1. Baby Chicks/rabbits for Easter

It might be surprising to find these on a list of animals that would make terrible pets, but just hear me out. Some people think it's fun to get them for their kids, but these cute babies don't stay little forever and often end up being let go once the novelty wears off. Since they've been separated from their mothers so early, they will not know how to find food and thus survive "in the wild". If you're not willing and able to care for them long-term, don't get them as pets.

2. Big Cats

Despite the video on my “cutest wild animals” post (blast me for it there, not here), tigers do not make good pets. Ditto any other big cat. Besides the fact that they're always going to have the hunting instinct because it hasn't been bred out of them the way it has with house cats, these things eat freakish amounts of food; do you really think you can afford to feed it 40 pounds of steak a day? I didn't think so.

3. Insects/arachnids

I don't think spiders are cute at all, but my aunt has two of them and thinks they're the coolest things in the world. Aside from the fact that your friends might find them creepy as hell, the only way to keep yourself safe from some of them (i.e. scorpions) is to remove their stingers. That's what I've seen done to the ones in pet stores, anyway. I think this is bad for the same reason I wouldn't declaw a cat - you're amputating a part of their body that is necessary to their survival. I've heard similar about rattlers or other poisonous snakes. If someone were to let them go (which is what often happens once the novelty of having one wears off), they can't defend themselves. Besides, why get a possibly-poisonous pet when there are so many other options?

4. Chinchillas

These are great pets for someone willing to take care of them, but they're somewhat delicate and thus need more maintenance than some people can give. For instance, you can't give a chinchilla a bath the way you would a dog or a cat; in fact, this can make them very sick because their fur is so thick that it won't dry and opens them up to chills and fungus. They're very expensive to keep because they can cost over $100 upfront and need accessories that can easily total three times that. Also, finding a vet that can handle exotic pets can be very difficult in some parts of the country. For more information, visit mistywaterwoman.webs.com.

5. Rats

One of my crazy freak cousins tried to trap one of the rats she saw in our basement. You wouldn't think so, but they're actually kind of cute as babies. I don't care how sweet they look, though; they do *not* make good pets. In addition to getting into the trash and chewing everything in sight, they are very prone to rabies. I've had rabies shots before (bit by a dog), and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. The post-exposure shot series is much better than it used to be, but let's just say all the needles put me off of tattoos for a while. Plus, they're expensive as hell; the shots cost us over $1100, which my insurance wouldn't even touch. Even pre-exposure shots like the ones vets get aren't cheap. It's not worth it.

6. Bears

People don't keep these as pets so much as “adopt” the babies that come in their backyards. Even if a bear isn't trying to hurt you, they are strong - National Geographic.com says that grizzly bears can bite through a cast iron skillet! Most don't attack humans unless they feel threatened but they're still wild animals and, by definition, don't make good pets.

7. Monkeys/primates

“Friends” fans like me probably remember Marcel, Ross's capuchin monkey. He was adorable and funny, but that's not always the case. For one thing, they need a lot of attention. A lot. If they don't get the required social interaction, they can be very destructive. They're also messy; the stories you hear about monkeys getting bored and throwing feces everywhere are true. It's possible they'll attack you when they need to assert dominance, even if they've known you for a long time.

As much as we might love them, there are some animals that would make terrible pets. It's not saying that they're bad in and of themselves; it's just that some animals should stay where they are. Exotic pets can be very rewarding; you just have to know what you're getting into. Have you ever kept an exotic pet? Which kind? If not, would you? If you could keep any animal as a pet and it would work out, what would it be? Discuss!