Do Otters Make Good Pets? What You Need to Know

Otters are incredible animals. Members of the weasel family, this semi-aquatic species has gained in popularity as a pet despite being a wild animal with specific habitat and dietary requirements. Even if it is considered legal to own this marine mammal, there are plenty of reasons that people shouldn’t.

It is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to replicate an otter’s natural habitat and keep it happy. Furthermore, otters don’t make the best pets. They require a large amount of water that must be kept bacteria-free, they can be aggressive, and they tend to smell.

The 8 Factors Concerning Keeping Otters as Pets

1. Small-Clawed Otters Are Becoming Popular Pets

Otters are cute creatures, and they have become popular as pets in Japan, where they can cost the equivalent of several thousand dollars. Videos of the adorable animals swimming in their owners’ baths and squeaking at their enjoyment of their fish supper have caused them to become increasingly common domestic pets around the world.

2. Chattering May Be a Sign Of Distress

Many pet otter videos include footage of the mammal chattering. Although this might be perceived as affectionate and cute, the noise is likely a distress call because the otter is trapped in unknown surroundings. Otters can make this noise if they are kept in isolation, become bored, or do not have enough room or the right type of habitat.

3. Otters May Not Be Legal Pets

Many countries in Asia have passed laws to prevent the capture and keeping of otters as pets,¹ and many states of the U.S. have similar rules.² Otters are classed as exotic animals, which means they require a special permit to be kept as pets. Despite this, the sale of these animals is still considered widespread.

Remember that you can spend up to 5 years in jail and be fined large sums of money for keeping unlicensed exotic animals.

4. They Need a Lot of Space

Otters do better when kept in pairs, and a single pair of otters requires at least 60 square meters in which to live. Every additional otter requires an extra 5 square meters. Otters need to live near water too, so an indoor cage is nowhere near good enough.

5. They Are Semi-aquatic

Otters are considered semi-aquatic animals. They have fur that is water retardant, so they won’t get waterlogged. They have webbed feet that help them push through the water and achieve greater speeds over increased distances. They hunt much of their food in the rivers or seas that they live in, and they spend around a third of their life in the water.

This water needs to be at a certain temperature, and it must be kept clear of bacteria to ensure that the otters can survive, let alone thrive.

6. Keeping an Otter Can Be Very Expensive

The initial cost of an otter can be several thousands of dollars, especially if you are buying on the black market. You will have to pay for transport fees and the cost of the otter itself. Then you will need to pay for an enclosure and to have an otter pool installed. Otters are also highly skilled at climbing and escaping, so you would likely have to pay to increase the security around the enclosure.

7. They Can Be Very Aggressive

One of the reasons otters are so good at escaping is that they have sharp claws that they can use to climb and dig. If they feel threatened, they will also use these claws to defend themselves. Otters do not naturally live with animals like cats and dogs, and they would not normally live alongside humans, so they can become aggressive when kept in a house or apartment. This is especially true if they are kept in an enclosure that is too small or in conditions that are not suitable.

8. Otters Can Smell Bad

Otters have other means of defending themselves. One such defense is similar to that of the skunk, and they emit a powerful and pungent aroma. They also use this smell to mark their territory, and you can expect them to do this if they feel threatened or if they believe that you or another animal or person are a threat to their home.

Even their excrement smells bad. As adorable as otters look, they are not as well-trained as cats and dogs and other domesticated animals, so they are likely to leave poo and smells around the house.

Final Thoughts

Otters are not meant to be kept as pets. These wild animals can suffer from stress and anxiety, along with a range of health conditions, as a result of being kept in a confined enclosure. Their popularity on social media and video-sharing websites means the marine mammal’s popularity has increased in recent years, but it may not even be legal to keep them as a pet where you live.

Find out about other potential exotic pets:

• Do Anteaters Make Good Pets?
• Do Ducks Make Good Pets?

Featured Image Credit: Piqsels