Pets' Corner: How can I make a tortoise happy?

My partner and I would love to have a pet tortoise. We live in a 2-bedroom flat and have access to a secure garden where the tortoise could roam, but what else does a tortoise need to be a happy pet? We also have a cat, so are not sure if the combination would be a good one.
Becky Lee, via e-mail

Tortoises can make fascinating pets, but they are very challenging to keep, due to their impractical sizes and their very specific dietary requirements and care. Firstly, you have to think about the commitment involved in getting a tortoise. They can live up to a 100 years! I don't know about you, but if I had one it would definitely outlive me!

These once popular pets are now under strict legislation to control the sale of them. It is illegal to import them from overseas, because people were smuggling into the country wild caught tortoises. If you are going to buy one, get in touch with a reputable organisation, such as The Tortoise Trust, which will be able to provide you with creditable breeders, who can supply all the correct documentation for your new pet. Many pets can live in harmony with tortoises, but this all depends on individual cases. If your cat wanted to it could do a lot of damage to the tortoise, so have a good think about how playful your cat is and how likely it would be that it would consider the tortoise as a prey object. You need to do a lot of research before you get a tortoise and a website that will certainly help is www.tortoisetrust.org. Good luck!

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