# What animal would you have as a pet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 17, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594 "2010-06-17T20:23:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/1 "2010-06-17T20:23:18Z")
It’s completely tame and totally obedient. You have a special pass from all city, state, and federal laws to own and care for this animal. What would you choose? Can even be imaginary. Me, I have an odd desire to own a cassowary. No idea why aside from the looks I’d get. Also, that thing would make a hell of a burglar defense. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/2 "2010-06-17T20:26:34Z")
It’s got to be a tiger. I’d love to have a wrestle with a tame tiger. And it’d make an excellent burglar deterrent too. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/3 "2010-06-17T20:45:40Z")
Chinchillas make great pets. The only downside is they aren’t cuddly. You want to cuddle them as they’re so soft, and they will tolerate being held but only so much. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/4 "2010-06-17T21:16:05Z")
In order from least to most realistic … I’ve always fantasized about having a snow leopard that I’d hand-raising from babyhood (after his mother rejected him, of course - I’m not yanking a healthy baby away from its mother) and that now hangs out on the couch with me like a regular cat, but in all that silver-furred glory. People would say, “How many cats do you have?” and I could say, with utter nonchalance, “Oh, three … counting the snow leopard, of course.” Ooh! Ooh! And flying foxes! Those ginormous tropical ones with doggy noses! I saw Jeff Corwin holding an orphaned baby one on TV - it fell asleep in his arms. My head almost exploded from Teh Cute. I like bats. Of exotics that are actually kept as pets IRL: the [fennec fox](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennec_Fox)looks cuter’n’hell (those EARS!!!) and probably makes a semi-decent pet if you can keep up with their purported energy levels. And the digging. Most realistically: I looked into what kind of pet those giant desert land tortoises make, and they seem _fascinating._ Someday when I have a big ol’ yard … after the chickens, and the mini goat, and whatever else I fancy has been brought in … I’d love to landscape a big portion appropriately for a large tortoise. Or two. ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/5 "2010-06-17T21:17:29Z")
A unicorn or that bird in Lord of the Rings that rescued Frodo in the end. Basically I want an animal that flies and can sort of fight. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@Mister\_Owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Owl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/6 "2010-06-17T21:28:23Z")
An attacked trained velociraptor. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/7 "2010-06-17T21:29:05Z")
A skunk, descented. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/8 "2010-06-17T21:34:01Z")
Tiger. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/9 "2010-06-17T21:36:02Z")
A T-Rex with a really bad attitude and I’d ride on it’s shoulder and laugh as it crushed and ate the fleeing masses. Or a grizzly bear or maybe a male lion. Or a Balrog! My Balrog would totally kill your Cassowary. Then cook its birdy goodness down in the fires of Mount Doom. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/10 "2010-06-17T21:44:05Z")
Great White Shark. Imagine the fun I’d have riding it at the beach! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/11 "2010-06-17T21:48:40Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I’ve always fantasized about having a snow leopard that I’d hand-raising from babyhood (after his mother rejected him, of course - I’m not yanking a healthy baby away from its mother) and that now hangs out on the couch with me like a regular cat, but in all that silver-furred glory. > > People would say, “How many cats do you have?” and I could say, with utter nonchalance, “Oh, three … counting the snow leopard, of course.” I love all the thought you put into it–right down to mama rejecting him so it would be OK. Would he be an attack snow leopard or a cuddly snow leopard? Or both? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/12 "2010-06-17T21:51:11Z")
A Pernese Fire Lizard. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/13 "2010-06-17T22:01:24Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > A Pernese Fire Lizard. No, I don’t think that’s allowed. Hmm, well maybe if I have a Balrog and Glaurung. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/14 "2010-06-17T22:09:59Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I love all the thought you put into it–right down to mama rejecting him so it would be OK. > > Would he be an attack snow leopard or a cuddly snow leopard? Or both? It’s fantasies like these that keep me quiet and sane while sitting in traffic. It would be all cuddles, though. 😉 \*\*Juliana \*\*- I’ve heard skunks make decent pets. I’ve had ferrets, and skunks are in the same family and are said to be similar. I’m fascinated by the colors they’ve bred them in now! ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/15 "2010-06-17T22:10:17Z")
The imaginary thing makes it a bit more difficult since I could get laid on a regular basis if I owned a pegisis, serious there isn’t a girl alive that I couldn’t have, or I could own something seriously bad ass like darkhound. In reality, as far as perfect control goes, I’d like a bear I think a brown bear would be nice but I wouldn’t want them to be over 9’ tall so they could still be allowed inside the house. I mean how great would it be to curl up with a heated bearskin rug while you watch TV and talk about the perfect animal to guard your house or take hiking with you. If you wanted you could even get a saddle and ride your bear. When I was a kid I wanted either a badger or a komodo dragon just because they are so mean and dangerous but I’m over the need to prove myself I think big and cuddly with a side of kill your ass is a much better way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/16 "2010-06-17T22:45:33Z")
If we get to do the imaginary thing, I’m going with flying unicorn. Of the real animals, I’ll take a standard horse, a really nice Arabian. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/17 "2010-06-17T23:01:31Z")
A cougar. And a lynx. They would be on patrol in our heavily-fortified compound in the wilderness after civilization goes to hell. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/18 "2010-06-17T23:17:06Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > In order from least to most realistic … > > I’ve always fantasized about having a snow leopard that I’d hand-raising from babyhood (after his mother rejected him, of course - I’m not yanking a healthy baby away from its mother) and that now hangs out on the couch with me like a regular cat, but in all that silver-furred glory. > > People would say, “How many cats do you have?” and I could say, with utter nonchalance, “Oh, three … counting the snow leopard, of course.” > Ooh! Ooh! And flying foxes! Those ginormous tropical ones with doggy noses! I saw Jeff Corwin holding an orphaned baby one on TV - it fell asleep in his arms. My head almost exploded from Teh Cute. I like bats. > Of exotics that are actually kept as pets IRL: the [fennec fox](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennec_Fox)looks cuter’n’hell (those EARS!!!) and probably makes a semi-decent pet if you can keep up with their purported energy levels. And the digging. > Most realistically: I looked into what kind of pet those giant desert land tortoises make, and they seem _fascinating._ Someday when I have a big ol’ yard … after the chickens, and the mini goat, and whatever else I fancy has been brought in … I’d love to landscape a big portion appropriately for a large tortoise. Or two. Wow, we could totally be roommates since we have similar pet interests…as long as you wouldn’t mind the jellyfish aquarium I’m dying to have. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/19 "2010-06-17T23:22:52Z")
> [@Juliana](#): > > A skunk, descented. Oo, yes! Alternately, the [domesticated Silver Fox](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_Silver_Fox). I’m extremely fond of my new rabbits, though, so I’ll be happy with them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594/20 "2010-06-17T23:42:36Z")
Lindsay Lohan [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animal-would-you-have-as-a-pet/543594.md?page=2)