Kinkajous: Yes, They’re Cute — But How Difficult Is It to Care Them?

Kinkajous have long lifespans and curious dispositions. Learn all about caring for them in this article.

Kinkajous are small mammals that are native to the rainforest.

They’re intelligent, vocal and curious animals — and they’re among the latest in the growing trend of exotic pets.

Kinkajous grow to be 2–12 pounds, depending on their subspecies, and can live for roughly 20 years. In other words, this is not a short-term pet.

To read more on this story, click here: Kinkajous: Yes, They’re Cute — But How Difficult Is It to Care Them?

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Exotic Pets Actually Aren’t Hard to Care For

Caring for Exotic Pets

So you go to the zoo and see an impossibly cute little ‘wild’ animal performing some awe-inducing behavior. It’s smaller than your dog, and it looks like it would make the perfect pet. You turn to the keeper next to you and excitedly ask, “would it make a good pet?”

“Absolutely not,” the keeper replies. “They demand a lot of care. They will destroy your furniture, pee on the walls, and bite you. They are not domesticated!”

To read more on this story, click here: Exotic Pets Actually Aren’t Hard to Care For

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100-Year-Old Woman in Miami Said She Woke Up to Find an Exotic Animal on Her Chest

100-year-old woman in Miami said she woke up to find an animal on her chest, according to a veterinarian caring for the unusual creature.

"I was awaken by a phone call at 2 a.m., which is never good news, and it was from my terrified mother-in-law," said Carlos Aguaras.

Aguaras said he rushed over, and found the animal that had terrified his mother-in-law. The only other person in the home at the time was her live-in caregiver.

It was a kinkajou, an animal usually found in the rainforests of Central and South America, said Veterinarian Dr. Don J. Harris, who works for the South Dade Avian & Exotic Animal Medical Center.

Aguaras said the animal was in the attic when he arrived, and they lured it out with food. They got it inside a cage and brought it to Dr. Harris, who said he knew the animal belonged to someone.

"No undomesticated wild animal like this would curl up on a woman's chest to go to sleep," Dr. Harris explained.

The animal, whose name is Banana, was being cared for at South Dade Animal Hospital, where the medical center operates, but will be reunited with its owner Wednesday morning.

There's no word on how the animal got loose, but the woman's family has a message for the owners. "Put it in the hands of the experts, but it's not intended to be a pet in a home," Aguaras said.

Kinkajous typically spend most of their time in trees. They have the ability to turn their feet backwards to run easily in either direction, along branches or up tree trunks. Kinkajous also often hang from their tails. According to National Geographic, they are sometimes called "honey bears" because they raid bees' nests by slurping honey from the hive.

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10 Animals To Avoid Keeping as a Pet

With the variety of animals available to potential pet owners, one may have A hard time deciding which one is best for them. There are a number of animals that can be a great addition to your household, but plenty more that should only be kept under special circumstances, if at all.  There are plenty of other kinds of animals that would make much better pets, and be far less dangerous to care for.  Consider the following a list of 10 bad pets.

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