Animal charities have slammed influencers for adopting pet goats and posting 'cute' videos online - only to return them after underestimating how difficult they are to look after.  

Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats in Kent posted an 'urgent urgent cry for help' after seeing a 'sudden influx of goats' - which staff put down to people buying goats as pets after seeing them on social media. 

On TikTok, 'cute' videos of pygmy goats have racked up millions of views, and many appear to keep them indoors. 

But goats are notoriously difficult to look after as they 'eat everything', need regular maintenance, such as their hooves clipped, and are prone to parasites. 

Even the smaller pygmy goats - which have become popular on social media platforms such as TikTok - are easy to underestimate. 

Matt Huggins, Communications administrator at Buttercups, told The Telegraph: 'We are bursting at the seams'. 

On social media, the sanctuary put out a desperate plea for help, writing: 'URGENT URGENT URGENT CRY FOR HELP‼️

'Over the past two weeks, the sanctuary has seen a sudden influx of goats, with 27 arriving into our care. We are now operating at maximum capacity. 

People have swarmed to buy goats after seeing 'cute' videos of them on TikTok. Pictured: India Katona, from the UK, who owns goats

Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats in Kent posted an 'urgent urgent cry for help' on social media after seeing a 'sudden influx of goats' - which staff put down to people buying goats as pets after seeing them on social media

'Please share wide and far even if you cannot help in a way of finances or foster every like, comment or share help us reach that support.'

Goat owners have told FEMAIL that they've been left with 'horror and dread' at the growing 'trend' to own goats - and said people have only seen the 'bright side' of goat ownership on social media. 

Caroline Rimmer, 48, who runs wool business Tregaver Fibre in Cornwall, bought her four angora goats five years ago after 'always wanting them'. 

Speaking to FEMAIL about the rise of the social media goat, she said: 'Honestly, it fills me with horror and dread. 

'Goats are herd animals. The idea of a 'house goat' or similar goes against one of the five freedoms of animal welfare, that they must have companionship of their own kind. 

'Goats need to browse, not graze, so they spend around 6 hours a day eating. Browsing means that they have access to various plants and trees as well as grass.'

Caroline shared why goats are so difficult to look after - and the reasons behind why so many have been returned to animal sanctuaries. 

She said: I'm not surprised that people buy them and don't know how to look after them, unfortunately people see the bright side on social media, and don't know of all the background stuff that goes into caring for goats in the way that is best for their species.

Particularly popular on TikTok are the smaller pygmy goats, which many people seem to keep inside

Caroline Rimmer, who runs wool business Tregaver Fibre in Cornwall, said the rise of social media goats fills her with 'horror and dread'

India Katona, from the UK, said that while goats can be difficult to look after, she would recommend them to 'anyone'

The videos have inspired others to follow in influencers' footsteps and get goats of their own

But Buttercups Goat Sanctuary have said they're at 'maximum capacity' after goats have been returned when people have realised how difficult they are to look after

'Goats will TRY to eat anything..... And there are a lot of toxic and fatal plants that they need to be protected from. For instance Laurel or Rhododendron will kill them very quickly.

'They need annual vaccinations, plus normal maintenance - they may need worming, or antibiotics for instance.

'Fibre goats need shearing twice a year, so people will need a shearer experienced with goats - they can't be shorn in the same way as sheep.'

On TikTok, India Katona, who went to the University of Liverpool and now owns farm animals shared the five things she wished she'd known about goats before getting them. 

She added that she would recommend owning goats to 'anyone', while posting adorable clips with her pets.   

Speaking on her account, she said: 'Thing number one is that they will headbutt you.'

She said you could flip the goat onto its back to assert dominance, or spray it with water. 

'Thing number two is that they will eat your hair like there's no tomorrow. If they want something from you they just chew your hair or they chew your clothes. They just chew everything as that's their way of showing affection. 

Experts have warned that TikTok only shows the 'bright side' of owning goats. Pictured: Chloe Grayling from Australia who owns goats

The goats are very affectionate, which is why many people are choosing to adopt them. Pictured: Goats at Kirkley Mill Lodge Farm in Northumberland

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