page_title: Goats as pets
section_title: Overview
hierarchical_section_title: Goats as pets / Overview
caption_attribution_description: English: Goats following human at Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats. The foreground shows a tree trunk provided as a goat scratching post.
context_page_description: Despite their reputation for being slightly rebellious, goats are sometimes kept as pets because of their ability to form close bonds with their owners. Goats are herd animals by nature and typically prefer the company of other goats, but because of their herd mentality, they will follow their owner and form close bonds with them, hence their continuing popularity.
  Ideally, one requires a minimum 20 square metres or more for every goat.
  Although goats are relatively hardy animals, domestic goats benefit from being provided with shelter from wind and rain. Regular feeding is essential, as is the provision of clean water. Hay is a necessary food source and a manger keeps it off the ground where they might urinate and defecate upon it. Providing a salt lick is also a wise adjunct so as to provide them with essential minerals. Being cloven-hoofed animals, they also need their feet to be examined from time to time and to be trimmed if necessary, since some breeds evolved in areas where hard rocky surfaces continually wear down their hoofs, whereas on soft land pasture their hoofs may overgrow. Such overgrowth can lead to problems requiring veterinary visits.
context_section_description: Despite their reputation for being slightly rebellious, goats are sometimes kept as pets because of their ability to form close bonds with their owners.  Goats are herd animals by nature and typically prefer the company of other goats, but because of their herd mentality, they will follow their owner and form close bonds with them, hence their continuing popularity.
  Ideally, one requires a minimum 20 square metres (200 sq ft) or more for every goat.
  Although goats are relatively hardy animals, domestic goats benefit from being provided with shelter from wind and rain. Regular feeding is essential, as is the provision of clean water. Hay is a necessary food source and a manger keeps it off the ground where they might urinate and defecate upon it. Providing a salt lick is also a wise adjunct so as to provide them with essential minerals. Being cloven-hoofed animals, they also need their feet to be examined from time to time and to be trimmed if necessary, since some breeds evolved in areas where hard rocky surfaces continually wear down their hoofs, whereas on soft land pasture their hoofs may overgrow. Such overgrowth can lead to problems requiring veterinary visits.
  Another important consideration is to ensure that their enclosure has robust fencing, as goats rub up against things in order to scratch themselves and can destroy bad-quality fencing, only to then escape through the small gaps that they create.
  Goats are carriers for several diseases that can pass to humans such as Leptospirosis, Q fever, Brucellosis, and Toxoplasmosis.
  For owners who can provide all of these basic essentials, goats can be become very rewarding pets and companions.
caption: Goats following humans.
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