and then he will jump out and wants to run and play! He also likes to play with toys, mainly stuffed animals, but he also has a r=rubber snake that he has had since he was a baby that he likes to play with. The pair outside tend to play more with each other, and their plastic balls and toys than to actually play with humans.

How destructive are they for an average household?
Cecil has not been destructive at all in all of these years. The worst thing he has done is jump into a pile of paperwork and spread the papers everywhere. He does not tear anything up.

Do they climb or tear up furniture?
They do not tear up furniture. They do climb on it, to iit in your lap, or to share your dinner, or just to find a place to snuggle and take a nap. Cecil has been in the house his whole life, except when he is outside enjoying the sunshine, and he has never harmed anything.

Are their any problems associated with their claws?
They are tree dwellers. In the wild, they live in the tops of the trees, (and are the first ones to notice when the palm wine is ready.) Their claws are very sharp, but when raised as pets, they can be taught to not use them on you. Cecil likes to ride around on our shoulders, and has rarely left a mark. They learn very quickly that our skin is not as thick as that of a tree, and they realize they don’t have to dig them in. Animals are born with claws for a variety of reasons, and a Civet without claws would be very sad. They use them to groom, and to rip up certain types of food, but NOT on people or when playing with other animals. If you feel you are ready to have a Civet as a pet, I would trust you would take the time to teach your little pet that using their claws on you isn’t necessary. They learn very quickly, and understand how to control them. My Zoo pair also have their claws, and they never use them when they run up to greet me.

How messy are their droppings?
Their droppings are not messy at all, and Cecil is litter boxed trained. The older pair have a cage outside, and it has a dirt floor. They use one little corner, and it is easily cleaned daily.

Can they be litter box trained?
Yes, and it is rather easy to accomplish. Cecil was introduced to his litter box the day I brought him home, and he had the whole thing figured out within the first 3 days. He has never had an accident, and I have seen him make many mad dashes from one end of the house to the other to get to his litter box when he was playing.

Can they be trained?
Yes, they can be trained. Cecil doesn't’t mind wearing a harness, because he knows that means we are going to go for a walk or to do something fun. He also knows his name, and he knows what things are “off limits to him”, such as the trash can. They can be taught all of the “house rules” very young.

How are they with other pets, larger and smaller?
Cecil gets along with all animals. He especially likes to pal around with Corky (the Coati), and Wallaby joeys. He spent the first few months of his life sleeping with the Tiger cubs, and he also spent a majority of his time playing tag with them. He likes to tease the kinkajous with his food, but he always ends up sharing it with them. The only animals I had to watch him around were the Dormice, because he thought they looked like food. Civets are excellent mousers!

What size cage do they need?
Cecil has run of the house, but Sylvia and Sylvester have a very large outdoor cage. Their cage is 30 feet long and 10 feet wide and 8 feet tall. They have trees to climb in and their house is up high.

What do you feed them?
They eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, with bananas and grapes being their favorite. But they like just about any vegetables (fresh green beans are a must!), and they love all of the melons, and apples and pears. They eat Monkey Biscuits, (not dog or cat food.) They also LOVE eggs, and cooked chicken and turkey. They get Monkey biscuits and a wide variety of fruits and veggies every day. They also enjoy fruit juices as a treat. *** But they also have quite the liking for junk food. Cecil really has the flavor for Italian food of all types.

What vaccinations/vet care do they require?
I don’t like to answer this question, because I am not a medical professional. But I will tell you that as a baby, I felt very bad for Cecil, because he had to go through the ENTIRE series of shots for both cats and dogs. You should check with your vet, and find out what the regulations in your state are, before you start any shots. Be sure to find out about rabies requirements.

At what age would it be best to get one?
I think, if you want them as a pet, you should get a baby. One that is still on the bottle so you have the chance to bond with them. (Cecil stayed on the bottle until he was 18 months old!)

Other Consideration for owners of Palm Civets?
You have to remember that they CAN play rough. If you instigate rough housing as they get older, they can inflict a nasty bite, BUT they don’t initiate that sort of play, (but if you start it, be prepared!) Also, they are tree dwellers, so they appreciate things to climb on. They also like a quiet secluded place to sleep, so a nesting or hiding box is a welcomed thing. Trees are a nice addition, but if they are going to live in the house, you can provide one of those carpeted cat trees for their enjoyment.

What kind of person should own these animals?
Someone with a lot of TIME and patience! Civets are NOT dogs or cats, and learning to live with one as a pet requires quite a bit of tolerance on your part. They can be wonderful additions to your family, but NOT if you are going to leave them alone for extended periods of time. They like your presence, and become slighted if ignored. I know a few people who have become very discouraged with their Civets as pets, but that’s because they left them home alone all the time. I would hope a potential Civet owner would research them as much as possible before ever going out and acquiring one.