Are Kangaroos Good Pets?

Reviewed By Kim •  Updated: 12/29/20 •  6 min read
The contents of the OurFitPets.com website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase this item or service, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own.

Once an unimaginable idea, it is now commonplace to see people considering making Kangaroos as pets. Why? Because change is inherently constant. At one point, we only saw cats, dogs, and parrots (if you’re a birdie lover) as potential pets. Now, we’ve seen a lot of changes on that front.

Online Veterinary 24/7
Chat With A Veterinarian Online

Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.

People are now making pets out of everything: snakes, tigers, lions, and other animals who live and thrive in the wild. Thus, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when people consider one of Australia’s popular creatures as a pet.

But is it possible to keep Kangaroos as pets? You’ll find out soon enough. But first things first.

Brief Background of Kangaroos

Kangaroos, according to the National Museum of Australia, were discovered (fancy when historians say it) back in 1771. It was around the period Captain Cook of the HMB Endeavor sailed back to England.

But kangaroos had long existed before that time, and studies suggest that kangaroos as far back as 4 million years ago. With that out of the way, below are some amazing facts about them:

Which brings us to the one question that needs answering:

Kangaroos are wild animals. Thus, they do not make good pets if you plan on keeping them around. If your home isn’t styled like their natural habitat, you’re bound to experience some challenges with rearing them.

It is also important to note that Kangaroos don’t play nicely with other domestic pets. They see other animals as potential predators and threats, and will not waste time to launch an attack on them.

However, if you plan on keeping them as pets, you should consider the following:

Costs of having a Kangaroo

Kangaroos are one of the most exotic animals on the planet. This means that the cost of having one as a pet is really expensive. Unlike dogs and cats, kangaroos are sold for thousands of dollars.

And that’s not all.

You also have to pay for the permit of having one in your home. Some kangaroo breeders also offer starter kits which you’d have to pay for. Coupled with the food, medical care, vaccinations, and even the cage, huge wads of cash will leave your wallets faster than you imagine.

In some cases, you may be required to pay for emergency disaster arrangements, in the event that the kangaroo gets injured or becomes aggressive.

Living space

Kangaroos are typically large creatures measuring over 6 feet (including their long tails). Thus, it is important that they are kept in areas where there’s enough space to move around.

If you’re thinking about keeping them inside your home, that’s a bad idea! A kangaroo hopping on your sofa, littering the whole place with scattered items is not a pretty sight. Kangaroos are meant to hop outside with a lot of space.

So, if you don’t have an open space, maybe you shouldn’t consider buying a pet kangaroo.

Then again, if your home has an open space, you need to factor in proper fencing. You don’t want your kangaroo jumping out of your compound to start wreaking havoc on other people’s properties outside.

You need a tall and reinforced fencing surrounding the perimeter of your home to avoid this from happening. The fence needs to be constructed in such a way that it doesn’t hurt the animal if it comes in contact with it.

Again, this costs a lot of money.

State laws and regulations

There are different laws regarding keeping kangaroos as pets. While some states permit people to own kangaroos as pets, others ban the importation of these wild creatures with their borders.

You need to be fully updated on the laws of your state regarding owning a pet kangaroo before making the move to purchase one.

Healthcare

It will be very difficult to find a professional vet that specializes in kangaroos. Why? Because kangaroos are wild animals, and there aren’t many vets out there who understand their health care.

In the event that they develop sickness, you’d have to take them to a specialist whose services are not cheap.

Feeding

Because kangaroos are exotic animals, this makes their food rare. It is uncommon to find their food at the usual grocery shops or malls. You’d have to order them from stores that sell them.

A kangaroo eats several times daily. You’d have to consider ordering their food several times in a month which is expensive.

Temperament

It doesn’t matter if they’re trained from a young age, kangaroos are non-domestic in nature. This means that they run the risk of going wild at some point. There’s a high possibility that they might launch an attack on a stranger nearby.

Also, kangaroos love to box. So, don’t be surprised if your roo challenges you for a brawl. Knowing that it can get really messy, you have to take this special factor into consideration.

Kangaroos are wild, yet lovely creatures. But they do not make great pets. However, if you want to purchase one, you’d have to put the aforementioned factors into consideration.

(Visited 141 times, 1 visits today)
Online Veterinary 24/7
Chat With A Veterinarian Online

Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.

Kim

Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.

Keep Reading