MEET UDON!

Are you ready to see the sweetest angel? Meet Udon! She's an African Pygmy Hedgehog, she's just turned eight weeks old, and she is the very cutest ball of spikes.

After Soba passed away I wasn't expecting to get another hedgehog any time soon, but given that there's only a few breeders in Scotland, I thought it was probably sensible to see if I could get on a waiting list. The only breeder I could find near Edinburgh said it might be December 2019 before she had available hoglets, but somehow I got lucky, and within the month I heard there was a tiny blonde girl available.

Fast forward a few weeks, and here we are! With the exception of stubbornly sleeping in her wheel instead of her lovely cosy bed, she's been a dream. Moving homes is, understandably, an overwhelming experience for a tiny hedgehog, but she's been so good! She has been friendly (!) and active, and straight away was happily eating her food and exploring her new home. What a good baby!

After years of owning Soba, it's so weird meeting a new hedgehog, with a very different personality. She's CONSIDERABLY less huffy than he was (bless you grumpy Soba, I still love you), she seems really into digging, and she's not really worked out she's meant to be nocturnal yet, but like Soba she's got all the signs of growing up into a very inquisitive tiny explorer.

She's going through her quilling stage at the moment, where she sheds her baby spines and grows new ones, which will also determine her adult colour (I hope she stays light, but who knows!). Soba will always be my o.g. but I am delighted to have Udon in my life and cannot wait to see her grow up!

SOBA THE HEDGEHOG

It's fair to say I didn't know what I was doing when I first got Soba as a pet. I had only recently found out that you could even get hedgehogs as pets, and I made the decision to buy him one late Friday night in the pub, several drinks down.

Fast forward a few weeks later and I had just collected the grumpiest little hedgehog, who huffed and puffed the whole journey back to Edinburgh on my lap. His first night I woke up to the sound of tiny footsteps running through the hall, as he'd already worked out how to get out of his house. The second night, he fell asleep on my lap (the only time he ever fell asleep on me!) and I knew we'd be alright.

Hedgehogs take patience. They're wild animals, and they haven't been kept as pets that long, so they aren't naturally tame. They're covered in spikes and pack a nasty bite, although hedgehogs are unlikely to bite through aggression, instead smell and taste are how they explore the world (so you've got to keep an eye out in case a curious hedgehog wants to find out how you taste!). They are nocturnal, so you can only hang out with them at night, and there's no guarantee they'll ever be happy to be held. But oh, they are adorable.

It took, literally, years to get Soba to like me. But bit by bit we got there. He learned the sound of my voice, and that I wasn't a scary predator out to get him. He'd be patient enough to be held, but was always happiest when he was running. He litter-trained himself (what a clever hedgehog), so he got free run of the living room at night, going in or out of his house as he liked, via a giant cardboard tube that was the perfect size for him. We made mazes and hedgehog obstacles for him to play in and explore, and he was brave and curious and perfect.

Soba was almost 4, and I was starting to worry about what might happen at the end. African Pygmy Hedgehogs on average live around 3-6 years, and I just hoped, whatever happened, would be quiet and pain-free. It was not to be. Older hedgehogs can have trouble with their eyes, and within a very short space of time poor Soba went blind in one eye, and then scratched the other in a small injury that suddenly turned very dramatic.

In the course of a week, everything changed. Our little pal stopped running, he lost a lot of weight, and his world wasn't going to be the same. The vet was very kind and helpful, but it was quickly very clear that there was only one thing to do.

It's hard to explain the bond with a pet, never mind the bond with a small, spiky animal, but I'll try. He fitted perfectly into my life. He was curious and so, so cute, and worth every minute it took to win him round. He was a wonder, and in the end, he learned to be patient when handled by people he didn't know, who were so pleased to get the chance to hold a hedgehog for the first time. He was little, but I loved him so, and I am so incredibly sad that he is gone.

For such a little thing, the flat feels so quiet without him. It's been weeks, and I still go to check on him at night, and spot phantom movements in the corner of my eye that look just like an exploring hedgehog. There's no sound of small paws pattering on the floor. I know he had a good life, but I miss him so.

#PETSINWINDOWS

As you may know (especially if you follow me on instagram) I've got a pet hedgehog called Soba, who is a lovely, grumpy, adorable and ridiculous creature who is so cute it hurts! Hedgehogs are pretty low maintenance, but the number one rule is that you have to keep them warm - if they get cold, they go into hibernation, which is very bad news.

