In most of the United States you cannot legally own a meerkat, and the question of whether you can own a meerkat at all comes down to a single federal rule before any state law is considered. Meerkats are listed as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act, which makes it illegal to import them into the country or ship them across state lines. A meerkat that was captive-bred inside your state and never crossed a state line may be legal to possess depending on your state and local laws, but that supply is tiny, and the liability, insurance, and veterinary problems that follow ownership push most serious inquiries to a no.
Why Federal Law Blocks Most Buyers
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains the injurious wildlife list under the Lacey Act, and meerkats are on it. The listing covers the genera Suricata, Herpestes, Mungos, and several other mongoose-related genera, and has been in effect since January 1, 1966.1U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Summary of Species Currently Listed as Injurious Wildlife
The governing statute, 18 U.S.C. § 42, prohibits bringing any listed injurious species into the United States or shipping them between states, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territories.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 42 – Importation or Shipment of Injurious Mammals, Birds, Fish, Amphibia, and Reptiles You cannot legally buy a meerkat from an out-of-state breeder and have it shipped to you, and no one can legally import one from southern Africa. Violations of the Lacey Act can bring federal criminal penalties.
The federal ban does not, by itself, prohibit possession of a meerkat that was born inside your state and never crossed a state line. That is the only crack in the wall, and it is a narrow one.
State and Local Laws Are the Second Wall
State approaches to exotic mammals differ widely. Some states prohibit private possession of any wild or exotic animal outright. Others allow ownership only with a permit or license from a state wildlife or fish and game agency. A smaller group has minimal restrictions on exotic mammals that aren’t classified as inherently dangerous.
Meerkats often fall under broader categories like “mongoose family” or “non-domestic carnivores,” which can make them prohibited even in states that allow other exotic species. Some states explicitly name meerkats in their banned lists alongside mongooses and other members of the family Herpestidae. Summary charts online age quickly, so the reliable move is to contact your state wildlife agency directly.
Local law adds another layer. County and city ordinances can ban exotic animals where state law permits them, and zoning rules can bar them from residential areas. A quick call to your local animal control office is the step that most often turns up a deal-breaker.
When USDA Licensing Applies
The Animal Welfare Act requires federal licensing for anyone who breeds, sells, exhibits, or commercially transports warm-blooded animals. Breeding meerkats or showing them to the public requires a USDA dealer or exhibitor license through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.3Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Apply for an Animal Welfare License or Registration Selling exotic animals commercially also requires a license.4USDA APHIS. Licensing and Registration Under the Animal Welfare Act – Guidelines for Dealers, Exhibitors, Transporters, and Ranchers
A private individual who keeps a single meerkat strictly as a personal pet, without exhibiting, breeding, or selling, is generally exempt from USDA licensing. The exemption does not override the Lacey Act or a state ban. A USDA license would not legalize a meerkat where your state prohibits one.
Strict Liability If Your Meerkat Bites Someone
Under American tort law, the owner of a wild animal faces strict liability for physical harm the animal causes. If your meerkat bites a visitor, you are responsible for their injuries regardless of how careful you were or how secure the enclosure was. Dog-bite law in many states gives owners a “first bite” or negligence standard; wild animal owners have no such cushion.5H2O. Restatement (Third) of Torts on Strict Liability for Harm Caused by Animals
The legal definition of “wild animal” here covers species that have not been generally domesticated, and meerkats qualify. They are small, but their teeth are sharp, and they can bite hard when stressed or territorial. Even a minor bite becomes an expensive claim under a strict liability standard.
Insurance Is a Real Problem
Standard homeowners and renters policies frequently exclude coverage for injuries or damage caused by exotic animals. If your insurer learns you keep a meerkat, the outcomes range from an exclusion for exotic-animal claims to outright cancellation. Umbrella liability policies for wild animal owners are difficult to find and expensive when found. This cost rarely gets budgeted for, and it can dwarf the price of the animal itself.
Rabies and the Bite-Report Problem
No rabies vaccine is USDA-licensed for use in wild or exotic animals, including meerkats. A veterinarian can give a canine or feline rabies vaccine off-label, but it carries no legal recognition as proof of vaccination.6Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information for Veterinarians – Rabies
If your meerkat bites someone and animal control gets involved, the CDC’s standard recommendation for unvaccinated “other mammals” that bite a person is immediate euthanasia and rabies testing.6Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information for Veterinarians – Rabies There is no 10-day observation protocol like the one used for dogs and cats. A minor nip can end with your meerkat euthanized and little legal ground to fight it. Meerkats can also carry other zoonotic risks, including anthrax, babesiosis, leptospirosis, and various internal and external parasites.7Ministry for Primary Industries. Technical Advice – Risks Associated With Zoo Meerkats and Red Pandas
What Legal Acquisition Actually Looks Like
Legal purchase means finding a captive-bred meerkat born within your state, from a source that never moved the animal across a state line. Meerkats are not sold in pet stores. The few licensed exotic breeders in the country who work with meerkats typically sell to zoos and educational facilities, not private individuals.
Where captive-bred meerkats are available, prices tend to start around $1,500 to $2,000. Any seller should hold proper licensing under the Animal Welfare Act and state law and should provide complete health records and documentation of the animal’s origin within the state.4USDA APHIS. Licensing and Registration Under the Animal Welfare Act – Guidelines for Dealers, Exhibitors, Transporters, and Ranchers
Exotic animal rescues sometimes take in meerkats surrendered by owners who underestimated the commitment. Adoption is cheaper and more ethical than buying from a breeder, but the same legal rules apply. If the animal crossed a state line at any point in its history, its possession may be federally illegal regardless of how it reached the rescue.
What Ownership Requires in Practice
Meerkats live 5 to 15 years in captivity, so this is not a short commitment.8Royal Veterinary College. Meerkat Care and Advice They are intensely social, living in groups of up to 30 in the wild. Keeping one alone almost guarantees behavioral problems, including aggression, self-harm, and chronic stress. If you cannot keep multiple meerkats together, you should not keep one at all.
Enclosure needs are substantial. Meerkats dig prolifically and need deep substrate for burrowing along with hiding spots and climbing structures. Enclosures should include both indoor and outdoor spaces, with indoor temperatures kept above 68°F (20°C) to reflect their native southern African climate.8Royal Veterinary College. Meerkat Care and Advice A spare bedroom will not work. Think outdoor aviary with underground depth, heating, and escape-proof construction.
Diet is another recurring cost. Meerkats are primarily insectivorous, needing a base of commercial insectivore food supplemented with live insects and occasional vegetables. A steady supply of live food is harder and more expensive than feeding a conventional pet. Finding a vet with real meerkat experience is equally hard; most exotic vets focus on reptiles and birds, and initial wellness visits with exotic specialists typically run between $80 and $270.
The purchase price is the smallest part of the total cost. Enclosure construction, heating, specialized food, veterinary care, and any liability coverage you can obtain will consistently outweigh the animal itself. Before you invest any of it, confirm two things in writing: that your state and locality allow the animal, and that the specific meerkat you are considering was born inside your state and has never crossed a state line.