- There are reasons why these animals are not common pets.
The National Pet Day falls on April 11, which is today. Today, we celebrate all the pets that make our everyday lives so much better.
And when we say all the pets, we mean all of them and not just Spot and Mr. Whiskers. There are some truly exotic and, frankly, strange animals that are legal to own as pets.
But just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Here are seven weird animals that can make for legal but extremely lousy pets.
7. Alligator
You can own an alligator in several U.S. states, including Florida (which probably doesn’t surprise anybody). You may need to get a permit for it, but it is possible to have an alligator as a pet.
It’s a terrible idea for multiple reasons, however. First of all, alligators get huge. They might start off as small, cute reptiles, but that baby can grow to be 14 feet in length.
Few homes are big enough to house a behemoth like that. The size also brings us to the second big problem of owning an alligator — feeding it.
A grown alligator can kill and eat a cow. That means it can and probably wants to eat you as well, since alligators can’t become tame.
Oh, and you really don’t want to be anywhere near a hormonal gator when mating season rolls around.
6. Armadillo
This may surprise you (it sure surprised us) but armadillos are legal pets in a handful of Southern states, including Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. It will likely be illegal to import the animal but if you somehow manage it, you may be able to legally keep it.
Be prepared for your armadillo to be a constant money sink, though. Not only would buying the animal cost a pretty penny, but they’re also very prone to parasites and diseases — including leprosy and malaria.
And when (not if) your armadillo gets sick, good luck finding a veterinarian who knows how to take care of it.
You don’t even get a good companion for your investment. Armadillos are solitary animals that don’t like anyone’s company, so you might as well save your money.
5. Bear
Yes, you can own a bear, black or brown, in Alabama, Delaware, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Just know that a real bear is not a cuddly teddy bear.
The first thing to point out is that, like an alligator, a bear can easily kill you if it wants to. They can learn to tolerate and even like people, but this wild beast will always be one poorly slept night away from tearing you to shreds.
Even if you somehow managed to end up with the friendliest, cuddliest bear ever, you probably couldn’t afford to feed it. Bears spend up to 20 hours a day eating and can consume 30 pounds of food every single day.
You’d better have enough food for the bear, though, or you yourself might start looking like a snack.
4. Fox
Foxes come in many different sizes and fur colors, from red to arctic to fennec. Yet, all of them make equally terrible pets for the same reasons.
Foxes can be tamed but never domesticated. That means it will tolerate you but still behave as if it lived in the wild, which leads to more problems.
As anyone living near their territory can tell you, foxes are incredibly loud and hyperactive animals that aren’t made for quiet indoor living. They also scent mark their territory constantly, which means they will pee on everything you own.
And believe us, fox pee does not smell good.
3. Raccoon
Raccoons are kind of cute with their black masks and grabby little hands. That said, the internet-famous trash panda is not a good pet for many of the same reasons as foxes.
You’ll have to keep a constant eye on the raccoon or it will get somewhere you don’t want it to be. Raccoons are curious, intelligent, and agile creatures that will find their way into every hole and corner of your home.
They’re also voracious eaters and will consume anything they find. That includes the food you keep in your pantry, your household trash — and even your other pets.
Finally, they have a vicious streak and can have hair-trigger tempers. Combine that with the diseases they’re prone to carrying and their surprisingly large size (a raccoon can weigh up to 24 pounds), and you really don’t want to get bitten by one.
2. Iguana
As far as reptiles go, iguanas are pretty regal. Perhaps that’s what makes them relatively popular exotic pets. You should be well prepared for your royal reptile, though, because they’re ridiculously difficult and expensive.
Befitting their noble air, iguanas are extremely demanding when it comes to their diet and environment. They need exactly the right kind of food and habitat, or they will get sick and die.
Additionally, your pet iguana hates you. They loathe anything and everything except themselves or a potential mate and rarely tolerate being touched or approached.
If you try to force your presence on them, they can lash out with their whip-like tails or claws. Keeping an iguana is simply often not worth the challenge and expense.
1. Monkeys
It’s true — you can legally keep some monkeys and apes as pets (in certain states). The list of acceptable primates includes capuchin monkeys, macaques, and chimpanzees.
That said, living as a pet is nothing but suffering for a monkey. They require a lot of room and companionship of their own kind to be happy, and they’re unlikely to find that in your home.
Additionally, monkeys are unpredictable and they can go apes*** at the drop of a hat. If that happens, you’ll have a freaked-out monkey wrecking your home in the best-case scenario.
In the worst-case scenario, your pissed-off chimpanzee will eat your face, rip off your arms, and beat you to death with them. No, that’s not an exaggeration.
Should you survive a monkey attack with just a small bite, that can still be bad news. Primates carry many dangerous viruses that can infect a human — including hepatitis, monkey pox, and HIV.