Most people have dogs and cats as pets but believe it or not some people keep the following animals as pets too. They make great pets and are children friendly but before you decide to buy them make sure it is legal in your country to keep these pets.
Chipmunks
Though they don’t play fetch like a dog or rub against your feet like a cat, they still make wonderful pets. They are friendly and can perform many simple tricks. They have to be trained since their infancy and need a lot of space to roam around. Their diet consists of nuts, fruits, seeds and vegetables.
Chinchilla
Chinchillas are native to the Andes in South America. They make great pets even though they are nocturnal. They have extremely soft fur and they are low maintenance. The best part about them is that they are practically odourless. They become friendly with their owners when handled from a young age. They love dust baths and prefer warm temperatures. They also enjoy playing with toys especially tiny little chew toys. Their diet consists of grass and pellets.
Potbelly pigs
They are endemic to the mountainous regions of Vietnam and Thailand only. These pigs are not only smaller than other breeds of pigs but they are also playful, clean, cute and very lovable. They make a wonderful addition to the family but make sure you do adequate research before getting one. A large number of pot-bellied pigs are abandoned by their owners every year because their owners realize that the pigs actually grow in size and do not remain tiny their entire lives.
Cockatiels
These beautifully coloured birds are endemic to the island continent of Australia. They are also known as companion parrots throughout the world. They have the brilliant ability to mimic speech and can also be taught to whistle tunes. They love being petted and held and if properly trained make awesome pets.
Iguana
These reptiles are found basically in the tropical areas of Mexico and Central America. They are the most popular pets among lizards and make great pets if properly cared for. If you decide to keep one as a pet, remember that it needs the right amount of humidity, light and temperature. They also require a large terrarium with fresh food and water daily.
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are found in some parts of Asia, Africa and Europe. They share some ancestry with shrews and are nocturnal in nature. Hedgehogs are basically omnivores and consume a variety of food items like berries, melons, bird eggs and insects. While selecting a hedgehog at a pet store make sure that the hedge hog is young and mild tempered so that it can get well acquainted with you over time. They are tiny and nervous creatures and will roll into a ball when threatened or picked up but if they are trained well they will unroll just as quickly.
Ferrets
They are the domesticated version of the European Polecat. Their fur is of different colours like black, white, brown or mixed. The owners need time and patience to train them but if this is done they make excellent pets. Ferrets are thorough carnivores and eat frequently due to their quick metabolism. They can also be taught to perform some tricks in return for treats. Since ferrets are natural hunters they might take some time to bond with other pets in the house.
Wallaby
They are miniature kangaroos. They are endemic to Australia and New Guinea. They are herbivores in nature and they eat grasses, vegetables and other foliage. Wallabies face several threats from feral cats and foxes. They form a close bonding with their owners in their infancy while their owners are bottle feeding the baby joeys. They need a large area to play and graze so people who raise them must have a huge fenced background. They are docile in nature and make great cuddling companions.
Sugar glider squirrels
They are found in Australia and were introduced in Tasmania. They are omnivores in nature but during summers they become insectivores and in winter they turn into exudativores. They have the ability to glide from one tree to another and rarely come to the ground. This ability to glide comes from flaps or loose skin which is present in their body from their fingers to toes. They become close with their owners if they are kept as pets from a very young age.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF EXOTIC PETS
These pets often have special needs such as special diets, enclosures and vet needs for as long as they live. If you decide to get one make sure you can take care of it for a really long time. Before getting one check the rules and regulations of your country regarding the permission to keep such pets.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Though these animals are kept as pets all over the world and they make great pets they shouldn’t be kept as pets. Wild animals are not supposed to be kept as pets, no matter how much you train them or love them they won’t become a cat or a dog. They cannot be kept in unnatural environments and often when they are kept alone as pets they cannot express their natural abilities to breed, hunt or forage. This leads to depression and boredom and the animal can become self destructive or harm its owner. Some owners also defang and declaw their pets so as to prevent them from inflicting serious harm to their owner. All these methods are just different forms of animal cruelty. Wild animals deserve to be in their natural habitats and not in people’s homes and basements. The government must take some serious action regarding the right to keep exotic animals as pets and if possible it must be banned altogether.