At a glance the quick version
Typical adults 1.8-4.5 kg, males about 10% larger; ADW gives an overall range of 0.7-6.3 kg.
Coat and looks how to spot one
long glossy fur, bushy tail
A cat-sized animal with thick, glossy fur and a large plume of a tail. The classic coat is black with a thin white blaze on the face and a white patch on the neck that splits into two stripes down the back.13
Personality what they are like
Captive-bred skunks are sensitive, clever and playful, with a strong curiosity that leads them to open cupboards and dig into corners looking for hidden things.2
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Naturally active at night and a keen forager; daily play and things to dig through and explore keep its busy mind occupied.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Pet-proof cupboards, as skunks are skilled at opening them. Ownership is legal only in some places: roughly a third of US states allow it, some with a permit.2
Home where they are happiest
Usually kept indoors as a house pet with a safe sleeping den and room to roam and forage; check local law before getting one.2
Food basics what goes in the bowl
An omnivore whose natural diet is mostly insects and other animal food, plus fruit, berries and corn in season.13
Company who they like around
Wild striped skunks are mostly solitary; pet skunks bond with their people and benefit from daily interaction.12
The story where it all began
Skunks appear in records going back to Christopher Columbus and were kept by some Native American and First Nations peoples. Farmers valued them for controlling pests, and after the fur trade faded skunks came to be bred mainly as pets and show animals.2
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Selective breeding has produced many colours, including apricot, lavender, champagne and mahogany.3
- 2
Pet skunk shows have held classes such as 'Prettiest Tail' and 'Friendliest'.2
- 3
Before spraying, a skunk gives a warning by stamping the ground with its front feet.1
- 4
Skunk fur was once sold under names like 'American sable'.2
Recognised by the official bits
- American Domestic Skunk Association
- Owner group offering education and support; pet skunk shows are also held by skunk organisations2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Domestic Skunk. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Fresh food and waterevery day
- Spot cleanevery day
- Full cleanevery week
- EnrichmentNew things to explore every dayevery day
- Nails checkevery month
- Weigh inevery 2 weeks
- Vet check-upFind a vet who sees exotic petsevery year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Animal Diversity Web: Mephitis mephitis animaldiversity.orgused for range, length, weight, lifespan, diet, behaviour
- Wikipedia: Skunks as pets en.wikipedia.orgused for history, legality, temperament, organisations, shows
- Wikipedia: Striped skunk en.wikipedia.orgused for size, weight, coat colours, diet, behaviour
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.