That's a Pet?!!!! : Weird, Wiggly, and Surprisingly Adorable Companions
Updated: May 9
When we think of pets, our minds usually jump straight to familiar companions—fluffy, ball-chasing dogs and purring, couch-scratching cats. But the world of animal companionship is far broader, and far stranger, than most of us ever imagine.
Across different cultures and communities, people are quietly redefining what it means to have a “pet.” From rocks that require no feeding or walking, to goats that famously faint when startled, to animals you would never expect to find in a household setting, the definition of a companion animal is constantly being stretched.
Whether you're a veterinary professional used to the predictable rhythm of conventional pets, or simply someone who thought you’d seen it all, this list explores the weird, wonderful, and sometimes downright unbelievable things people actually keep as pets.
So buckle up—because some of these will definitely make you pause and ask, “Wait… seriously?”
Pet Rock
A pet rock is, quite literally, a rock kept and treated as a companion animal. It has no heartbeat, requires no feeding, produces no noise, and will never shed, bite, or run away—making it arguably the ultimate low-maintenance “pet.” For some owners, part of the appeal lies in selecting the “perfect” rock, often found during walks along beaches or in natural landscapes, and assigning it personality through imagination and decoration.
The concept became widely popular in the 1970s, when Gary Dahl famously commercialised the idea of the Pet Rock, turning a simple stone into a novelty cultural phenomenon. Packaged with humorous care instructions, it quickly became a symbol of satire and consumer culture at the time.
At its core, the pet rock is a playful example of anthropomorphism—the human tendency to assign emotions and personality to non-living things. It also serves as a light-hearted reminder of how far people can go in forming emotional bonds, even with objects that cannot respond at all.
Slime Mould
At first glance, it looks like nothing more than a yellowish blob on damp ground—but don’t be fooled. Slime moulds are neither fungi, nor bacteria, and certainly not simple organisms. These single-celled marvels can move, solve mazes, and navigate toward food sources without a brain or nervous system.
Place an oat flake nearby, and you can literally watch it respond—slowly extending itself toward the food, exploring multiple paths, and eventually selecting the most efficient route. In the right conditions, it can even double or triple in size within 24 hours.
Low-maintenance and strangely captivating, slime moulds have found their way into experimental “pet” culture. In some settings, including classrooms and even offices in parts of East Asia, they are kept in controlled environments where their behaviour can be observed in real time. Researchers also use them as living models for studying problem-solving and decision-making in simple biological systems.
All they require is a moist environment, a breathable container, and occasional feeding with nutrient sources like oats. But neglect them for too long, and they may simply migrate in search of better conditions—quietly reshaping themselves as they go.
Smart, strange, and unexpectedly engaging, slime moulds challenge our ideas of intelligence and what a “pet” can even be.
Ant Farms
No, you’re not planting ants and waiting for them to grow like tiny underground vegetables. An ant farm is basically a front-row seat to chaos… but organised chaos. It’s a clear tank filled with ants doing what they do best—digging, hauling, arguing (probably), and building elaborate underground tunnel cities like miniature engineers on caffeine.
The setup is simple enough to fool you into thinking it’s easy: a bit of sand, gel, or sawdust, a few crumbs of food or a drop of honey, and a cotton ball soaked in water. That’s it. In return, you get a nonstop live show of tunnels appearing out of nowhere like nature’s version of a construction simulator.
It’s like watching “SimCity,” except no one asked your permission, and everyone is working 24/7.
Of course, ants are escape artists with ambition. Leave a gap, and they’ll treat it like a doorway to freedom. That’s why hobbyists often draw the line—literally—with a smear of petroleum jelly around the edges to keep the little planners exactly where they belong.
Ant farms are surprisingly popular with people who love insect behaviour, teamwork, and social systems. You’ll quickly realise these tiny creatures run a more organised society than most group projects you’ve ever been part of.
Fainting Goat
Imagine a pet that dramatically “passes out” the moment life gets a little too exciting—like you walking into the room without warning. In your own house. The fainting goat takes surprise reactions to a whole new level.
This breed is affected by a hereditary condition called myotonia congenita, which causes temporary muscle stiffness when they’re startled. Their muscles “freeze” for a few seconds, which can make them topple over in a stiff little bundle of confusion. The good news? They don’t actually lose consciousness, and they pop right back up as if nothing happened—no drama, no trauma, just vibes.
Despite the condition, they’re surprisingly hardy, gentle, and honestly… ridiculously adorable. Their small size and calm temperament make them relatively low-maintenance compared to many other farm animals, which is part of why they’ve become a favourite among novelty livestock lovers.
They’re also more than just cute curiosities. In veterinary medicine, they’re often referenced in discussions of neuromuscular disorders, making them living, walking (and occasionally collapsing) case studies in muscle physiology.
Chicken
It’s not a mistake—people really do keep chickens as pets. Not as Sunday's fufu and light soup or Christmas dinner, but as actual companions. Chickens have distinct personalities, can recognise their owners, and some can even be trained to respond to cues or routines.
Beyond being surprisingly entertaining, chickens are also practical animals to keep. They provide a steady supply of fresh eggs, help with pest control by eating insects, and contribute to garden health through natural fertilisation. Watching them scratch, peck, and interact can be oddly satisfying—there’s more going on in a chicken run than most people expect.
That said, they are not exactly “low effort” pets. Proper care involves suitable housing, regular feeding, cleaning, protection from predators, and attention to flock health. They are social animals, so they also do best in groups rather than alone.
