7 Unusual Pets Owned By Celebrities Past and Present
In the glittering world of fame and fortune, where the extraordinary is commonplace, some celebrities have taken pet ownership to a whole new level.
While dogs and cats are Hollywood staples, a few stars have opted for more unconventional companions over the years.
Here are seven unusual pets that celebrities past and present have proudly called their own.
Table of contents
1. Audrey Hepburn’s Pet Deer
Of all the unforgettable images of Audrey Hepburn, some of the most charming are the ones where she’s relaxing at home with a baby deer nestled beside her.
The fawn, nicknamed Ip (short for Pippin), became her companion during the filming of the 1959 movie Green Mansions, directed by her then-husband, Mel Ferrer.
Allegedly, the film’s animal trainer suggested Hepburn take the fawn home so it could bond with her and learn to follow her naturally for their scenes together. What followed was a truly heartwarming connection and Ip became hers.
2. Elvis Presley’s Kangaroo
The King of Rock and Roll was well-known for his eccentric taste, and that extended to his pets. Among the exotic animals housed at Graceland was a kangaroo, gifted to him by a fan in the 1950s.
Elvis didn’t keep the marsupial for long though. He eventually donated it to the Memphis Zoo where it could be better cared for.
3. Tippi Hedren’s Lion
Before Tiger King made exotic cat ownership infamous, Tippi Hedren (star of Hitchcock’s The Birds) had a full-grown lion named Neil living in her home in the 1970s.
Photos of Neil lounging on her bed or by the pool with her daughter, Melanie Griffith, are both fascinating and terrifying.
Hedren became a lifelong animal activist and founded the Shambala Preserve to rescue big cats, perhaps a direct result of her experience with Neil.
4. Paris Hilton’s Kinkajou
Paris Hilton, queen of early 2000s tabloid culture, has always had a taste for the unique, and her pet kinkajou, a nocturnal rainforest mammal, was no exception.Named Baby Luv, the animal was part of Hilton’s exotic collection that also included miniature dogs and ferrets.
In 2006, Baby Luv made headlines after biting Hilton and veterinarians suggested the kinkajou should be put down. However, Hilton disagreed.
5. Salvador Dalí’s Anteater
Eccentric surrealist artist Salvador Dalí didn’t just create bizarre masterpieces, he lived them. In the 1960s, Dalí was frequently seen walking an anteater on the streets of Paris.
The animal, a giant anteater with a long snout and bushy tail, was the perfect sidekick to Dalí’s flamboyant image.
Whether it was performance art or genuine, Dalí certainly made a statement.
6. Kristen Stewart’s Wolf-Dog Hybrid
Twilight star Kristen Stewart has a deep love for wolves and not just on screen. She owns a wolf-dog hybrid named Jack, one of several hybrid pets her mother raised.
Stewart has described Jack as "like a bear" but completely domesticated. Despite controversy around owning such animals, she insists they’re sweet and well cared for.
7. Nicolas Cage’s Octopus
Known for his eclectic taste and larger-than-life personality, Nicolas Cage once purchased a pet octopus. According to Cage, the octopus helped him with his acting. He paid $150,000 for the sea creature, which he housed in a tank.
Final Thoughts
From fawns and lions to anteaters and octopuses, celebrities throughout history have embraced the unusual when it comes to pets.
Whether for companionship, image, or eccentricity, these animals are a reminder that in the world of fame, even pet ownership can sometimes become a spectacle.
We don't recommend owning any of these pets yourself, but we hope you found them fun to read about!
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More by Rachel M.
