7 Wildly Unusual Pets Celebrities Have Owned Over The Years
Most people stick to cats, dogs, or maybe a goldfish, but for some celebrities, ordinary pets simply aren’t enough. Over the years, famous faces have shared homes, rooftops, and even bedrooms with creatures that most zoos would envy.
A kangaroo at Graceland, a lion lounging on a bed, or a kinkajou wandering a Parisian apartment: these are just a few of the jaw-dropping animals that stars have welcomed into their lives. Some adopt exotic pets to stand out, others out of genuine love for wild creatures, and a few just embrace the chaos.
Every story shows a side of celebrity life that no tabloid could invent, blending glamour, unpredictability, and a hint of danger. Explore the wildest, most unusual pets stars have cared for, and prepare to be amazed, amused, and maybe even a little jealous of these epic celebrity menageries.
1. Audrey Hepburn’s Pet Fawn Pippin
A baby deer named Pippin stole hearts long before any red carpet moment could. During the 1959 filming of Green Mansions, Audrey Hepburn adopted a fawn to help her bond with the animal for her role.
However, Pippin quickly became far more than a movie prop.
Trainer Mel Ferrer worked closely with Hepburn to help Pippin feel comfortable. Soon, the fawn followed her everywhere, including grocery stores and her home.
Neighbors were reportedly stunned to see a deer trotting alongside one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Pippin proved that sometimes, the most magical co-stars have four legs and a wet nose.
2. Elvis Presley’s Kangaroo at Graceland
If anyone could make a kangaroo feel at home in Tennessee, it was the King of Rock and Roll himself. In the 1950s, a devoted fan gifted Elvis Presley something far beyond a signed album or fan letter.
A kangaroo arrived at Graceland, and Elvis actually kept it.
How long did the unusual arrangement last? Not very long, honestly.
Elvis soon realized a kangaroo needed more space and specialized care than even Graceland could provide. He donated the animal to the Memphis Zoo, where it could live more comfortably.
Still, the story remains one of rock history’s most wonderfully bizarre footnotes.
3. Tippi Hedren’s Full-Grown Lion Neil
Most people would not let a house cat sleep on the bed. Actress Tippi Hedren, however, shared her home in the 1970s with a full-grown African lion named Neil.
Photographs show Neil sprawled across her bed like he owned the place, which, honestly, he kind of did.
Hedren’s daughter, Melanie Griffith, grew up alongside Neil, creating memories that are equal parts wild and oddly wholesome. Though Hedren later became a fierce advocate for big cat welfare and founded the Shambala Preserve, she acknowledged the real dangers involved.
Neil’s story is a reminder of how love for animals can sometimes blur important boundaries.
4. Paris Hilton’s Kinkajou Baby Luv
Forget purse dogs. In the early 2000s, Paris Hilton upgraded her exotic pet game considerably by adding a kinkajou to her collection.
Baby Luv, as the nocturnal rainforest mammal was called, became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about animal companions almost overnight.
Kinkajous are related to raccoons and live in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Baby Luv once bit Hilton badly enough to require a hospital visit, proving even the cutest creatures have limits.
If superheroes have origin stories, Baby Luv’s bite might be Hilton’s. Owning a kinkajou is now illegal in California, just saying.
5. Salvador Dali’s Anteater on Paris Streets
Walking a dog in Paris is charming. Walking a giant anteater down the same streets?
Absolutely surreal, which was kind of the whole point. Salvador Dali, the legendary surrealist painter, was photographed strolling through Paris in the 1960s alongside his unusual pet anteater like it was perfectly normal.
Dali curated his public persona the way he painted canvases, with maximum drama and zero apologies. Owning an anteater fit perfectly into a life already filled with melting clocks and lobster telephones.
How many other artists could make a Tuesday morning walk feel like performance art? Dali managed it effortlessly, and the world just stared and applauded.
6. Kristen Stewart’s Wolf-Dog Hybrid Jack
Part wolf, part dog, and entirely fascinating, Jack is the pet companion of actress Kristen Stewart, and no, he did not come straight off a Twilight set. Stewart has described Jack as resembling a bear in size and presence, yet completely domesticated in behavior.
Wolf-dog hybrids are controversial because of unpredictable instincts inherited from wild ancestors. However, Stewart has spoken warmly about Jack’s loyalty and calm personality around her.
Owning a wolf-dog requires serious commitment, specialized training, and a very large yard. If you have ever wanted a pet that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale, Jack is living proof it is possible.
7. Nicolas Cage’s Octopus and Cobras
Spending $150,000 on a pet octopus sounds like a plot twist nobody saw coming. Nicolas Cage did exactly that, reportedly believing the creature would sharpen his acting instincts.
If your method is wild enough, it just might work, and Cage’s career has certainly never been boring.
Beyond the octopus, Cage also owned two venomous albino king cobras named Moby and Sheba. He eventually had to rehome them after neighbors raised understandable safety concerns.
Cage once said he gravitates toward animals that feel otherworldly. Considering his filmography includes everything from action heroes to supernatural thrillers, the cobras and octopus fit his brand perfectly.
