If you’re looking for unusual pets legal in California, know you’ve got a fun selection to choose from. 85 million or 67% of American homes include a pet. And 95% of pet owners in the U.S. consider their pets to be family members - no surprises there. While statistics show that 44% of all households have a dog, and 35% have a cat, what about the other types of pets that aren't so common?
Bringing a new pet into your home is a great way to build your emotional attachment to your living space. While children flit in and out of the house, more so as they get older, your pets are there as constant companions. It has been repeatedly found that owning a pet improves your happiness and length of life.
Modern pet owners are finding more and more satisfaction from pets that are a little more exotic, maybe a monkey or a ferret or something even wilder. However, there are only a few exotic pets legal in California.
California has very strict laws about what types of animals homeowners can keep as pets. Some animals are banned as pets because they aren’t meant to be domesticated, others are dangerous to California’s ecosystem. Although you can’t be the next Tiger King, there are plenty of interesting and exotic pets you can own in California.
Miniature Farm Animals
Different types of miniature farm animals make great pets due to their calm natures, among other benefits. With these pets, you will want to have plenty of space for them to play and roam. When searching for a house to accommodate these pets, search by lot size to find the right fit.
1. Pygmy goats – These miniature domestic goats typically weigh about 60-80 lbs and are just over a foot tall. They are very playful as well as intelligent and are used almost exclusively as pets. Pygmy goats behave a lot like a dog because they are full of energy, enjoy being handled, and will follow you around if you let them.
2. Miniature horses – A benefit of miniature horses is that you will never have to worry about fleas in your home since their skin naturally repels fleas, they effectively keep your lawn mowed, and they don’t get very big; on average, they weigh between 55 and 80 pounds and are about 34 to 38 inches tall, or roughly 3 feet.
3. Potbelly pigs – Potbelly pigs make great pets because of their intelligence and personality, however, they can be a lot of work. Because these pigs are so intelligent they will learn to open cupboards, pantries, and the fridge door. They also can become territorial and aggressive around other animals.
Think outside the barn
If farm animal descendants are not as exotic as you’d like, there are still a handful of interesting pets legal in California for the adventurous. The best thing about these exotic pets? They don’t require a lot of space so if you’re interested in condos for sale in Irvine CA or other communities in the area, you’ll have enough room for these unique pets:
4. Tarantulas – Often, exotic animals require a lot of care and can be a huge time drain for someone not prepared for the responsibility. Not so with Tarantulas. While they will sit on your shoulder or in your hand, they prefer to hang out in their cage eating crickets. But beware, while they rarely bite they do have defensive responses that could pose some danger to your eyes. When cleaning the cage or handling your tarantula, it’s advisable to wear protective eye gear.
5. Ball Pythons – This particular type of python is non-venomous and the perfect starter snake if you are into reptiles. They will grow a maximum of 3-5 feet and are very easy to handle.
6. Chinchillas – The average life span for a chinchilla is about 15 years. They are very playful and so do best in large cages however they are small and fragile so may bite if held or cuddled too tightly. Chinchillas are popular pets because they are adorably cute and their fur is so soft.
7. Various types of Lizards – There are tons to pick from so the best thing to do is find a local pet store and see which one catches your eye. Popular lizards to keep as pets include Bearded Dragons, Chinese Water Dragons, and different types of Geckos.
8. Wildcats, such as the Lynx – Wild cats may not seem that different from your average house cat, but these are much bigger and have personalities closer to domestic dogs. A pet lynx will play fetch, take walks, and even pant when tired or hot. These pets require an active home prepared to give the animal attention. Keep in mind, that not all big cats are legal in California.
What pets are illegal in California?
Keep in mind that California has much stricter laws than most states regarding legal pets. If you want to check out other state laws, here's a quick overview of exotic animal laws in all 50 states.
Ferrets
Ferrets are part of the Mustelids family, making them related to otters, mink, weasels, and polecats. While they are very popular pets and legal in almost every state in North America, they are illegal in California and Hawaii. So if you're considering a move out of state, you could get yourself a ferret! Just remember to get your pet a rabies vaccine.
Lobbyists have been trying to legalize ferrets in California for some time, however, you cannot legally keep a ferret in California without a permit. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife states that escaped or abandoned pet ferrets pose a significant threat to California’s rare native wildlife including animals and birds, so they cannot be legally imported, transported, or possessed in California except with a permit issued — usually for medical research or transporting rescued ferrets out of state.
Hedgehog
Unfortunately, another threat to native California wildlife is the adorable hedgehog. These nocturnal mammals are known for their quills. Similar to the look of a porcupine, the quills of a hedgehog do not detach from their bodies.
