For tens of thousands of years, people have kept pets, though the exact origins of this practice remain unclear.
We know that dogs were the first domesticated animals, but our ancient ancestors likely kept other creatures as pets long before wolves evolved into our loyal companions.
Today, pets are ubiquitous. In the United States, 66% of households—approximately 86.9 million homes—own a pet. Dogs and cats are the most popular, residing in 65.1 million and 46.5 million households, respectively. Following these, although less common, are freshwater fish, small animals like hamsters, gerbils, and rabbits, and then birds.
Among the more popular pet categories, we still find animals that are relatively uncommon. It's not every day you meet someone with a chinchilla, ferret, fancy guppy, cockatiel, or six-toed Norwegian Lunde Hund. However, even these rare pets are outdone by the strangest pets in history. Here are 10 of the most bizarre animal companions, owned by a diverse array of famous figures, from Roman orators to Hollywood icons.
Lucius Licinius Crassus’ Eel
Lucius Licinius Crassus is considered one of the greatest orators of ancient Rome. Bizarrely – and much to the bemusement of later Roman commentators- he had a beloved pet eel. It’s said that he trained the eel to respond to its name, and even adorned the slimy companion with earrings and small necklaces.
Tycho Brahe’s Elk
Often considered the greatest observational astronomer of the pre-telescopic era, Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe lived a rather colourful life. He lost his nose in a duel over a mathematical formula. He was the keeper of a clairvoyant dwarf named Jepp. And he had a pet elk (some sources say it was a moose) that attended feasts and banquets with him. Unfortunately, at one such feast the elk drank too much beer and took a fatal fall down the castle stairs.
Gérard de Nerval’s Lobster
The French Romantic poet Gérard de Nerval had a significant impact on the later symbolist and surrealist movements. He was often seen strolling through the Palais-Royal in Paris with his pet lobster, Thibault, on a blue silk ribbon. When questioned about his unusual choice of pet, de Nerval explained, 'I have affection for lobsters. They are tranquil, serious, and they know the secrets of the sea’.
Empress Joséphine’s Orangutan
Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, served as Empress of the French from 1804 until 1810. She maintained a menagerie of exotic animals, but her favourite was an orangutan named Rose. Rose was a distinguished ape who wore white cotton chemises, had a liking for turnips, and reportedly shared the bed with Joséphine and Napoleon.
Today, pets are ubiquitous. In the United States, 66% of households—approximately 86.9 million homes—own a pet. Dogs and cats are the most popular, residing in 65.1 million and 46.5 million households, respectively. Following these, although less common, are freshwater fish, small animals like hamsters, gerbils, and rabbits, and then birds.
Among the more popular pet categories, we still find animals that are relatively uncommon. It's not every day you meet someone with a chinchilla, ferret, fancy guppy, cockatiel, or six-toed Norwegian Lunde Hund. However, even these rare pets are outdone by the strangest pets in history. Here are 10 of the most bizarre animal companions, owned by a diverse array of famous figures, from Roman orators to Hollywood icons.
Lucius Licinius Crassus’ Eel
Lucius Licinius Crassus is considered one of the greatest orators of ancient Rome. Bizarrely – and much to the bemusement of later Roman commentators- he had a beloved pet eel. It’s said that he trained the eel to respond to its name, and even adorned the slimy companion with earrings and small necklaces.
Tycho Brahe’s Elk
Often considered the greatest observational astronomer of the pre-telescopic era, Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe lived a rather colourful life. He lost his nose in a duel over a mathematical formula. He was the keeper of a clairvoyant dwarf named Jepp. And he had a pet elk (some sources say it was a moose) that attended feasts and banquets with him. Unfortunately, at one such feast the elk drank too much beer and took a fatal fall down the castle stairs.
Gérard de Nerval’s Lobster
The French Romantic poet Gérard de Nerval had a significant impact on the later symbolist and surrealist movements. He was often seen strolling through the Palais-Royal in Paris with his pet lobster, Thibault, on a blue silk ribbon. When questioned about his unusual choice of pet, de Nerval explained, 'I have affection for lobsters. They are tranquil, serious, and they know the secrets of the sea’.
Empress Joséphine’s Orangutan
Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, served as Empress of the French from 1804 until 1810. She maintained a menagerie of exotic animals, but her favourite was an orangutan named Rose. Rose was a distinguished ape who wore white cotton chemises, had a liking for turnips, and reportedly shared the bed with Joséphine and Napoleon.