My old flat was nice, but it was freezing unless the heating was blasting (which I couldn't afford to do ALL of the time), so when I was flat-hunting I was on a mission to find somewhere that was super cosy (sadly meaning beautiful old Edinburgh tenements with high ceilings and thin windowpanes were out!).

Now, it's ace. My new flat is a fairly modern build, which means it's as snug as anything, and has mystical storage heaters (that I can't quite work out how to use) that store energy at night to heat it up in the morning, and keep it toasty all the time. I don't need to stress about Soba freezing, and I don't need to microwave heat pads for him three times a day any more. Hooray!

Not at all pets are as cosy as Soba though, so it's important in winter, when it is absolutely baltic, to think about the animals that are abandoned and in need, through no fault of their own.

Everest Home Improvements are doing just this with their #PetsInWindows campaign, which raises money for the very wonderful SSPCA, an animal welfare charity who rescue and rehome thousands of neglected pets in Scotland each year.

Everest want to see photos of your pets hanging out at a window, and for each entry they receive they'll donate £5 to the SSPCA (meaning entering is the easiest thrifty way of giving to charity ever!). You can enter on their website (everest.co.uk/pets-in-windows) or via Twitter with #petsinwindows. AND on top of that, the best photo each month, as voted by users, will win a £50 voucher.

Take a cute photo of your pet, help charity, maybe win £50. Win win win!

#Petsinwindows is brought to you by Everest Home Improvements. Follow Everest on Twitter and Facebook to find out more, keep up to date on their latest deals and offers, and check out Everest Scotland to see coverage in your area

PET PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

You might have seen my recent post, introducing you to my newest furry friend - Soba the hedgehog! It's been a fun couple of months getting used to my spiky flatmate and learning how to look after a hedgehog. They are very shy pets, so it's still a bit of a journey in convincing Soba that he is not my next meal, but we're getting there, and he is still one of the most adorable creatures to walk the earth.

Pets at Home also noticed how cute he is, and got in touch to ask me to share some of my pet photography tips. Now, I'm going to state very clearly that I am an absolute photography amateur - so this post isn't meant to be a lecture that I'm not qualified to make! Instead it's just ten super easy tips that I've picked up in my years of pet ownership. And it's an overload of Soba photos! (a Sobaload, if you will).

1. Use natural light

Flash drains everybody out, and it's no different for animals, plus some scaredy pets will be frightened by bright flashes. Try to take your pictures during the day, either outside or next to a big window, where you can take advantage of natural light. 

2. Go down to their level

It makes a big difference to your photos if you lower your camera to your pet's eye level. Hedgehogs are spiky balls from above, but have super fluffy bellies and the tiniest of feet, that you can only see from below. With big pets, don't be afraid to crouch or lie on the floor, and with little pets, just put them on a table or shelf to make your life easier.

3. Adjust your camera settings

Most pets are probably braver than Soba, but to my baby hedgehog, the sound of the camera lens shutting is the most TERRIFYING noise in the world. To stop him freaking out and balling up at every photo, I had to adjust my settings, so the shutter speed was faster, and all camera noises were turned off. Burst mode (where your camera takes a continous set of photos for as long as you hold down the button) is also really good for capturing speedy pets! 

4. Be creative with settings and props 

Mix it up! Give your pet some things to play with or interact with during your photoshoot, and change your backgrounds - take your pet outside or to different spots in your house, or use fabrics to create different backgrounds for small pet photos. 

5. Show their personality

Soba's main love in life is food, and licking anything he can get his paws on, so I love this stupidly cheeky photo of him licking his lips and looking at a mealworm! Think about your pet's personality, or little quirks, and how you can capture that moment. 

6. Make sure they are comfortable

Animals will be happier if they've been exercised, fed, watered, and aren't made to pose for too long. Hedgehogs are naturally nocturnal creatures, so whenever I wake Soba up during the day, he's pretty sleepy and grumpy for the first ten minutes, but after he's been to his litter tray and had a bit of food, he's a lot friendlier and much more keen to explore. If I am waking him up, I don't keep him up for long, and I make sure he's got a sleeping bag nearby to crawl into, if he wants. 

 7. Show interesting details 

Close up shots are really interesting, and easy to do, whether you're using a 'proper' camera or a smartphone. Pick out details that you might miss in a full-body shot (like Soba's massive ears!) and make that the focus of your photo. 

