How to Care for a Pet Tiger

Owning a Pet Tiger

Gracing the news and television programs such as Animal Planet's Fatal Attractions, it would seem as though bad owners of big cats are running rampant. Can a tiger (Panthera tigris) fit into the lifestyle of the average person?

Privately-owned pet tigers and other big cats (lions, cougars, mountain lions, and leopards) are an obscure reality, yet their true presence is wildly exaggerated by special interest groups and the news media. While many exotic pets have tremendous popularity, big cats, for obvious reasons, are not commonly kept.

Due to the negligence of a few, the few true owners of ‘pet’ big cats frequently make headlines, and bans are prompted on other exotic animals that are of little or no danger to people beyond a cat or dog. The reason may be that the public views the idea of a ‘backyard tiger,’ which is a tiger maintained in a non-professional zoo-like setting, with disdain, but not all so-called backyards (or owners) are equivalent. There are reasonable ways to bring about the proper husbandry of big cats, as long as the owner’s lifestyle fits specific criteria without exception.

Requirements for Responsibly Owning Large Exotics

In order to responsibly own a large exotic, all of the following statements must be true about you:

• You are financially secure.
• You live in a secluded area.
• You have experience with the handling and maintenance of large and potentially dangerous animals.
• You do not travel a lot or have the assistance of qualified caretakers.
• You live in a state where it is legal or must obtain the proper permits.

Tigers Are High-Maintenance Animals

It’s good to see that so many people are surprised to find out that people privately own such a class of animal, which should put to rest the myth that it is a rapidly expanding industry.

Big cats are very high-maintenance animals, and private ownership should only be considered by committed individuals in special circumstances.

Most owners of these animals have dealt with big cats or other exotics in their occupations and businesses (many of these so-called pets are often a part of the owner’s business), or they are usually highly experienced enthusiasts. Caring for such an animal should never be taken lightly, and regulations, not bans, should reflect that.

Where Can You Buy a Pet Tiger?

A quick internet search will yield many results, including fake websites that purport to offer a variety of subspecies of this large feline in a user-friendly format, websites that strongly discourage readers from considering these animals at all, and even results on the care of tiger salamanders, an exotic pet that is somewhat less demanding.

But where can you actually purchase a tiger?

• Websites and magazines: Websites such as exoticanimalsforsale.net and magazines like Animal Finders Guide ($2.50 per issue or $24 for a year's subscription) offer a convenient platform for breeders, brokers, and any other person seeking to re-home their animals to list pets for sale. Common animals posted on the site are highly exotic, from coatis to foxes to servals, which is a ‘small’ wild cat from the plains of Africa. Yet, ‘big’ cats are rarely offered, and when they are, the sale is only applicable to USDA licensed facilities.
• Individuals: If an individual is willing to sell a tiger or any equivalent animal to whoever is willing to pay the asking price, without asking for proper permits and other qualifications that prove the potential buyer to be a suitable owner, this individual is probably an unscrupulous breeder or dealer with no interest in the welfare and long-term happiness of the animals they exploit.

Big cats for sale may come from animals that were originally bred for their use as cubs, which is another ethically questionable practice. Unfortunately, in top-of-the-line AZA-accredited facilities, ‘surplus animals’ that do not fit into certain breeding programs are often euthanized. It would be a positive relationship, I believe, if such animals could be spared and considered for adoption by responsible and ethical caretakers, whether they are private owners, so-called sanctuary owners, or anyone else who can offer the care toward the animal.

Therefore, zoos that do actually offer these animals to the population who are not a part of this ‘high and elite’ club of specialized zoos are often ethically questionable with their practices, yet this is one way to obtain the animals.

Breeding tigers specifically for the ‘pet trade’ presents many issues, and the main concern I have is the ratio of proper homes to animals produced. As previously stated, the ‘proper’ home is very rare, and unfortunately, there exist many individuals who take animals that are unscrupulous. Any such animal that has low demand, from domesticated cats to tigers, should not be intentionally bred without consideration of its current and future populations. The most ethical way to obtain a tiger is to 'adopt' an unwanted one from these and many other sources.

