Coatimundi Care Sheet
Coatis are a larger exotic pet that is diurnal, meaning awake during
the day and has very outgoing personalities.
Average Lifespan: 15 Years
Diet: Coatis eat fresh fruit, cooked chicken, eggs, bread, Purina
puppy chow and primate monkey biscuits.
Size at Adulthood: average about 10 pounds, males are larger than
females.
Minimum Cage size: Outdoor minimum cage size should be around 5'x10', Indoor minimum
cage size should be 3'x4'x8'.
Bonding: It is important to acquire your baby as early as possible and that they were hand fed or
bottle raised. They bond easily and want all your attention, they are puppy-like at the beginning
and it’s all about pleasing you!
What is a Coatimundi?
Coatis are mammals found in Central and North America, and are related to the raccoon. Coatis
have strong limbs to climb and dig, and they are extremely intelligent like their fellow
procyonid, the raccoon. They prefer to sleep or rest in elevated places and sleeping nests. Coatis
are active day and night. But ours have acclimated to our schedule and will even sleep in bed
with us all night.
General Personality
Coatis are FUN! They are extremely outgoing and cannot get enough of your attention. They are
extremely affectionate and loving pets if cared for properly and acquired at the right age. It is
relatively easy to bond with a new baby but is very challenging if you receive an older adult who
is not bonded to you. Each coati will develop their own specific personalities and quirks but
generally they are a fun pet.
Do they bite?
My answer to this question is simple, anything with teeth can bite. Anything handled from a
young age and generally domesticated and treated as a pet more than likely will not bite. I would
rate Coatis as 80% bite free. They will "play bite" a lot, especially if you allow them to do this
as a baby. It doesn't break the skin usually but it can hurt some people. They are not doing this
out of aggression.
Preparing for a Coatimundi
Before you bring your coati home, you should have its cage(s) ready. Fill it will hammocks, fun
jingle bell toys, noisy dog toys and branches or levels to roam around on.
Baby proof your house! They will get into cabinets, toilets, pantries, and even will raid your dog
food bags. Designate areas that your coati is allowed to be and areas they are not allowed to be
in. Keep these rules enforced from the beginning and your coati will learn which areas and
rooms are off limits.
How much time does a Coati require?
The first few weeks it is critical to spend as much time as possible with your baby to bond with
it. Feed it by hand, spend time playing and relaxing. Let it out of the cage as much as possible
and allow it to familiarize and get comfortable with you and its new surroundings. After the bond
has been formed, a well behaved coati could/should be let out of the cage for several hours per
day, or evening. One on one bonding time is not needed after the bond has been established but
they will still want your attention and will CRAVE play time long after they are considered
babies.