Strange Pets?

sunshinestater

Anyone else have strange pets? Maybe even a photo or two to share?

It doesn't have to be anything wildly exotic, but just out of the norm. I have four cats, a Quaker parrot and a horse, all of which are pretty mainstream, but the oddballs are my two guinea pigs. Not that guinea pigs are strange pets in general, but it's mostly kids who have them, while I'm in an all-adult household. I write a pet supplies review column and initially got them to be...well, guinea pigs to test out food, bedding, and other products. I had no idea just how much space they need, along with daily fresh veggies, hay, and lots of other requirements to keep the spoiled little whistlers happy.

Here are the guinea girls:

TeachTheGirl

My aunt has some rare tortoises that she dotes upon.

I just have cats. I don't think I'll be getting any more pets anytime soon. XD

maiaroman18

There's a couple of lizards here. And of course, that means meal worms and crickets are always in the house as a food source.

stealthSLOTH

I don't have an exotic pet, but I totally approve of this post! Love the photos!

Do they have a sphere or wheel to run in or do they roam freely in your home?

Also, does your Parrot talk?

sunshinestater

I don't have an exotic pet, but I totally approve of this post! Love the photos!

Do they have a sphere or wheel to run in or do they roam freely in your home?

Also, does your Parrot talk?

It's actually a myth that you should have a wheel or ball for guinea pigs. Their backs are not like other rodents, so they can badly injure themselves in those things. I have a playpen made out of a kids' swimming pool that they spend most of the day running around in, which the cats love because they jump in to visit (thankfully they all get along).

Yep, my parrot is quite a little talker. He even says a few things that I wish he didn't!

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

I have rats! 4 of them to be exact, 2 males and 2 spayed females.

These are my boys Tobi and Tsuki.


Another one of Tsuki just because I think it's adorable!


My girls, Padmé (tan) and Lain (black)


Lain is so difficult to take pictures of, so I only have a really close picture of Padmé


Other than these guys, I have two cats. I would really like to have a hedgehog or a lizard sometime in the future, though!

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

I don't have an exotic pet, but I totally approve of this post! Love the photos!

Do they have a sphere or wheel to run in or do they roam freely in your home?

Also, does your Parrot talk?

It's actually a myth that you should have a wheel or ball for guinea pigs. Their backs are not like other rodents, so they can badly injure themselves in those things. I have a playpen made out of a kids' swimming pool that they spend most of the day running around in, which the cats love because they jump in to visit (thankfully they all get along).

Yep, my parrot is quite a little talker. He even says a few things that I wish he didn't!

Exercise balls are bad for all rodents. They can cause shock and respiratory problems.

violet976

lol. I actually own The Rat Stash & now work closely with Guinea Pig Market sewing hammocks & hideys for small animals. I myself own 3 cats & 3 rats that have pretty much taken over my life.

I guess my avatar pretty much sums me up.

KaleidoscopeE: Smeezes & hoodies... those melt my heart. So glad to see a fellow member with the same love for rats.

Sunshinestate: Beautiful piggies. I owned just one when I was little but sadly did not have the knowledge of proper care and housing that I do now. Since working with the Market I now see a lot more photos & videos of happy piggies popcorning around, and they really do look like such wonderful, interesting pets. I love all the "wheeking".

fruitloop2

I have a ferret, a bearded dragon, and an ornate tree lizard from Arizona that my mother-inlaw accidentally brought back. My daughter found it and asked if she could keep it. Being the animal freak I am, I of course said yes. I also have 6 fire belly toads, 3 chorus frogs and 2 dogs. My cat passed away just before Christmas, she was 19. I miss her

DalekBrittany

Awhhh Lain looks just like my Lorraine, may she RIP. I don't have any, but I used to have a rat named Lorraine. She was supposed to be snake food actually, but I took one look at her and told my parents I would cry if they fed her to him. There was something about her. The pet store would not take her back, so my parents decided they would just let her outside because we "couldn't afford to keep her." The next morning, my dad found her nommin' on some dog food on the porch. He got a good look at her, put his hand down to her, and she grabbed a kibble and jumped in his hand. It was love

She stayed for two years in a hutch in my room. She licked people to greet them as if she were a dog. The only time she ever put her teeth on me or anyone is when my father or I would reach in to take her out, she would sometimes gently put one of our fingers in her mouth, and tug until we had our hands in the back corner where she slept. Then she would crawl into our hands and curl up.