Tiger Enclosures

Getting back to the ‘backyard’ tiger assessment, to responsibly and ethically care for an animal like a tiger, it is clear that one needs to have sufficient space and funds to build the sturdy and specialized caging that meets the needs of the animal, makes the possibility of escape as small as possible, and prevents easy access from intruders into the enclosure, whether they be human or animal.

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One thing I like to stress about the existence of captive animals that are too large to ‘play’ with their owners (interacting with dangerous carnivores will be addressed later on in this passage); they will have to live over 99% of their lives in their enclosure, and it is essential that the enclosure is developed with this in mind.

Therefore, this means that a minimum amount of space should be defined, but the standards do not cease there. The captive animal, so to speak, must be able to make something out of their space, and not just view the opposite end of the enclosure to see a continuous, uninteresting box.

An animal’s enclosure must be designed to mentally stimulate foraging activity, meaning that there should be varying features in the space, such as trees and other such barriers, and there should be varying levels of elevations, such as makeshift pedestals and hammocks. In fact, an extremely spacious enclosure that is barren is not preferable to a smaller enclosure that incorporates these aspects. Tigers specifically should also have a water source to play in.

Tigers may patrol ranges in their native environments of up to 50 to 1,000 square km (19–386 square mi.) but of course, they must do this in order to locate and hunt prey. Unfortunately, regulations that specify minimum enclosure size requirements are inadequate, in the same way that they are for many animals used in agriculture, and both should be amended.

The Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission calls for a minimum enclosure size of 10’ x 20’ (200 square feet), which, as a permanent enclosure, is ethically unacceptable. USDA standards typically only require that animals have the ability to stand up and turn around.

The proper enclosure type may vary, but a large cat should be able to carry out basic behavioral movements, such as having the ability to run in the enclosure for a few seconds without meeting a wall. Running, jumping, climbing, foraging, and playing are all behaviors that should be encouraged with an enrichment program.

Safety Measures

The potential hazards of big cat care are the most concerning and important aspect of husbandry to nearby residents and the general public. Although cases of mauling and deaths from escaped pet exotic carnivores toward people who are uninvolved with the care of said animals are incredibly rare and strongly dwarfed by cases of domestic dog attacks, public safety should be carefully and intricately considered in all elements.

The local law enforcement and animal control should be aware of the presence of these animals. Caging should be designed to prevent such incidences, and property that maintains large carnivores should be double fenced.

Furthermore, a plan should be set in case of any worst-case scenarios. Even professional zoos have had run-ins with unexpected escapes. The possibility of such an occurrence can never be fully eliminated, such as dog attacks from any existing breed with teeth cannot be. Non-lethal ways to thwart attacks will be discussed further in this article. Microchipping is another consideration for tracking escaped exotics.

Zoonosis and disease are another important concern, which is why caging should prevent outside animals from entering. For instance, rabid foxes or raccoons could easily become prey (or taunters) of captive tigers. Always note any unusual variations in an animal’s behavior.

Crate Training

This is another reason why ‘crate training’ is an important aspect of wild animal husbandry. Unlike dogs, wild animals and even dangerous carnivores are typically uncomfortable in new settings. Crate training involves familiarizing a captive animal to a cage or crate that will be used to confine the animal during extensive cleaning of the main cage, transportation to other locations, or essential vet inspections (vets will need to draw blood and take other samples).

Crate training is accomplished by routinely feeding the animal in this location or placing the crate in a location where the animal will consistently walk through it as part of its daily routine. The crate can also be a part of the animal's enclosure that can serve many other purposes. During confinement to this crate, the stress level will be reduced significantly.

The Psychological Welfare of the ‘Backyard Tiger’

In addition to an environment that is specifically designed with the animal’s mental experience in mind, it is essential that all mammals, whether they are ‘pets’ or ‘zoo animals,’ are provided with regular enrichment. Unfortunately, this aspect of animal care is often overlooked by many pet keepers, including those with less controversial pets, and may mean the difference between a content animal and one that is stressed and exhibits what is called ‘stereotypical behavior’ even in a spacious, beautiful enclosure (although such behavior may or may not always be the result of stress).

