Nine most shocking pets legal in the US, from a therapy llama to an impossible-to-tame big cat

Animal lovers may be shocked to learn of nine legal pets in the United States.

Pet laws for exotic animals typically vary from state to state.

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Therapy llamas are popular family pets — and they’re legal in more than a dozen states.

In many cases, like California, Colorado, Georgia, and Idaho, llama owners don’t even need a permit to keep pets.

However, as with all exotic animals, it is important to understand the conditions they need to survive and thrive in a home environment.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, cats are common pets, with more than 31 million households claiming to have at least one.

But some cats — namely tigers — are more common in households than you might think.

The World Wildlife Fund reports that there are approximately 5,000 tigers in legal captivity, while only 3,890 tigers remain in the wild.

Tigers have very specific parameters that need to be followed when living inland and should have an enclosure of about 40 square miles, Insider reports.

However, cougars cannot be domesticated, although it is legal to keep them as pets.

In Florida, it is legal to own an alligator as a pet.

But while baby alligators less than a foot long may seem harmless, as alligators grow they pose a greater threat.

Alligators also have the potential to outlive pet owners.

Snakes are common pets – including boa constrictors.

While the snake species is known for being an easy killer, they can actually make good pets if cared for properly.

Popular exotic pets also include tarantulas, skunks, sloths, monkeys, and foxes.