There are groups that actively advocate what they call ‘responsible ownership’ of primates, but these groups are usually largely concerned more with the maintenance of their ‘right’ to keep monkeys than with the welfare of the monkeys themselves. Groups and individuals that are seriously concerned with the welfare of individual monkeys as well as with human safety and conservation of threatened wild primate species inevitably agree: monkeys are not pets.

There is no such thing as a ‘domestic’ primate – all primates (apart from humans!) are wild animals. Domestication is a process that happens over many generations of selective breeding. Simply being born in captivity does NOT mean domestication!

Chances are, upon reaching adolescence, pet monkeys will become unmanageable, unpredictable and dangerous as they try to assert themselves and as their natural instincts kick in and they do not know what to do with them. Their owners and their owners’ friends and families are at real risk of serious injury. Even small monkeys can be dangerous as they are strong, quick and clever. Pet monkeys who have become threats are often confined to small cages to live out the remainder of their lives with no further hope of social contact.

In order to be kept as pets, primates are usually taken from their mothers as infants – whereas they would naturally depend on their mothers for long periods of time, and would maintain close bonds for years. This separation causes acute psychological suffering and lasting damage to both mothers and infants. This also makes infant monkeys particularly needy and responsive to human interaction – which is often mistaken for happiness by their new ‘owners’.

All primates are social animals. Denied the opportunity to interact with others of their own kind, pet primates often develop serious psychological problems such as severe aggression, depression, and/or stereotypical behaviours such as rocking, pacing and self-mutilation.

Primates have physical and psychological needs which are very difficult to meet in captive situations, such as the need for high levels of intense natural light; the need for vertical space; the need for constant mental stimulation; and the need for an appropriate diet. They are built perfectly for survival in their natural habitats, and are not suited to lives of confinement and solitude.

Wild primates spend a huge portion of their waking hours travelling and foraging in search of food. They urinate and defecate wherever they happen to be. In the home, this translates into destruction and mess.

Some primates can live for forty or fifty years – a factor which is rarely taken into consideration by prospective pet owners. When pet monkeys outlive their owners (or their owners’ finances or patience!), provisions must be made for their future – but sanctuaries are few and many of these are filled to capacity.

Some primates are known to be carriers of diseases which can and do get passed on to humans. The Simian Herpes B virus – which is carried by a “high percentage of macaques” and is “almost always fatal to humans”- is not reliably detectable by testing. Additionally, diseases which seem inconsequential to humans can infect and kill monkeys.

All primates are threatened in the wild. The keeping of pet monkeys in places like the USA and the UK appears to have a negative impact on wild populations, whether directly (to feed these trades) or indirectly (by setting examples… if people in America can keep monkeys as pets, why shouldn’t people in habitat countries?).

Why would anybody choose to keep monkeys as pets in light of all of the above? It is clearly not in the interest of any monkey to be kept as a pet – it is a selfish act that causes all kinds of misery. Please do not do it.

Only thing I worry is the feces and urine.

Would a monkey keep a diaper on?

My son says yes, but I think they will tear it up.

With training It can be done !

Having said that, Please don’t even consider it. Monkeys are not pets and it is cruel to try to keep them as pets. And though small capuchins can DEFINITELY be dangerous.

There are groups that actively advocate what they call ‘responsible ownership’ of primates, but these groups are usually largely concerned more with the maintenance of their ‘right’ to keep monkeys than with the welfare of the monkeys themselves. Groups and individuals that are seriously concerned with the welfare of individual monkeys as well as with human safety and conservation of threatened wild primate species inevitably agree: monkeys are not pets.

There is no such thing as a ‘domestic’ primate – all primates (apart from humans!) are wild animals. Domestication is a process that happens over many generations of selective breeding. Simply being born in captivity does NOT mean domestication!

Chances are, upon reaching adolescence, pet monkeys will become unmanageable, unpredictable and dangerous as they try to assert themselves and as their natural instincts kick in and they do not know what to do with them. Their owners and their owners’ friends and families are at real risk of serious injury. Even small monkeys can be dangerous as they are strong, quick and clever. Pet monkeys who have become threats are often confined to small cages to live out the remainder of their lives with no further hope of social contact.

In order to be kept as pets, primates are usually taken from their mothers as infants – whereas they would naturally depend on their mothers for long periods of time, and would maintain close bonds for years. This separation causes acute psychological suffering and lasting damage to both mothers and infants. This also makes infant monkeys particularly needy and responsive to human interaction – which is often mistaken for happiness by their new ‘owners’.

All primates are social animals. Denied the opportunity to interact with others of their own kind, pet primates often develop serious psychological problems such as severe aggression, depression, and/or stereotypical behaviours such as rocking, pacing and self-mutilation.

Primates have physical and psychological needs which are very difficult to meet in captive situations, such as the need for high levels of intense natural light; the need for vertical space; the need for constant mental stimulation; and the need for an appropriate diet. They are built perfectly for survival in their natural habitats, and are not suited to lives of confinement and solitude.

Wild primates spend a huge portion of their waking hours travelling and foraging in search of food. They urinate and defecate wherever they happen to be. In the home, this translates into destruction and mess.

Some primates can live for forty or fifty years – a factor which is rarely taken into consideration by prospective pet owners. When pet monkeys outlive their owners (or their owners’ finances or patience!), provisions must be made for their future – but sanctuaries are few and many of these are filled to capacity.

Some primates are known to be carriers of diseases which can and do get passed on to humans. The Simian Herpes B virus – which is carried by a “high percentage of macaques” and is “almost always fatal to humans”- is not reliably detectable by testing. Additionally, diseases which seem inconsequential to humans can infect and kill monkeys.

All primates are threatened in the wild. The keeping of pet monkeys in places like the USA and the UK appears to have a negative impact on wild populations, whether directly (to feed these trades) or indirectly (by setting examples… if people in America can keep monkeys as pets, why shouldn’t people in habitat countries?).

Why would anybody choose to keep monkeys as pets in light of all of the above? It is clearly not in the interest of any monkey to be kept as a pet – it is a selfish act that causes all kinds of misery.
Please do not do it.

Unless you’re set up to care for exotic monkeys and have experience keeping them, such as from a zoo background, skip this animal. They aren’t a pet. They are difficult and complex animals. Not cheap either and live a long time, over 30 years in captivity for spider monkeys. You’d also have a very hard time finding a vet to treat it, you’d need a zoo vet who may not work with private individuals who’ve got monkeys because lyke omg they’re so cool!