We had a big porky in a cage for about a year...not sure why? (I was a kid)... we'd feed him...he was talker...we'd occassionally use him to break dogs.....
I don't know much about those critters, but did it have any quills? If it did, I'd be worried that little bastard would throw quills. That's crazy right there, having one of those as a pet.
The best thing elk_hunter is that they dont "throw" quills. They will hit you with their tail or if you were to try and "bite" one you would impale yourself on the quills...
Pretty amazing that bobcats, cougars and fishers can get them suckers turned over and kilt and eaten without getting too many quills... I'll bet their first attempts are a little prickly though!
When we went to the San Diego Zoo a person was walking one of the African porcupines around on a leash. He was a big SOB and was as friendly as a Lab. It was just one of those things you don't see everyday.
One of the ranches I hunt is covered with porcupines. Damned things walk within a couple feet of you all the time and never seem to care about you. I`ve been tempted to try to sneak a pet in every now and then. They sure are interesting little guys to watch while waiting for the deer to feed out.