This Otter Loves To Cuddle Up To Its Owner's Arm

There is a growing list of animals that people like to keep as pets, although no one in their right mind would ever even consider letting them into their house. While some folks keep dogs, cats, and the occasional rodent as a pet, others keep cows, pigs, tropical insects and large reptiles, to name a few. Still, there seems to be a growing demand for otters to be kept as domestic pets.

This little guy, called cartel, lives with his owner in Bangkok, Thailand. When you take a wild animal while it is still a baby and you dote and care for it 224/7, it grows up to see you as a parent, never leaving your side. The same goes for this small-clawed otter. Cartel is almost always by his owner’s side and they have developed a way to understand each other, with squeaks and words.

What fascinates us the most is how Cartel likes to cling and snuggle up to his owner’s arm, just like it were his own mom. Otters are known for their adorable way of keeping close to those that matter to them. Since they live most of their lives on the water, if they want to take a nap, they will interlock their paws with another otter, so that they don’t get separated and drift apart. How cute is that?!

Since they are wild animals and the wild is where they actually belong, there is a line of laws and regulations that regard keeping exotic animals as pets. Most US states will likely ban keeping native otters as pets, however, the Asian small-clawed otter may be allowed in some. Make sure to do a thorough research before committing yourself to such a companion.