Anybody can have a cat, dog, or goldfish. But why not think outside the (litter) box? It seems exponentially cooler to have a tame capybara or a pet cuscus. Or so say users of a popular online forum in answer to the question, "What non-domesticated animal do you want to have as a pet?" Most of them know their choices are unlikely or even illegal. But it's fun to dream.
1. Bear
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"I've wanted to give a bear a bear hug for the longest time," one forum member. "I imagine they'd make good cuddling buddies with all that fur." Nice dream, but it's not reality. Media depictions of bears as cute and cuddly have resulted in "tragedy for both humans and bears," according to Britannica. Teddy bears are much safer.
2. Hippo
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One forum user researched this because their significant other is "a huge hippo enthusiast." Among other things, you'd need a zoo license in the U.S., a giant pond with a powerful filtration/treatment system, "extremely robust" fences, literally tons of vegetation for food, and a way to keep out all the looky-lous who will want to come to see your hippo.
"It is doable," the commenter concluded, "but plan on having around $3 million for start-up, assuming you already have the land." Just imagine how much the hazard insurance would cost, assuming you could even get it.
3. Cheetah
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Of all the big cats, cheetahs are the friendliest toward humans. But since they can weigh as much as 143 pounds, they aren't suited to lap-sitting. "Cheetahs are non-aggressive and very similar to house cats," noted one forum member. That's true in one aspect: Cheetahs purr, according to National Geographic.
4. Quokka
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This cute little Australian critter always appears to be smiling. One commenter also loves their "Big boogie eyes." Quokkas have little fear of humans, but it is illegal to domesticate any wild Australian animal. Even if it were legal, the quokka survives on native vegetation and would not do well in captivity. Admire those quokka smiles from afar, even if you visit Australia: A 1988 law forbids feeding or interacting with the animals.
5. Squirrel
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One forum user fantasizes about squirrels visiting their patio, "So I can feed them peanut butter sammiches." Cute visual (especially if the sandwiches are squirrel-sized!), but the U.S. Humane Society says feeding squirrels "may compromise their survival skills." If you want squirrels as quasi-pets, just put up a bird feeder and watch them eat all the seeds before the birds get there.
6. Meerkat
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"Those little guys are so cute," exulted one commenter. Their rapid, darting head movements and the fact that they stand up on their hind legs to look around do make them look adorable, and my teen thinks they are the cutest. However, private ownership of Meerkats is not legal in some U.S. states. You might have to get your fix from Meerkat videos on YouTube.
7. Tiger
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"Imagine all the looks you would get walking your tiger through the park," one forum member wrote. However, some states ban tiger ownership outright, while others require a permit. Besides, tigers are known to attack humans; several people die this way every year in India. Maybe settle for a stuffed Tigger?
8. Wolf
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"I have a wolf as my pet, and I want more," one commenter declared. However, wolves are another animal that can be trained but are always unpredictable due to their wild instincts. Some regions ban wolves and even wolf hybrids as pets; check the laws in your state before going online to buy your very own Canis lupus.
9. Koala
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Koalas are just plain adorable but are not cut out to be pets. Biologists say that even koalas born in zoos get stressed out when humans get too close. One commenter who'd love to have a koala acknowledged they never will: "They belong in the wild." Don't look for one on the black market, either; according to the Australian Koala Foundation, keeping these animals as pets is illegal worldwide.
10. Sloth
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Like the quokka, the sloth always seems to be smiling. Maybe that's why they're so popular in cartoons, nature documentaries, and the stuffed-toy industry. "I would straight-up ugly-cry if I even got to hold one," said a forum user. Us too, buddy. Us, too.
Do You Really Want To Be A Pet Owner?
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