How to Care for a Monkey

Monkeys aren't easy pets to care for. They require constant care and attention, and are a long-term commitment. If you've done your research and are up to the challenge, you will be prepared for the demands of having a primate as part of your household. Monkeys aren't domestic pets, and caring for a monkey is time-consuming and difficult, not to mention expensive [source:
NPRC]. Here are some of the things involved in caring for a monkey:
Get a big, secure cage ready. Try to create a natural environment by placing non-toxic plants inside. You can add toys, branches and a swing if you have a large enough cage. Make sure the monkey will have enough room to move around. If you do let your monkey out of its cage on occasion, be sure to watch it constantly. Monkeys can do a lot of damage and you may find yourself cleaning up feces and urine as well as broken household items and spilled food.
Keep your monkey warm and dry.
Provide your monkey with plenty of opportunity to sunbathe. Ideally, you should have an indoor and outdoor cage, so your monkey can sunbathe. If you keep your monkey indoors, you'll have to give your monkey supplemental vitamin D [source: NPRC].
Feed your monkey the right type and amount of food. Monkeys need to be fed quite a lot. Depending on the species, they often eat a varied diet including fruits, leaves and even bark [source: Honolulu Zoo]. Many monkeys also eat live insects.
Keep your monkey clean. Although young monkeys can be kept in diapers and sometimes housebroken, older monkeys forget all their previous training and will even rip off diapers [source: NPRC, Honolulu Zoo].
Be sure to find a qualified vet who can give your monkey routine medical care [source: NPRC].
Provide your monkey with lots of social interaction. While dogs only need a few hours of social interaction each day, monkeys need social interaction almost whenever they're awake [source: Honolulu Zoo]