How to Provide Enrichment

The key to successful enrichment is breaking routine, having an animal work for its food, and giving animals something to look forward to other than eating. Enrichment can be accomplished by introducing and frequently rotating toys that should be indestructible and manipulative such as the popularly utilized 'boomer balls'. A pool of water for tigers is a reasonable requirement in that its play possibilities remain unmatched. Edible and organic 'toys' meant for destruction such as pumpkins, dead trees, watermelons, and boxes filled with meat placed in an awkward location provide stimulating discovery and promote play behaviors when offered at random intervals.

If a private owner can establish such enriching and mentally stimulating routines, they will find success in the mental well-being of their captive large carnivore that may contend with that of some zoo animals. Therefore, anyone seeking to privately own a large cat must have the time and resources to commit to this routine for the remainder of the animal’s life. Several studies support that animals carry out foraging behavior even in the presence of food and having their other essential accommodations met. Psychological wellness should be viewed to be as essential as food and water for higher vertebrates.

Nutrition and Feeding

Tigers and other big cats should eat approximately 20 pounds of meat daily, with a day or two omitted for a fasting period. This obviously does not come cheap, and consideration should be given to meeting all the nutritional requirements of the animal. Whole prey should frequently be offered so the animal can incorporate bones, organs, and other tissue it would consume in the wild into its diet.

The composition of muscle meat is vastly different from that of viscera, in that it is low in vitamin A, proper calcium concentrations, fat-soluble vitamins, and manganese. Big cats fed mostly muscle meat with no additional supplementation may suffer from health ailments such as bone disease and vitamin A deficiency. As with even domestic dogs, bones also provide teeth cleaning relief. Prolonged occurrences of dental disease may compromise renal function and lead to liver abscesses or endocarditis.

Many dealers, such as Mazuri and Natural Balance, provide commercially prepared and processed carnivore diets with supplemental additives of vitamins and minerals, and the quality of such diets varies. Rotation of meats and other foods given may decrease the chances that adequate nutritive requirements are not being met.

Handling and Interaction

It is probably a good idea to avoid physical contact with big cats, and this is especially important for individuals who are less experienced in such handling. The ethics are questionable; while the handler assumes responsibility for the fact that the possibility always exists that something could go wrong, what will happen to that animal if something does?

An animal acting out on its instincts may have to be euthanized via gunshot if it is caught assaulting or mauling its keeper. Interacting with big cats is taking a chance, as many people do. There are however some ways to thwart attacks from big cats that do not involve killing the animal. If handling must be done, or if there is an incident such as an escape or mauling through the enclosure, pepper spray is essential for responsible owners to have on-site and on hand during close encounters. Other useful items to have are fire extinguishers, an air horn, and even a hose. Firearms are effective but dangerous (as well as deadly for your pet) and should be used as a last resort.

Instead of entering the enclosure, operant conditioning (positive reinforcement and food rewards) techniques can be used to carry out inspections for health issues and taking veterinary samples, feeding, enrichment, and make transportation stress-free.

Is Owning a Pet Tiger Right for You?

If any of the criteria outlined in this article sounds unreasonable or cannot be accomplished, you probably don't have much business truly considering big cat ownership. There are many less demanding exotics, including cat and cat-like animals that are not easily capable of causing adult human death if the urge so inclines them.

These animals still require a committed caretaker for life, and it is a life decision that shouldn't be taken lightly in any sense. However, the few people who are able to meet the demands of such animals should not be barred from having the option to choose this lifestyle. If a pet of any species is content, healthy, and well cared for in a safe setting, what gives another person the right to say they shouldn't be caring for it?

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

© 2012 Melissa A Smith

Comments

hoi manhoi on November 13, 2017:

tigers are good

Divana on September 25, 2017:

The tiger eating was sad

Fearea on November 30, 2016:

I own 1 male lion and 1 male tiger everything I read in this is true they are very fun animals and very expensive but be careful they are very smart animals I play with them every day but you always have to be on guard no matter how friendly you think they are

richardcruce on August 31, 2016:

i want to raise real tigers to keep them from diappearing thank you.

melina on March 14, 2016:

i wont a tiger that is traded not one that i know will bite me so hub please see if you can tran tigers to be good but i all so dont wont one because it will break it natural habitat

Oscar Jones from Monroeville, Alabama on January 23, 2016:

wanna know how to hug a tiger? answer- very quickly!

wanna know what to do after you hug a tiger? answer- run faster than he does!

wanna know where to go after hugging a tiger? answer- somewhere safe!

wanna know what I do after I get to a safe place? answer- say thank you lord I'm still alive!