Because the quills can still penetrate skin and hedgehogs can carry various diseases such as ringworm and salmonella to humans, they are illegal in California.
Monkey
Monkeys require constant care and attention, and many will live up to 40 years, according to the Primate Rescue Center. In California, only qualified professionals and individuals get a permit for monkeys and other primates for special legal purposes – including medical research and training for television and movies. Monkeys are legal in roughly 17 different U.S. states including Washington state, Nevada, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Ohio.
Squirrel
You can see plenty of squirrels out in the wild while you're camping in California, but it's illegal to keep one as a pet. Feeding a wild animal — including a squirrel — is animal harassment according to the California Fish and Game Code with a fine of up to $1,000 for feeding one!
Gerbils
Gerbils are a very common pet in the United States and some might be surprised to find them on the list of illegal pets in California. However, much like ferrets, they aren't allowed in the state. Because our climate is so similar to a gerbil's natural habitat in the desert, officials are concerned that abandoned and escaped pets could endanger California's native wildlife and plants by creating feral colonies.
If you like gerbils and want to consider other similar wild rodents as a pet, there are several that are legal in California, including hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, and chinchillas.
Foxes
Intelligent like a dog, foxes have been bred to live as house pets — but there are not fully domesticated. Pet foxes are legal in up to 15 states, but not in California. Rules vary departing on the breed, the most common being the fennec fox. While there are fox breeders in California, they cannot be sold legally within the state.
Among other popular exotic animals that you should steer clear of (without a special permit) according to the California Code of Regulations (CCR) 671, including raccoons, skunks, deer, alligators, lemurs, zebras, several venomous reptiles, prairie dogs, wolf hybrids, and large cats such as bobcats, leopards, jaguars, servals, and cheetahs.
Can you own a pet sloth in California?
No, it is illegal to own a pet sloth in California. We all love Flash Slothmore but he can't be your exotic pet here. States like Nevada and Texas have some of the most lenient laws regarding exotic pet ownership, but the Golden State is known for its strict regulations. The only U.S. state with more regulations on game and wildlife is Hawaii.
Is a permit required for exotic pets?
No, special permits are not required for unusual and exotic pets, however, if you're in possession of a restricted species, then you will need a permit or documentation. For more information on restricted species in California and the permits needed - including the renewal process - check out all for the details at Wildlife.ca.gov. A license is needed for up to twenty different uses and situations. The penalties you may face and hefty fines so make sure you understand the consequences!
Llamas and Alpacas
It is legal to own both llamas and alpacas in California, however, unlike the other unusual pets on our list, these unique animals are best kept in herds as livestock instead of as individual pets.
While they often get grouped together, llamas and alpacas are very different. For starters, llamas are much bigger — averaging between 400 and 500 pounds — whereas alpacas are lightweight by comparison, at only 200 pounds. Alpaca fiber is much more dense and warm than llama fur, so it's sold for more money and used for products such as sweaters and socks. Llama fiber, on the other hand, is commonly made into rugs.
Their temperaments are different too, so when choosing between llamas and alpacas as pets or farm companions, take that into consideration. Llamas have historically helped people haul goods, and thus tend to be more comfortable interacting with humans. Alpacas, though more cuddly-looking, are more aloof. Some might say alpacas are more like cats, while llamas are like dogs.
Cousins to camels, alpacas are kept for their fine wool, and llamas are commonly kept on farms as guard animals because of their large size to keep away coyotes and other preditors. If you're not interested in owning them yourself, you can visit one of these alpaca farms in Southern California.
Caring for your creative pet
Exotic pet ownership, small or large, is a big responsibility and it’s a long-term commitment. There are few veterinarians that can treat your pet, food, and shelter may be expensive, or the animal needs specific or time-consuming care. If the pet starts to become a problem, it isn’t easy to be rid of. Older animals come full of habits that the owners may not want to deal with. But, if you are prepared for it, owning an exotic pet is a very rewarding experience.
If you think an exotic animal is a pet you would like to keep in your California home, make sure you know exactly what your city’s or county’s laws are on legal pets before purchasing one. It is not advisable for you if you are renting an apartment to have an exotic pet as it will make it more difficult to find future places to live.
Most apartment buildings will not allow pets like pygmy goats or ball pythons. Buying a home provides enough space to have any pet you like as approved by your city. A good place to start looking is somewhere with more land and larger properties like Corona in Riverside County, CA.
If you are ready to buy a home to house your future unusual pet, reach out to a First Team agent to help you find a Southern California real estate for sale that will fit your needs.
