Unexpected Animals Texas Residents Are Allowed To Own As Pets

Have you ever wondered what it's like to own a unique pet? Pet ownership in the United States is subject to various laws at different levels of government. Federal law, which started with the 1966 Animal Welfare Act to prevent cruelty and neglect before adding additional laws (such as protections for endangered species) beginning in 1973, affects all ownership in the U.S. From there, each state has its own regulations on ownership, with municipalities sometimes having further rules and prohibited animals. While still subject to federal law, Texas is one state that allows for a wide range of animal ownership, including some truly out-there animals.

Still, Texas is not quite the Wild West of pet ownership. It bans the ownership of protected or invasive species and has strict licensing requirements for various dangerous pets. These restrictions can also be specific to the type of pet, with poisonous snakes requiring a unique permit. Animals that can be owned in Texas include exotic pets, which some may be more familiar with due to their online virality, such as capybaras and tigers. Yet, there are many pets that you can own in Texas that would surprise many, including animals you may have never heard of. While owning any one of these seems like an exciting prospect for animal lovers, remember that just because you can own an exotic pet doesn't mean you should.

The kangaroo is arguably the most popular animal in Australia. It has been made popular in cartoons and films due to its stature and intimidating nature, including its fighting ability. The largest marsupial in the world, the kangaroo is endemic to Australia but also exists in Tasmania and its surrounding islands. There are four common species, which results in the remarkable mammals ranging from 3 to 8 feet tall and weighing between 40 and 200 pounds. They can live up to 23 years in the wild, but in captivity, they tend to have a shorter life expectancy of up to 20 years.

As a pet, the physicality of a kangaroo can make it hard to keep, with a male able to jump lengths of 30 feet and hit a max speed of 40 miles per hour. For diet, the kangaroo shares some surprising similarities to cows, eating primarily plants and having chambered stomachs to aid digestion. According to Ashley Duncan, owner of Janda Exotics Animal Ranch in Texas, kangaroos make for fun and overly affectionate pets who love to explore, provided they are raised with the proper care and attention. Still, their size, specialized diet, and unique physiology can make them a challenge.

Sloths have gained some notoriety in the media, with "Zootopia's" slow office workers being one of the most notable examples of silly yet endearing portraits of the tropical mammal. Found throughout South America, the sloth can be divided into two subtypes: two-toed and three-toed. In size and weight, the sloth can range from 2 to 2.5 feet and 8 to 17 pounds. Known to move at a snail's pace, a sloth's metabolism results in its slow movement and 20 hours of sleep daily. In the wild, sloths are primarily folivores (leaf eaters), but in captivity, they will eat a more diverse diet, including fruits and vegetables.

As pets, sloths are complicated creatures that won't fall in line with what most pet parents would be looking for. Sloths don't enjoy being touched, held, or groomed since they're solitary creatures who are happiest when left to hang in a tree. Their nocturnal nature also means that as a pet, an owner may inadvertently change their natural sleep cycle, which can lead to stress. As a sloth does not express signs of stress like other animals, an owner could cause significant discomfort without awareness of its needs. While stress can shorten their lifespan, a sloth can live 30 to 40 years, making it a big commitment. As adorable as a sloth may seem, they are better left to thrive in their natural habitat.

Many may not be familiar with coatimundi (coati), but its similarities to raccoons make it an instantly endearing creature. Coatimundis are omnivores that thrive in various environments, from deserts to forests. In some regions, they are considered pests; in others, they help control mice and insects. Reaching a length between 20 and 24 inches in the body, with an additional 24 inches in their tail, a coati can weigh 7 to 15 pounds. In the wild, a coati lives around 7 to 10 years, but can reach up to 17 years in captivity.

The coatimundi shares some similarities with dogs as pets, including the need for early socialization and positive reinforcement training to make them manageable as adults. In addition, the coati is an intelligent and affectionate pet that needs companionship and mental stimulation to stay healthy. At the same time, potential owners face many challenges, such as providing a diverse diet and an enclosure mimicking its natural habitat. While it may sound like a dog in personality, the coati is not domesticated; even with training, it can be prone to unpredictable and aggressive behavior.

A curious-looking little one, the spotted genet can be hard to pin down, with physical traits seemingly mixed from several species. Sometimes mistaken for a feline or a ferret, the spotted genet is part of the Viverridae family, making its closest relatives civets. Native to Sub-Saharan Africa, the spotted genet can survive in various biomes, living off a diverse omnivore diet. Size-wise, a genet's length ranges from 16 to 24 inches with a 15 to 22-inch tail and can weigh between 2 and 7 pounds. While only having an average lifespan of 8 years in the wild, they can live anywhere between 13 and 34 years under proper care in captivity.

Genets can be very challenging pets. They require early socialization and plenty of space to bond comfortably with their owners. While not related to cats, genets are climbers, love to explore, and have similar retractable claws. You would want to take similar steps as cat-proofing a home before bringing one home. Other challenges a potential caretaker may face are the need for an enclosure, the fact that they will mark their territory if not spayed/neutered, and that their nocturnal nature puts them on a different sleep schedule. The spotted genet, while adorable and unique in appearance, can require a lot of patience and consideration when building a positive environment where they can thrive.

The ring-tailed lemur has become a popular animal due to its expressive nature, which has inspired fan-favorite characters in animated films such as "Madagascar" and "Flow." Yet, this continued popularity in media often overlooks the ring-tailed lemur's endangered status. Still, it's hard to deny the charm of the little primate, which stands tall at 9.1 to 10.2 inches and weighs between 4.9 and 6.6 pounds. Lemurs are highly social, used to living in groups, and are one of the most vocal primates in their communication. However, this doesn't necessarily translate to a great human and pet relationship.

Ashley Duncan, owner of Janda Exotics Animal Ranch in Texas, advises that potential owners consider purchasing more than one, as it's difficult to accommodate all of its social requirements. Other challenges come from needing a proper space, their inability to be housebroken, their noisiness, and difficulties finding veterinarians for a primate due to concerns of spreading disease and staff safety. A ring-tail lemur's diverse diet of leaves, fruit, and insects, and average lifespan of 16 years, can further make ownership a daunting task for those unprepared.

The residents of Texas have many more options for owning exotic pets than other states. However, the requirements, knowledge, and resources to home these animals go above and beyond what inexperienced owners can accommodate. Additionally, space and an exactable environment need to be provided to get permits for many of these pets; you can't just stick a kangaroo in a condo. It is hard not to deny the charm of owning these stunning and unique animals, however, adopting a cat or adopting a dog is the way to go; it is also a less morally ambiguous choice.