Black mamba on January 22, 2016:

I have red thru all the information here, and i find it very helpful, and i have always had a fascination and deep respect towards big cats, the lion and tiger in particular. Just 1 thing, wat sort of figures am i looking at if i was to own a big cat - a liger 4 example? Also, can a single liger be managable, or should it hav a companion

Karla Szabo on August 22, 2015:

I can't understand why are there people who pet those dangerous, stinky, lasy, expensive and quite useless animals. Why don't let tem going extinct, it would better for mankind, I can assure that...

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on May 01, 2015:

Nope sorry, it is a tiger "wildlife biology". And it is not albino. His name is "Frosty". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmzc20X8KrU

Your credibility has therefore been shot. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for me to see my critics making unforgivable errors.

Rae T Wildlife Biology on May 01, 2015:

THAT IS NOT A "WHITE TIGER" THAT IS A NEUTERED MALE ALBINO LION. White tigers, additionally, are man made inbred pheno and genotype of tiger and should NEVER be considered an exotic or pet species or differentiated in any way from the Siberian or Malaysian, etc., tiger of which the "white" tiger is a genetic mutation. Most albino tigers do not come from healthy breeding practices in human care and sadly KEEP being bred for the purpose of entertainment and exotic pet ownership. The same is true for albino lions as with albino ("white") tigers, however for the purpose of desired appearance, albino lions are hardly bred as aggressively as albino tigers. Some may argue that neutering big cats as pets may also be unethical. Thankfully the albino lion ( the misrepresented well kept "white tiger") was neutered to prevent unauthorized breeding and exotic pet trade. I wish people would think the same regarding ethics, think with common and educated sense, and say yes to neutering these albino, human bred specimines for the greater good of the endangered natural geno and phenotype species. Sadly I see many people mentioned in this article simply banning neutering of all animals because it's "unethical" to dare alter a wild animal. Uninformed/uneducated owners with big mouths will shout "murderer" before "I was wrong". End up doing a lot of harm to many animals and people by doing what THEY think is the right thing. (Not to point fingers [REMARK INTENDED] but an "experienced" "wildlife" "handler" 18 year old Sky who claims keeping an intentionally human bred liger as a pet qualifies onesself to defend and accuse various actual and licensed wildlife caretakers, who I daresay have spent over 18 years merely STUDYING the species they now manage... Yes those people are to whom I refer.) Every day I'm thankful to work for animal welfare rather than humans'. Author if you could update the albino lion photo and either remove or rename it, I'm sure that in some way doing so will positively affect the wild lions and remaining tigers we seek to protect. Thank you.

RT

Haziq on March 22, 2015:

hello,i am planning on buying either a black leopard cub or a jaguar cub but i want your opinion,which would be better.

i live in pakistan by the way.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 02, 2015:

Melanie if you're serious I suggest you contact Zuzana Kukol with Rexano, this article is just here to educate the general public.

Melanie on January 31, 2015:

I found this to be very helpful. I do have a USDA license, I currently only have primates but am in the beginning stages of building a zoo by AZA standards. I plan on getting tigers but am doing more research on them. I am going to have 3 acres for them fenced in with water, trees rocks den ext.. how many tigers do you think would do well together in that size? I was only planning on getting 4 tigers. Also is it better to have only 1 male and rest female to limit problems between males? Our indoor enclosure will also have water, concrete/sand floor. What would you suggest for ground cover indoors?

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on May 23, 2014:

Sam-- There's no difference MORALLY is what I meant with that. Keeping a tiger is not like keeping a slave, as one person suggested. The media criticism is not justified by a long shot. They most try to tell people that big cats are on the loose, killing children. Far from the truth. If tigers need room give them room. Why is it so unrealistic that a private person can own a few acres of land for them? 2 measly acres is still larger than what even many AZA zoos have.

Sam on May 23, 2014:

"There is no difference between owning a big cat and a cat."

