The World's Most Unusual and Exotic Pets

From the beginning of time, mankind has had a love affair with animals. We have used them for food and clothing. We have used them for labor. And, finally, we have used them for companionship. We are both in awe of them and in fear of them. But most of all, we respect them on many different levels.

That is why, when the holidays roll around and we are looking for a very special gift, our thoughts often turn to animals. It might be a puppy for Johnny, who needs a companion or a kitty for Susie, who wants something that will love her.

Choosing an animal for a pet can be both difficult and frustrating. Sometimes mom and dad don't want Mikey to have a pony. Sometimes they are armed with information that says Joanie really won't change her parakeet's cage on a regular basis. And the truth is that some people's tastes just don't range toward the norm.

Because our family has been in talks about a possible pet for my grandson, I did some research into the best types of pets for children. Along the way, however, I ran into some of the most unusual pet and human matches I have ever seen. Many I understood, although I wouldn't agree with while others simply made no sense at all.

It seems that today there are a lot of people who think outside of the box. Let's take a look at some of today's most popular and unusual pets.

Obviously, dogs and cats lead the list; with dogs edging out their feline competitors. Next to them, the proverbial rodents like mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils and ferrets continue to be popular. They have minimal care requirements and are not overtly expensive. My kids had a hamster growing up. I hated it because I'm not fond of any kind of rodent. However, they enjoyed it and it did teach them some basic skills about caring for something other than themselves.

No longer, one of those "out there" choices, reptiles also continue to grow in popularity. Having a pet iguana really isn't all that that unusual these days, although I admit that I still don't see the fascination. I lean more toward a cute little turtle or an adorable frog; both of which I had growing up. I don't even have a problem with lizards. I had one of those too, when I was five. He only lasted about a week. Once my mother found him in her shower, poor Timmy was out on is own in the big world once again.

However, on the whole, I'm not convinced that reptiles are meant for the average American home. And I would definitely never choose a pet snake, although hundreds of Americans do just that each and every year. Each reptile variety has their own unique set of requirements with regard to accommodations and food. Some are much more cumbersome than others, so those considering a pet in this realm need to do their research up front before making a purchase. And certainly never give a reptile gift without checking with mom and dad first. In fact, that should be done no matter what type of pet you are considering.

More people than I would have guessed have pet spiders. Tarantulas are a perennial favorite. Having been bit by one as a child, I can assure you that I'll never enter a home that holds one. Their bite is excruciatingly painful and in certain circumstances can be deadly. Therefore, as a parent myself, I could never recommend one for a pet. The oddest spider pet choice I found was one called a camel spider. It looks a bit like a cross between a spider and a scorpion, although it does not sting from what I can tell. However, it appears to be relatively harmless, so it a spider pet is a must, I guess one could do worse than this one.

Spiders aren't the only insects that people collect either. Other choices include worms, caterpillars, stick bugs, and the more obvious - - butterfly. The one that threw me the most, however, was a hissing cockroach. I just can't believe that anyone would want a cockroach for a pet, much less one that huge in size and that also hisses. But I guess there are animal lovers out there who can even love a cockroach.

Birds continue to be a popular pet choice, as well, although not nearly as popular as they were when I was growing up in the 50's and 60's. Parakeets, canaries, parrots, cockatiels and macaws are the most popular, but other favorites include lovebirds and others in the more exotic category. Some bird varieties can be quite expensive and their care and upkeep can be taxing as well. Before making a bird purchase, I suggest a thorough study of the particular variety under consideration.

Fish also continue to be an excellent pet choice. They are easy to care for, inexpensive, and cause absolutely no trouble; well, except for perhaps the random unexpected birth. I had guppies when I was little and the mother kept having babies faster than I could remove them from the tank and start them off on their own. I was horrified when I discovered that the mother guppie would eat her young if you didn't remove them quick enough. That was the end of my fascination with fish.

A lot of people like farm pets such as rabbits, ducks, geese, chickens, and even pigs. I remember a few years back when pot bellied pigs were all the rage. There are still a few of them around, although the choice is definitely diminishing in popularity. The horse, of course, is one of the most popular and it is not likely to ever go out of style. Americans love horses. They love riding them and they love the idea of them. However, be aware that horses are extremely expensive animals to keep as a pet. They require frequent vet care, grooming, exercise, and costly housing and food allowances.

I have never really known anyone with a wild animal for a pet, but I've heard enough horror stories to wonder why someone would even choose one. As I researched this article, I ran into stories about pet tigers, bears, and even the more exotic ocelot. These are all beautiful animals for certain, but pet worthy? I'm not convinced. Such animals were meant to roam wild and it somehow seems cruel to cage them in small places.

Some of the strangest pets I ran into as I researched included pet possums, raccoons, and skunks. I'm personally opposed to any animal that can spray me with something. However, the strangest I found - - outside of hissing cockroach, of course - - was a hedgehog. I will admit that the picture of the animal was absolutely adorable and his owner obviously loved him very much. That leads me to wonder if we sometimes allow preconceived notions to form our opinions.

Animals aren't humans and shouldn't be treated that way. However, that doesn't mean they don't deserve love and, if a human being honestly believes that he or she can deliver what the animal needs, who am I to say that they can't.

I'm afraid my tastes will continue to run toward the mundane and that the most exciting pet I will ever own will is a dog. But my hat is off to those who think outside of the box and do it with both skill and grace.