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When it comes to owning a pet, most of us are happy with having a pack of fur full of heart and soul that barks, but is always ready to play and take us outside for the morning walk, or some creature whose favorite time of the year is messing around with our Christmas tree. Besides dogs and cats, another category of exotic people host in their homes some reptilian, a monkey perhaps, fish or birds. The even more exotic people who have the highest “coolness” standards go for tigers, lions, or everything else that can kill you in your sleep, maybe to prove that they’re made of iron backbones and nerves of steel. However, this world knows such animal variety, you often stumble upon entire lists of articles showing you animals you didn’t even know they existed, or creatures which mankind showed little attention because these animals knew where and how to hide.

This time we will travel the world, inspired by such wild beasts which became very popular in the last years and look at them from the pet perspective. Utopian approach, of course, as we would never capture and hold hostage creatures that are meant to roam free in their natural habitat. So this is more like an exercise of imagination. But let’s see together 5 strange animals you would love to have as pets, not only because they are funny looking, but some of them can be a real help around the house.

1. Tanuki – The Raccoon Dog

This is more of a dog than a real raccoon, but the resemblance is spectacular. Imagine having friends and family members come visit you to see your new pet canid and see this beauty lying on the couch, barking friendly and wave its tail. This furry, magnificent creature lives in East Asia and if you own a house with a garden, you’re bound to ask your new dog to come down from that tree, because the Tanuki are said to be very good climbers. Imagine the family cat’s face when it sees this glorious tree – climbing animal.

2. The Patagonian Mara

Admit it, this is cuteness overload and among all the strange animals you would love to have as pets, this one surely takes the cake. It is a rodent, however, originating from parts of Argentina, so beware keeping it in the house if you don’t want to refurbish your furniture or mourn your house plants. It somehow looks like a rabbit, but is kinda built like a kangaroo, with his hind limbs stronger and more muscular than the front ones. We don’t know if it kicks like a kangaroo, but that face is priceless and kids would love it.

3. The Flemish Giant Rabbit

Now this is not the strangest animal on the planet, granted, but come on, look at the size of this rabbit! It can serve as a guard dog, couch for the kids, pony for the little kids, nightmare for the cat and garden tool for the entire family. Imagine how this bundle of joy chews on everything, as it has to chew forever, and think about a career in the carpentry department. Some people would be afraid of it, as if you bother this one bad enough to jump at your throat, you’re history, but it seems to make a good family companion.

4. The Gobi Jerboa

It’s a rat that resembles a rabbit whose hind limbs look like those of a kangaroo. So basically this little adorable creature is a rodent, although we don’t know exactly if it is more a rabbit than a rat or the other way around. This is the perfect pet: eats plants and sometimes small insects, if happen to come across them, are so tiny you can train them to sleep on your pillow at night and have the cutest faces ever. Looking at them jump could be even funnier than the last rave party you attended.

5. The Gerenuk

This has got to be one of the most awesome strange animals you would love to have as pets. This one is a keeper. Now imagine having both a giraffe and a gazelle roaming around your property (you’d probably have to bring in a few of its friends too, so it doesn’t feel lonely). Its greatest feature, besides that head and face, is that it can stand perfectly vertical on his hind legs to reach the high bushes, twigs and trees. If you are a farmer or an orchard man, imagine how great would be to have the Gerenunk give you a hand at work by picking up the ripe fruit from the tops. After a hard day’s work, you two could share giraffe jokes and play some sick mind – tricks to the dog.

We know you want more, as there are more than these five strange animals you would love to have as pets, and if you’re thinking Red Panda, an Angora Rabbit or a Sunda Colugo, you are right, these creatures are awesome too and they deserve to be known. If you have some strange pets of your own, do share!