Then someone explains the differences and you say: "I obviously knew that." So which is it, no difference or you acknowledge the difference? I don't disagree with your outline of how to care for a big cat, but I also see many owners falling horribly short. Therefore, the media criticism is completely justified and with the USDA regulations being pretty sad, I think calls for better regulation is necessary. I've owned exotic pets and I can understand smaller ones, snakes, reptiles etc. But big cats naturally need so much room, I just don't see how one can be ethically kept (endangered breeding programs aside). Plus most tiger owners seem to raise them up as cubs, not adopt unwanted tigers. Furthermore, cats are naturally fickle and unpredictable - if my cat were large, I'd definitely have a hospital bill.

dsp4 on April 01, 2014:

Nice article, very informative.

PS. "Forging" is mentioned a few times in the article. The right term is "foraging" (with an "a").

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 03, 2014:

Lynxs are still a challenge, good luck!

Dean Walsh from Birmingham, England on February 03, 2014:

I've always loved big cats, but I don't think I'm going to be in a position to keep one any time soon. I think one day I may be able to get myself a 'medium' cat like a Lynx though.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on January 26, 2014:

Thanks you Carrie

Carrie Lee Night from Northeast United States on January 26, 2014:

Melissa A Smith: Thank you for writing such a responsible and informative hub :) Very nice work. Have a great week.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on January 20, 2014:

tlmcgaa70, I obviously knew that.

tlmcgaa70 from south dakota, usa on January 20, 2014:

actually, there is quite a big difference. big cats require a lot more room and food than a comparativly smaller house cat. big cats like little ones, will play as if playing with their own kind...neither realizing how much stronger they are then we or how much more fragile we are compared to them. with small house cats we get by with bites and scratches, with a big cat you would get far more damage. and then you have differences in species...if you raise a lion or lioness, you must take into consideration that these are social animals used to pride life, similar to that of a wolf pack, and you have the alpha and omega set up. this means you will have to show your alpha status to a large cat where you don't a house cat...likewise you would be making a mistake if you try to raise more than one large cat that was solitary in nature, in close quarters. i honetly believe it can be dangerous to think there is no difference between house cats and wild cats.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on January 19, 2014:

There is no difference between owning a big cat and a cat.

Alia on January 19, 2014:

Honestly, nobody has the right to own wild animals. It's like asking to own another person. It doesn't matter that you want an exotic animal because it would be fun or cool, stop being selfish and think about the animal and how it deserves to be in its own natural habitat. Instead of promoting the buying of tigers and other animals, why don't you promote the donation towards helping these animals survive in their natural habitats against selfish and greedy humans. Humans need to learn to put others needs before theirs.

Avinesh Prahladi from Chandigarh on October 30, 2013:

Frankly, some of the images did scare me. Personally, I think it's quite risky to keep these animals as pets. At times, it can be life threatening as well.

LeoChrist on October 15, 2013:

this is good work. i really learnt a lot from this article. thanks dear

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on October 12, 2013:

Thanks Samita

Samita Sharma from Chandigarh on October 11, 2013:

Very interesting hub.. Thanks Melissa

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on August 31, 2013:

Hi again Jones, the information in this article has been collected from exotic pet owners and zoo literature that I own. It has been viewed and approved by some real life tiger owners. The main objective of this article is to show people how tiger ownership can be accomplished privately. Most people are shocked to hear that tigers are kept as 'pets'. They picture a person keeping it in their living room or walking it down the street threatening public safety. I think I've successfully shown that this doesn't have to be the case, that an individual can be successful with tiger care just like a zoo can.

Mr C O Jones on August 31, 2013:

How many of you idiots that think this is a great article have taken on board that the author not only has never owned a tiger in her life, she's never owned a domestic cat! In fact, I can tell you that she's never even picked a cat up, as she admitted it on another forum. She's a fantasist, just like you all are. Keeping a tiger in your backyard indeed - who the hell do you think you are, Emperor Nero or something? Most exotic pet owners have mental health problems, and this woman is no exception. Nor are the rest of you by the sound of it.

Elizabeth Parker from Las Vegas, NV on August 15, 2013:

My pleasure! :)

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on August 15, 2013:

I agree epbooks, thanks!

