They aren't easily housetrained and they're very active, social animals. Keeping an otter as a solitary pet can make them very sad. Not having enough entertainment or putting stress on your pet otter can also lead to destructive, aggressive behavior. Living in captivity is simply not a good life for an otter.

Can otter be kept as a pet?

Otters can be legally obtained for private ownership. There are many exotic pets that people fantasize about owning — baby penguins, panda bears, dragons — but they are often shocked to hear that some people can and do legally keep exotic pets like fennec foxes, wild cats, and marmosets.

Are otters affectionate to humans?

It's unusual enough to have otters for pets, but it's even more surprising when those otters are squealing, attention-loving companions who want nothing more than to be scratched on the head and cuddled by their human.