Lord Byron’s Bear
Lord Byron, celebrated as one of the greatest English poets and a prominent figure in the Romantic movement, was known for his eccentricity. While attending Trinity College, Cambridge, in the early 1800s, he was informed that dogs were prohibited. In response, he acquired a tame bear, as there were no rules against keeping such an unusual pet. Byron would walk the bear through the college grounds and even attempted to enrol it as a student—though the application was ultimately rejected.
Teddy Roosevelt’s Many Strange Pets
When Theodore Roosevelt began his presidency in 1901, his family moved into the White House with a horde of pets in tow. These included a lizard named Bill, a blue macaw called Eli Yale, Baron Spreckle the hen, Maude the pig, a one-legged rooster, a barn owl, and various guinea pigs with names such as Admiral Dewey and Fighting Bob Evans. As if that wasn’t odd enough, the Roosevelts also had a pet badger called Josiah, a small black bear named Jonathan Edwards, and a hyena called Bill.
Lord Byron, celebrated as one of the greatest English poets and a prominent figure in the Romantic movement, was known for his eccentricity. While attending Trinity College, Cambridge, in the early 1800s, he was informed that dogs were prohibited. In response, he acquired a tame bear, as there were no rules against keeping such an unusual pet. Byron would walk the bear through the college grounds and even attempted to enrol it as a student—though the application was ultimately rejected.
Teddy Roosevelt’s Many Strange Pets
When Theodore Roosevelt began his presidency in 1901, his family moved into the White House with a horde of pets in tow. These included a lizard named Bill, a blue macaw called Eli Yale, Baron Spreckle the hen, Maude the pig, a one-legged rooster, a barn owl, and various guinea pigs with names such as Admiral Dewey and Fighting Bob Evans. As if that wasn’t odd enough, the Roosevelts also had a pet badger called Josiah, a small black bear named Jonathan Edwards, and a hyena called Bill.
Calvin Coolidge’s Raccoon
In November 1926, supporters of President Calvin Coolidge sent him a live raccoon intended for Thanksgiving dinner. However, instead of sacrificing the animal, the Coolidge family chose to keep it as a pet. They named the raccoon Rebecca, built her a little house, and allowed her to roam freely around the White House and its gardens.
Josephine Baker’s Cheetah
Josephine Baker was an American-born French dancer and singer who became a sensation in Paris in the 1920s. She was also the first woman of colour to star in a major motion picture. On stage, she was often accompanied by her “co-star,” her pet cheetah Chiquita. Chiquita became a star in her own right, known for wearing a diamond collar and leaping into the conductor’s pit during performances.
Audrey Hepburn’s Deer
While filming the 1959 adventure-romance Green Mansions, Audrey Hepburn had to work alongside a baby deer called Pippin (or “Ip,” as she called it). Hepburn was encouraged to care for the fawn for the sake of the movie, and the two soon formed a strong bond. She fed the deer from a baby bottle, shared a bed with it, and even took it shopping and to parties. After filming, Hepburn was devastated when she and Ip had to separate. Her husband later tracked down the deer and Hepburn took it in as her pet.
In November 1926, supporters of President Calvin Coolidge sent him a live raccoon intended for Thanksgiving dinner. However, instead of sacrificing the animal, the Coolidge family chose to keep it as a pet. They named the raccoon Rebecca, built her a little house, and allowed her to roam freely around the White House and its gardens.
Josephine Baker’s Cheetah
Josephine Baker was an American-born French dancer and singer who became a sensation in Paris in the 1920s. She was also the first woman of colour to star in a major motion picture. On stage, she was often accompanied by her “co-star,” her pet cheetah Chiquita. Chiquita became a star in her own right, known for wearing a diamond collar and leaping into the conductor’s pit during performances.
Audrey Hepburn’s Deer
While filming the 1959 adventure-romance Green Mansions, Audrey Hepburn had to work alongside a baby deer called Pippin (or “Ip,” as she called it). Hepburn was encouraged to care for the fawn for the sake of the movie, and the two soon formed a strong bond. She fed the deer from a baby bottle, shared a bed with it, and even took it shopping and to parties. After filming, Hepburn was devastated when she and Ip had to separate. Her husband later tracked down the deer and Hepburn took it in as her pet.