Sadly, she got a tumor like a lot of rats do and her time was passed. But she was one of the best pets I ever had. Here she is

ETA: I think that was a bit of feta by her foot. She loved feta, but it was very occasional treat for her

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

lol. I actually own The Rat Stash & now work closely with Guinea Pig Market sewing hammocks & hideys for small animals. I myself own 3 cats & 3 rats that have pretty much taken over my life.

I guess my avatar pretty much sums me up.

KaleidoscopeE: Smeezes & hoodies... those melt my heart. So glad to see a fellow member with the same love for rats.

Sunshinestate: Beautiful piggies. I owned just one when I was little but sadly did not have the knowledge of proper care and housing that I do now. Since working with the Market I now see a lot more photos & videos of happy piggies popcorning around, and they really do look like such wonderful, interesting pets. I love all the "wheeking".

You're on Goosemoose, aren't you? I'm SatiricalWoman on there! And, I *think* I have your page "like" on FB too. Small world.

37434958

I have a pet terrapin!

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

I have a pet terrapin!

MrsGriffin67

Just three spoiled female cats. They are all spayed, indoor cats and they love to chase each other around the house. I just cats and wish that I would have become a veterinarian so I could have successfully ran a no-kill cat shelter. Maybe in my next life :happy:

Tatonka_usn

We have a hedgehog in the house, and (thanks to my spawnlings) are now looking into Sugar Gliders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_glider). And the fun just NEVER ends..... :noway:

sunshinestater

So many cool-sounding pets, and I love the rattie pics!

rushikareddy

There's a couple of lizards here. And of course, that means meal worms and crickets are always in the house as a food source.

Wow! Your brave!

stealthSLOTH

I have a pet terrapin!

oooo do you have any photos? :bigsmile:

- - -

ETA: Thanks for setting me straight on that idea that guinea pigs need to be stuck into a sphere! I've never had one, but now I know!
I have a plain ole cat. I love her, and she is 'strange', but she is not exotic!!

squatsandlipgloss

I have 2 Bengal cats. Definitely not your average cats They're absolutely gorgeous, incredibly active, they can jump incredibly high (they have very high back legs) and I love how you can tell by their behavior that they have some wild cat in them.




Ugh can't seem to make the picture smaller -_-

sunshinestater

Those Bengals are gorgeous!

canadian_bacon

We have 6 snakes (including a boa constrictor), 10 lizards, a few turtles, dog, cat, a dove, a rat, and a guinea pig. It's a zoo!

Territravel

Would you call a miniature donkey strange? After my horse lost her foal, I got the mini donkey to keep her company. Of course she thinks, he's her baby. Sorry, haven't figured out how to post pics.

kathyc727

BUMP for later

tjs616

When people first come to my house, my sphynx runs right up to greet them and I often get asked "Is that a cat?". I've heard he looks like an alien, ET, a rat, Yoda, etc. Sphynx aren't actually quite hairless, they are covered in a fine down, and petting them is like touching the softest suede you can imagine. My guy has a HUGE personality, and he is the best cat I've ever met hands down.

CheriLMT

I have a hamster named Hammy(by my 2 year old nephew) I got a divorce and he kept my dog and two cats and I was heartbroken until Hammy came into my life!

the_green_midget

I have some adorable pet snails.

htimpaired

I have two cats, a lionhead rabbit, two tortoises, red eye tree frogs, vietnamese mossy frogs, firebelly toads, salamanders, a newt, three types of geckos, and four tarantulas. Well, I don't take credit for the tarantulas. That's ALL my husband's doing.

mockchoc

My dog and cat are strange. They are both female and the dog is always humping the cat. Not sure what she gets out of it :laugh:

skinnytayy

For now I just have a cat & a dog. Both are incredibly awesome though. I did have a snake that I caught in my yard and rescued from another cat I had at the time. I REALLYYYYYYYYY want a pet raccoon though ... but I don't think I'll get one living in LA because from what i've read, you can't have exotic pets here. =(

BlisterLamb

When people first come to my house, my sphynx runs right up to greet them and I often get asked "Is that a cat?". I've heard he looks like an alien, ET, a rat, Yoda, etc. Sphynx aren't actually quite hairless, they are covered in a fine down, and petting them is like touching the softest suede you can imagine. My guy has a HUGE personality, and he is the best cat I've ever met hands down.

I know he's probably your baby and very sweet, but that is a SCARY picture! Looks demonic! If I woke up and saw that looking down at me I'd probably wet the bed!

amyoliver85

I have two cats and four chinchillas. The cats are not so strange though they both have a little maine coon in them so they're getting HUGE.