Why Otters Should Not Be Pets
May 1st, 2007
First, this is a must-watch. In addition to convincing me that, in spite of how much I love otters, I do not actually want one for a pet, it also confirms that my cat is indeed part otter. The only difference is that she doesn’t like to swim. And I haven’t yet heard her make the evil little chuckle that these otters do . . . but no doubt she can. May I just mention that we have to have child-proof locks on our cabinets so that she won’t get into them?
The video also brings back memories of a book I checked out from the library over and over again as an otter-obsessed kid. Actually, there were two books: one for children and one for adults, but both were about Okee, an orphaned baby river otter cub who was adopted by a human couple and who lived as a pet in their house. Now, this happened back in the 1960s (the book’s events, not my childhood), when we were apparently much more stupid about making wild animals into housepets. Still, I loved reading about Okee’s shenanigans. I particularly remember one episode involving the author’s attempts to put up a Christmas tree that Okee wouldn’t knock over or otherwise destroy.
Unfortunately, both versions of Okee’s story now seem to be out-of-print.
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized
3 Comments Add your own
1. K | May 3rd, 2007 at 11:54 pm
you’re telling me the cherub doesn’t perform all of these amazing feats of chaos? =)
i’ve seen her under the sheets when trying to make up your futon!
2. theottery | May 4th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Yup, she does most of the things here–just not the ones that involve water.
She particularly enjoys opening my bureau drawers and throwing my clothes out on the floor.
3. Ott Atla | May 11th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
It’s funny that while I was googling my favorite subject, Otters, I should find your blog. I really have Otters as pets, but then, I’m weird, strange, and Otter-obsessed. I live in Quebec, Nunavik, to be exact, and my Inuit heritage has always made me close to animals. It’s a long story so I’ll save my fingers the pain of typing it out.
Having said all that…
My Otters are the loves of my life. Ok, not quite true, but the animal loves of my life… I wouldn’t give them up, trade them in, or sell them for any kind of money… Nope, not for any price. I work with the zoos and animal control around my home providing housing to Otters who cannot be returned to the wild due to injury, illness etc, and rehabilitating those that can be released and then releasing them into their wild home.
I do have outdoor facilities for my Otter crew, but they also stay in the house with us. They come in for various reasons, if they are sick or injured, etc… I have two Otters that I am especially close to, Kelp and Whiskers and they have even slept at the foot of my bed. Yes, I said I was strange.
Again, having said all that…
I do not recommend that most people kleep Otters. When people don’t even know how to take care ofanimals that have been domesticated for thousands of years, what makes them think they can care for Otters which are truly wild creatures? It takes someone who is truly dedicated to own just one Otter, let alone several of them… I don’t have a life. I can’t go on vacation. What am I to do? Call up the nearest Otter boarding facility and arrange for them to care for my Otters? Not likely. Call a dog kennel, paint my Otters to look like Huskies and then then give them curly tails? Nope that won’t work either…
The point I’m trying to make is… In most cases, Otters would not make good pets and to have one as such would be doing the animal a disservice. Anyone who wishes to come see mine is always welcome.
Ott Atla,
Quebec Canada
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed