What is an exotic pet?
An ‘exotic pet’ is an animal not traditionally kept in peoples’ homes. We define an exotic pet more specifically as any animal kept as a pet that is non-native or non-domesticated. Non-native species are those that originate from a different part of
the world. Non-domesticated animals are wild animals that, unlike domesticated animals such as cats and dogs, have not lived alongside and been selectively bred by humans over thousands of years. Domesticated animals show, through their behaviour, a capacity to form social or emotional bonds with humans – a trait that is lacking in wild animals.
