If getting a dog or cat seems boring to you, you could consider these exotic — and strange — household pets. Or not.
Weird Family Pets
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Alligator
According to America Now News, alligators are legal in some states. But since that cute tiny alligator you may buy for ten dollars at the pet store will grow to more than 14-feet-long and will snap at the slightest distraction, they're probably better for the classroom.
Photo: Getty
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Ferret
Banned in New York City in 1999 by then mayor Rudy Giuliani, but Oddee reports they are actually great pets for the right owner. They are known for being playful and quick to bond with their owner. But a misused or poorly fed ferret will bite, so treat your ferret nicely or watch out!
Photo: Getty
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Big Jungle Cats
First bred by a Bengal breeder in 1986, these big cats are said to be as loyal as a dog without the aversion to water that most household cats have. Oh and guess what? According to Cracked.com, they are instinctively friendly toward children. Still, I'll take your word for it and stick with a chubby Siamese.
Photo: Getty
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Giraffe
Before you think about how much more you'd have to feed this giraffe than your dog, wait a moment. According to The Daily Mail, the Carr-Kartley Family who lives in Kenya, has 8 giraffes as family pets. Now you can imagine how much more 8 giraffes eat than your dog. That's a whole lot of Alpo.
Photo: Getty
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Python
A constricting snake seems an unlikely household pet, especially around children. But a 2012 research report claims there are more than 1110 pet pythons in the U.S. And even though the Daily Mail ran a story about one cute 7-year-old boy in Cambodia who has one as well, it's probably better to stick with a pet that won't grow to 100 pounds and have enough muscle to constrict an adult male to death.
Photo: Getty
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Sugar Glider
Sugar Gliders, a nocturnal animal that spreads it's body out like a rectangle to jump from tree to tree in search of nectar, are also a household pet for one Australian girl who tells Our Kids Magazine, "They're like babies. They require a lot of attention." So if you're thinking of getting one of these seemingly cute rodent-like creatures remember, babies grow up and go to college. Sugar gliders just poop in your house and sleep all day. Eek.
Photo: Getty
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Wolf Dog
According to Exotic Pets.com, "The more wolf if the mix, the more wolfy the dog will be." Make sense. Wolf dogs are a mix of dogs and wolves since wolves are not domesticated in the U.S. And while wolf dogs are stunning with beautiful, haunting eyes they do tend to be destructive, especially if confined to a house.
Photo: Getty
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Llama
While common in South America, llamas aren't as common in the United States. But according to one family in upstate New York, "They don't cost a lot to feed," they told ABC. If only we could say the same about teenagers!
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