From prickly hedgehogs and colorful birds to slithery snakes, there are millions of exotic pets in the United States. Unlike dogs and house cats, exotic animals aren’t domesticated. 

Since 2019, Shana Honeycutt-Akram’s family has owned a type of wildcat called a serval. The Oklahoma family got their unusual pet, named Jalapeño, when he was a kitten. Shana’s daughters, Lana, Everly, and River, love him.

“It makes me feel kind of cool, having an exotic cat for a pet,” says 12-year-old Lana.

There are millions of exotic pets in the United States. They range from prickly hedgehogs and colorful birds to slithery snakes. Unlike dogs and house cats, exotic animals are not domesticated. 

Since 2019, Shana Honeycutt-Akram’s family has owned a serval. That’s a type of wildcat. His name is Jalapeño. The Oklahoma family got Jalapeño when he was a kitten. Shana’s kids, Lana, Everly, and River, love him.

“It makes me feel kind of cool, having an exotic cat for a pet,” says 12-year-old Lana.

Which animals are you allowed to keep as pets? The answer depends on where you live (see map). For example, it’s legal to own a llama in Idaho and a one-humped camel in Alaska—and a zebra in just about every state.

But even where it’s legal, many experts say, owning a wild pet isn’t a good idea. For starters, their behavior around humans can be unpredictable, which can be dangerous. 

“Even when people mean well, it’s nearly impossible to fully control how a wild animal behaves,” says Michael Q. Bailey. He’s the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 

The Honeycutt-Akram family knows this well. Playtime with Jalapeño isn’t the same as it is with a house cat. Shana says he scratches and bites harder. 

“He’s not like a normal cat,” adds 9-year-old Everly. “I can’t pick him up to cuddle.” 

Bailey points out that wild animals have needs that can be hard to meet. Many exotic pets don’t eat typical pet food. For instance, pythons eat mice. Jalapeño eats 10 to 15 frozen chicks each day. Sometimes he gets a whole rooster.

Which animals can you keep as pets? That depends on where you live (see map). For example, it’s legal to own a llama in Idaho and a one-humped camel in Alaska. It’s legal to own a zebra in just about every state.

But even where it’s legal, owning a wild pet isn’t a good idea. That’s according to experts. For starters, their behavior around humans can be unpredictable. That can make them dangerous. 

“Even when people mean well, it’s nearly impossible to fully control how a wild animal behaves,” says Michael Q. Bailey. He’s the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 

The Honeycutt-Akram family knows this well. Playtime with Jalapeño isn’t like playtime with a house cat. Shana says he scratches and bites harder. 

“He’s not like a normal cat,” adds 9-year-old Everly. “I can’t pick him up to cuddle.” 

Bailey adds that wild animals have needs that can be hard to meet. Many wild pets don’t eat typical pet food. For instance, pythons eat mice. Jalapeño eats 10 to 15 frozen chicks each day. Sometimes he gets a whole rooster.

Jalapeño used to be kept indoors. But over time, he began causing chaos. When servals get bored, Shana explains, they’ll make a mess to entertain themselves. So her family built an enclosure for Jalapeño outside. In March, he escaped through an unlocked door. 

Runaway wild pets can be much harder to catch than lost dogs or house cats. Getting them back home safely might require the police—or a helicopter, as in the case of Ed the zebra. Jalapeño was on the loose for three days before a professional trapper helped catch him. 

Bailey isn’t surprised by stories of wild pets escaping. After all, their instincts tell them to roam free.

“Wild animals belong in the wild, not as pets,” he says. 

But Jalapeño’s family is happy to have him, despite the risks. 

“He is a beautiful creature, and I’m so glad my family has had this experience,” Shana says. “But I urge everyone to really think through the commitment level this takes.”

Jalapeño used to be kept inside. But he began causing chaos. Servals make a mess to entertain themselves when they’re bored, Shana says. So her family built an enclosure for Jalapeño outside. In March, he escaped. He got out through an unlocked door. 

Runaway wild pets can be much harder to catch than lost dogs. Finding them might require the police. Or it might involve a helicopter, as in the case of Ed the zebra. In Jalapeño’s case, a professional trapper helped catch him. He had been gone for three days. 

Bailey isn’t surprised by wild pets escaping. After all, their instincts tell them to roam free.

“Wild animals belong in the wild, not as pets,” he says. 

But Jalapeño’s family is happy to have him, despite the risks. 

“He is a beautiful creature, and I’m so glad my family has had this experience,” Shana says. “But I urge everyone to really think through the commitment level this takes.” 

1. What is the main difference between a domesticated animal and an exotic animal?

2. Based on the article, what are some of the challenges of caring for an exotic pet?

3. What is the purpose of the map that appears with the article?

1. What is the main difference between a domesticated animal and an exotic animal?

2. Based on the article, what are some of the challenges of caring for an exotic pet?

3. What is the purpose of the map that appears with the article?