Top 5 Cute And Cuddly Exotic Pets

Are you looking for an exotic pet that will really catch the attention of your friends and family? Do you want a pet that you are certain no one else you know will have? If you are looking for a truly unique pet that is still cute and cuddly, you might want to consider one of these top 5 cute and furry exotic pets.

Cute and Cuddly Exotic Pet #1: Kinkajou

Kinkajous are naturally found in the rainforest and are listed as being at "lower risk" by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. These cute little critters are naturally very affectionate and friendly, which make them particularly popular among exotic pet aficionados.

Kinkajous do have sharp teeth that are designed to eat meet. Yet, the enjoy eating plenty of other common, every day foods such as eggs, bananas, marshmallows, and cereal. It should be noted, however, that Kinkajous are nocturnal and tend to make a great deal of noise after the sun has set.

Cute and Cuddly Exotic Pet #2: Bengal Cat

Despite its name, the Bengal cat is not related to the Bengal tiger in any way. Rather, they are hybrid cats that are the result of cross-breeding between housecats and exotic cats. Some variations of Bengal cats include kitties called the toyger, the Serengeti, and the cheetoh. The more pure bread the Bengal cat is, the more you can expect to pay for it. Despite their larger size, most owners of Bengal cats have very little problems with them other than those problems typically associated with owning a cat, such as the tendency to claw and tear at furniture.

Cute and Cuddly Exotic Pet #3: Sugar Glider

Sugar gliders are also listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as being at "lower risk." As natives of Australia, it comes as little surprise that sugar gliders are marsupials. What may be a surprise, however, is that they generally don't weigh more than five ounces. Despite their small size, they are very social and love interacting with humans Like Kinkajous, they are nocturnal and want most of their owner's attention at night. Keeping two sugar gliders will help prevent boredom and depression from loneliness.

It should be noted that nutritionists do not agree on the types of foods that sugar gliders should be fed, though all agree that their diets should be high in protein and should include a healthy dose of insects. In addition, sugar gliders suck their nutrients from their food, which means they make quite a mess when they spit out what they don't eat.

Cute and Cuddly Exotic Pet #4: Squirrel Monkey

The squirrel monkey is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as being of "least concern," despite the fact that it only weighs 2.75 and has a number of natural predators. In order to fend off predators, squirrel monkeys tend to run in packs of up to 500 in the wild. Squirrel monkeys are quite affectionate, social, and intelligent. In fact, they have a proportionately larger brain than any other primate, including humans. Squirrel monkeys are easy to house train, but they do mark their territory and have a tendency to rub their skin and tails in their urine.

Cute and Cuddly Exotic Pet #5: Chimpanzee

Actually owning a chimpanzee as a pet is quite difficult, as they are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Yet, they are quite fascinating creatures to observe and to spend time with. Chimps are quite intelligent and very similar to humans. In fact, we share 94% of the same DNA as chimps. Nonetheless, they are quite strong and have an upper body strength that is about five times that of a human.

CS Swarens is the president of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065 For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet's pet resource including pet classifieds at http://www.findapetonline.com. Research over 430 pet breed profiles at http://www.findapetonline.com/breeds.html