From a veterinary perspective, chickens are incredibly important. They are widely used in studying zoonotic diseases, avian medicine, and large-scale poultry production systems, making them far more significant than they’re often given credit for.
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Gromphadorhina portentosa is one of the largest cockroach species in the world, reaching up to about 3 inches in length. Native only to Madagascar, this arthropod is famous for one very dramatic feature—it hisses.
And not a small, subtle hiss either. A full-on “don’t mess with me” sound effect.
Instead of using wings like crickets or cicadas, it pushes air through specialised openings called spiracles, producing its signature hiss. This sound is used for everything from attracting mates to warning off rivals or reacting to threats. Basically, it’s a tiny insect that comes with built-in intimidation audio.
Despite the scary reputation, these cockroaches are completely harmless. No biting, no stinging, no chaos—just vibes and occasional dramatic sound effects. In captivity, they are surprisingly low-maintenance, quiet, and odourless, which makes them more popular than most people would expect.
They’re also commonly used in classrooms and insect collections, especially for people who want to get over the “ewww cockroach” reaction in a controlled, harmless way.
Ball Python
Arguably one of the coolest pets on this list, the ball python is easily among the most visually stunning reptiles people keep. Native to parts of Central and West Africa, wild ball pythons are usually patterned in shades of black, brown, and tan, though naturally occurring colour mutations such as albinism do exist.
Captive breeding, however, has taken things to another level. Selective breeding has produced an enormous variety of colours and patterns—known as “morphs”—ranging from bright yellows and pure whites to intricate patterns that barely resemble their wild counterparts.
Despite their intimidating reputation, ball pythons are generally calm, slow-moving snakes and are considered one of the more beginner-friendly reptiles to keep. With regular handling and proper socialisation, many become comfortable resting in their owner’s arms—or casually draping around their neck like a living fashion accessory designed specifically to terrify ophidiophobic friends.
Of course, keeping a snake is not as simple as tossing it into a tank and hoping for the best. Proper heating, humidity, feeding schedules, and enclosure setup are all essential. But for reptile enthusiasts, that extra effort is part of the appeal.
Their popularity in the exotic pet world also means they are among the reptilian patients most commonly seen in veterinary clinics.
Tarantula
Centuries ago in the southern Italian town of Taranto, people believed the bite of a large spider could send victims into a frantic, hysterical state. The supposed cure? Dancing wildly in the town square until the “poison” was gone. This dance became known as the Tarantella, and although the original culprit was likely a wolf spider rather than a true tarantula, the legend helped give tarantulas their dramatic reputation.
Today, there are more than 900 known species of tarantulas around the world, though only a handful are commonly kept as pets. Popular species include the Mexican Red Knee, Chilean Rose, Honduran Curly Hair, and Desert Blonde—each prized for different colours, temperaments, and patterns.
Despite their intimidating appearance, most pet tarantulas are relatively calm and slow-moving. That said, they are definitely more of a “look, don’t touch” kind of pet. Unlike dogs or cats, tarantulas generally dislike handling and may bite or flick irritating hairs when stressed.
For the right owner, however, that’s part of the fascination. They’re quiet, require little space, eat infrequently, and can spend hours sitting motionless before suddenly springing into action. Watching one hunt, climb, or carefully rebuild its burrow can be strangely hypnotic.
Low maintenance, slightly terrifying, and impossible to ignore, tarantulas are proof that some people’s idea of a dream pet is very different from everyone else’s.
Skunks
Yes, yes—we know what you’re thinking. The smell. But surprisingly, skunks have developed a dedicated fanbase in the exotic pet world, largely because they are undeniably adorable.
Kept as pets in parts of North and South America for decades, domesticated skunks come in a surprising variety of colours and patterns beyond the classic black-and-white look. They are curious, intelligent, and playful animals, often compared to unusually mischievous cats.
And mischievous is the key word here.
A pet skunk will investigate every open cupboard, every unattended bag, and probably every pillow in the house just to discover what’s inside. Their curiosity makes them entertaining companions, but also tiny striped agents of destruction if left unsupervised.
To prevent spraying, many captive-bred skunks undergo scent gland removal at a young age. The practice is ethically controversial, especially because it leaves the animal unable to defend itself if it escapes outdoors.
Skunks are also not animals that tolerate confinement well. They need enrichment, room to explore, and homes carefully “skunk-proofed” against their endless curiosity.
While charming, they are not pets to take lightly. Skunks can carry diseases such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus, making interactions with dogs and other canids potentially dangerous if proper veterinary precautions are not taken.
Cute? Absolutely. Low effort? Definitely not.
From brainless blobs that solve mazes to snakes that double as wearable accessories, the world of unconventional pets is far stranger—and far more fascinating—than most people realise. Some of these animals are adorable, some are mildly terrifying, and some raise very real ethical and welfare questions about what should and should not be kept in a home.
But that’s part of what makes exotic and unusual pets so interesting: they challenge our idea of companionship. Not everyone wants a dog that fetches tennis balls or a cat that knocks cups off tables at 3 a.m. Some people want a colony of ants, a silent reptile, or a cockroach that hisses like it pays rent.
Of course, owning unusual pets also comes with responsibility. Many require specialised care, proper housing, and a solid understanding of their behaviour and welfare needs. Just because something can be kept as a pet doesn’t always mean it should be.
Still… you have to admit some of these are pretty cool.
So be honest—which of these weird pets would you actually keep, and which one made you immediately say, “Absolutely not”?
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