Hedgehog in the house.

What a lovely surprise! Hedgehogs can move fast, so maybe your cat chased it indoors.

I would contact a local sanctuary and get some advice.

From Snuffle Lodge Hedgehog Rescue

Hibernaculums are the winter nests hogs use to hibernate – they are usually very well built, but could be indoors, under sheds, in compost heaps, even in newly built but unlit bonfires. The key here is to leave well alone – it can be dangerous for hogs to be woken from hibernation early. If you want to help your dozing hedgehog, please leave a shallow bowl of water and some dry cat biscuits out – hogs do stir occasionally for food, so these treats will be very welcome.

That's lovely, I hope it's OK. I haven't seen a hedgehog for several years.

I haven't rechecked, but I think cat or dog food (tinned) is enjoyed by hedgehogs, and good to feed them.

Could that be what tempted your Mrs Tiggy-Winkle indoors since you have a cat? I wonder???

Remember Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle? That's what I'll have to call her.

As a child there was always a hedgehog in the garden particularly on warm summer evenings. Haven't seen one for donkeys years. Poor things.

Oh what an honour TriciaF, but how odd it has hibernated in your house.

Indiana, I didn't know hedgehog numbers were seriously dwindling. Is it due to so much building and different farming practices?

There was a hedgehog living in my garden, I only ever saw one at a time so assume it didn't have a mate - difficult to tell them apart except by size I expect. I trust it is still here, hibernating under the shed.

Very interested to know how things develop.

This took me back years to when DS1 was about 9/10. I came indoors to find him on the sofa with a hedgehog on his lap. I wasn't very amused, (the flea thing), and he had on my best gloves. We sprinkled it liberally with the cat's' flea powder, and the little blighters were jumping all over the place. This was 40 years ago and I can't remember what happened to Mr/Mrs Tiggywinkle.

How lovely! I love hedgehogs and am so sad that their numbers are seriously dwindling. I do hope your one is OK and I'm glad he's somehow managed to find a nice warm corner of your house to hibernate in .
Please keep us updated.

Thanks to all - durhamjen that's a relief!
No change today.

www.hedgehogstreet.org/forum/index.php?f=3

Hedgehogstreet want sightings of hedgehogs because they are becoming an endangered species.
Your cat should not get fleas from the hedgehog, Tricia. Neither should you!

Thanks for the replies - I don't know what it's doing at the moment, but will keep an eye out for it wandering around at night.
I just can't understand how it got in, and how it got the mat to cover itself (not really a mat, a doubled square of old flanelette sheet.)
It's behind the cat's litter tray and I don't want Cat to get fleas - she had them once and it was a nightmare.

What a wonderful surprise! I hope all is well with the poor thing and that you find the right help to keep it safe. Please keep us informed. I love hedgehogs!

It is probably still hibernating but will be active again soon at night. I know someone who has a mini Tiggywinkle's rescue for hedgehogs and has them in part of her home , she has never had a problem with fleas.

If the hedgehog since being disturbed starts wandering round in the day there is a problem and I would contact the nearest rescue. A box with a towel and hot water bottle well wrapped will help till you get it there. Nice that you care ...they are becoming rarer x

Forgot to say, hedgehog fleas are host specific, so they do not live on humans or pets.
Unlike cat fleas.

You can find out all you want to know about hedgehogs on www.hedgehogstreet.org
Yes, they have fleas.

yes they do , hopefully yours might not...