Elizabeth Parker from Las Vegas, NV on August 15, 2013:

Fantastic article. I just wrote a hub about a beautiful lion habitat in town called A Sense of Pride-Lion Habitat Ranch. The owners are wonderful and of course, so are the lions. I wouldn't consider owning an exotic animal simply because I don't have the necessary experience and not just anyone should own these. It is a big responsibility. Thanks for the info! Voted up!

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on May 27, 2013:

Unfortunately that is an issue Larry, because there are so many laws that prohibit non-accredited facilities and private owners from just causally taking in animals like these. Many states prohibit re-homing of these animals across state lines. It's likely that an animal 'rescue' or 'sanctuary' will take them in, or if allowed, one of the 'smaller zoos'. AZA-accredited zoos probably will not take them.

Larry Rouse from Jacksonville, Florida on May 27, 2013:

So what happens to the tiger when the responsible owner passes away or can no longer physically care for it?

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on April 16, 2013:

Thanks MJennifer, it was my hope that this hub would discourage unsuitable tiger owners without yelling that no one on Earth is capable of doing it, which is untrue. To care for one requires considerable expense and intelligence, and these animals tend to fall into the wrong hands because of their massive appeal. I think domestication is not really of importance here, tigers as just large, powerful animals that are meant to eat animals that exceed humans in size. If they were smaller, they'd be appealing pets in my opinion, aside from their scent marking. Although they aren't as easy as shih tzus.

Marcy J. Miller from Arizona on April 16, 2013:

I must admit I was initially skeptical as I clicked on this hub, Melissa! What a great surprise to find such a responsible and ethical approach as you've provided. It is the owners who fail to recognize the very wildness of their wild pets that end up being irresponsible and, as we know, it is usually the animal that pays the ultimate price. Exotic animals aren't domestic. To anthropomorphize them, or to let ego override their "wild" nature, is to beg for catastrophe -- and it denies them the very special nature we love.

You've done a good job on this article in promoting responsible ownership.

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 28, 2013:

Thanks for reading afriqnet

Joe Njenga from Nairobi Kenya on February 28, 2013:

Very interesting topic ....thanks for sharing

Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 06, 2013:

Thank you for your thoughts. You volunteer at a facility that specializes in taking in animals from owners who do not want them, therefore it is inevitable that you will be at the front lines of witnessing the influx of poor caretakers. These situations are just a fact of life and also apply to children. There will literally be no animal group that cannot end up in the care of a person who shouldn't have it. I believe my article dispenses decent information on tiger care, if someone chooses to read my article, buy a tiger, but ignore the advice in the article, it's unlikely that such a person wouldn't make bad decisions without my contribution. There are resources out there, and I have no control over how people use them. For every 'pro' exotic pet article that exists, there are about 500 that are 'anti', so if people are determined to make their own decisions, that is their own will.

With that being said, impulse buys of tigers are not only rare, but nearly impossible. It is not likely that you will be able to locate a source offering a pet tiger to a non-USDA facility. Keeping such animals requires a massive overhaul on one's lifestyle. Such keepers surround their daily lives with preparations both financial and educational to accommodate animals like these. Dismantling the exotic pet trade in the United States will have no effect on what happens outside of this country. So-called pet tigers are not shipped here from overseas, and it takes basic common sense to buy from reputable bird breeders. Of course, this article is not about birds, and what happens with birds is irrelevant. Bird dealers do not also deal with pet tigers; it is not one giant entity of animal smugglers. Tigers reproduce readily in captivity. There are unfortunate circumstances of animals being shipped in huge numbers and being kept in inhumane conditions, not unlike what happens with domesticated pets such as dogs, cats, and ferrets. It is an animal problem, not an exotic problem.

Karla Iverson from Oregon on February 06, 2013:

I saw this hub, and read it with dismay. While you are obviously a responsible pet owner, I have seen far too many people who aren't. I volunteer with a dog shelter, and see so many mismatches, abandonments and abuse that I don't even trust about a quarter of pet owners anymore to own a pet as normal as a dog. With the extra demands and wild instincts of an exotic pet, why open this door and allow some idiot to enjoy the fantasy - or, worse yet, act on it because of your hub - and subject another poor exotic animal to untold misery?