8. Bribe them with treats 

Even the most stubborn pet can be won over by food. Soba will not answer his name or do anything on cue, but he will follow the scent of a mealworm anywhere. Holding up treats as you take photos, is also a good way to get their attention, so they don't wander off.

9. Be patient

Whether you've got a pet that's well-trained, or a pet that's impossible to train (hi hedgehogs!), you've got to be relaxed and very patient. Your pet will pick up your vibe if you're frustrated, and it's not their fault - they don't know what you're doing! It's meant to be fun, so don't stress, and don't take it too seriously.

10. Know when to stop

And with that said, it's always good to stop a little bit early, rather than pushing on and winding you and your pet up. If you've got a perfect picture in mind, but you just can't get the angle, reward your pet for being a good sport, and try again another day.

MY PET HEDGEHOG

If you follow me on instagram you'll have already seen a few photos, but I wanted to properly introduce you to Soba, my pet hedgehog!

Soba's a baby African Pygmy hedgehog, which is why he looks a bit different (and cuter!) than native UK hedgehogs.

I had been thinking about getting a pet for ages, but was really struggling to find one that fitted into my life. I live in a small flat, so I had to think about how noisy potential pets would be, how much space they'd need, and how much attention they'd require on a daily basis. I bought books about birds, I quizzed everyone I knew with pets, and I watched about a million pet videos on youtube looking for inspiration, but never even considered hedgehogs - I didn't know you could actually own one, until my friend Eilidh bought a baby hog called Bonnie, and my mind was blown.

It was a no brainer - hedgehogs are pretty ideal pets if you want minimal effort, but maximum cuteness. I bought Soba from a breeder in Scotland at the end of March (he cost £150, including a deposit). 

Hedgehogs live between 4-6 years, and are solitary animals, so are happy in their own space. They're nocturnal, so sleep all day (as he's a baby, Soba sleeps up to 22 hours per day!), which means I have zero guilt in leaving him to go to work, or if I'm away from the flat for a night. They are super quiet animals too (although they make hilarious huffing noises), and are very clean pets - Soba litter trained himself within a few days, and I only need to clean out his cage about once a week (although I do clean the litter tray more frequently). He eats cat food and mealworms, and can also be given vegetables and fruits, so it's cheap to feed him too.

They are obviously also ADORABLE, but are very shy animals. Hedgehogs don't naturally want to be your pal, so it takes a lot of time and patience to get them over the idea that you are going to eat them, and be relaxed around you.

Soba's definitely getting better, but he still balls up whenever I pick him up, and takes a bit of time before he relaxes in my hands. His spines aren't super sharp (they feel like the bristles on a hairbrush), but it does feel very, very strange to hold a spiky ball at first! If you are looking for an immediately cuddly pet, then hedgehogs ain't the one for you, but if you're into persuading grumpy things to like you (like I am), then they are worth it.

As I don't have much space, I knew I wanted to make Soba a space that would fit into my home. With the help of Joshua, boyfriend-extraordinaire, we took an Ikea Kallax bookcase, and hacked it into a hedgehog house.

Soba lives on the top level, and the bottom level houses all of his stuff (we originally thought about making a multi-layered cage, but it was too much to tackle!). We bought a backing board (that lets air circulate at the back), drilled round holes between each room, and made perspex doors with magnetic clasps. It was an exhausting project, but I'm SO pleased with how it turned out.

Sleeping sack - Handmade
Food bowls - Pets at Home & JOY
Sleeping cave - Etsy
Bucket wheel - Ebay

Soba seems pretty happy with it too! The cage is split into different areas, so he has two spaces for sleeping and burrowing, a space for food and water, and a space (behind the white door) for his litter tray and wheel - hedgehogs love to run, and love to poo while doing so (lovely), so this keeps it all behind doors!

The whole space is covered with vinyl so it can easily be cleaned (and the bookcase won't get damaged), and then lined with fleece bedding.

I've been looking into getting more toys and things for him - he has a little ball that he plays with, and is a big fan of cardboard tubes, but I'd like to put more in his cage. Hedgehogs are still pretty unusual pets, so it's hard to work out what they're into (especially as most hedgehog advice forums are fairly terrifying places that tell you to avoid all the things), but it's a work in progress!

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse of Soba! If you've got any questions, just let me know, and keep an eye on my instagram (@eversojuliet) for more hedgehog photos.