These are the most popular pets (that aren't cats and dogs) in every state

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The most popular pets that aren't cats and dogs

Small pets — rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, chinchillas, mice, rats and sugar gliders are the most popular pet in 45 states and Washington, D.C., according to Chewy.

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The most popular pets that aren't cats and dogs

In Texas, horses are the most popular pet other than cats and dogs, while in New Mexico, the popularity of feeding and attracting wild birds as "pets" is on the rise. In Arkansas, fish are the next most popular pet after Kitty and Rover.

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The most popular pets that aren't cats and dogs

For those who own small pets, Chewy's research shows rabbits are the most popular in 33 states followed by ferrets in 13. In South Dakota and Wyoming, guinea pigs top the list and in Washington, D.C., mice and rats get the most love.

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Why own an exotic pet?

But what is it about these unique and sometimes exotic pets that speak to pet owners? Amber Clavette, a 22-year-old from Connecticut, grew up with a pet snake named Orange. "She wasn't super hard to take care of," she says.

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Why own an exotic pet?

"Corn snakes are generally good for beginner pet parents, but we did have to buy frozen mice a lot and we had to thaw them out in hot water before feeding her which was always a little unsettling."

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Why own an exotic pet?

When it came to maintenance, taking care of a snake was a bit different than picking up dog poop or changing kitty litter. "We cleaned the tank probably once a week," Clavette recalls, "taking everything out and wiping it down while someone held the snake for a bit."

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Why own an exotic pet?

Owning an exotic pet can be an adventure: Clavette remembers a time when Orange the corn snake figured out how to get out of her cage. After searching the house for her escaped pet, the snake was found curled up in a backpack.

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Why own an exotic pet?

She also recalls that people's initial response to finding out she had a snake was "to scream and panic." However, after a few minutes, she found people became surprisingly comfortable spending time with this commonly-feared reptile.

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Why own an exotic pet?

"People who were scared and held her anyway ended up warming up to her pretty fast," Clavette says. "I think it was more the initial touching at first that was scary, but once they realized she was sweet and wouldn't hurt them, people tended to calm down."

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Why own an exotic pet?

Nicole Stanley, a nail technician from California, owns a ferret named Pluto, who she adopted in a turn of events the 22 year old considered lucky. "I've had her for about a year and a half now," she shares.

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Why own an exotic pet?

"My friend was graduating and needed to rehome her and I was more than happy to take her since I had already wanted one for so long." While Clavette's snake was met with trepidation from friends, Stanley says people adore her ferret.

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Why own an exotic pet?

From friends who come to visit to those who pass Pluto on car rides with her owner, the furry animal has fans wherever she goes. "The funniest encounter I ever had with her was when I was going through a drive-through getting food," she shares.

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Why own an exotic pet?

"The person taking my order took a picture of her in my front seat with the iPad they were using to take my order. She is quite the crowd pleaser."

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

Alabama: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians Arkansas: Fish, small pets, wild birds, horses, pet birds Arizona: Small pets, pet birds, wild birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

California: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, chickens and farm animals, fish Colorado: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, chickens and farm animals Connecticut: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, chickens and farm animals

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

Washington, D.C.: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, chicken and farm animals, fish Delaware: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians Florida: Small pets, pet birds, wild birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

Georgia: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, chickens and farm animals Iowa: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, reptiles and amphibians Idaho: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, chicken and farm animals

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

Illinois: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians Indiana: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, reptiles and amphibians Kansas: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, reptiles and amphibians

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

Kentucky: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, horses, fish Massachusetts: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, chickens and farm animals Maryland: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, chickens and farm animals, fish

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

Michigan: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians Minnesota: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, chickens and farm animals Missouri: Small pets, fish, wild birds, pet birds, chickens and farm animals

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

Mississippi: Small pets, horses, wild birds, fish, pet birds Montana: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, chickens and farm animals North Carolina: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, chickens and farm animals

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

North Dakota: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, horses Nebraska: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians New Hampshire: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, chickens and farm animals

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

New Jersey: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians New Mexico: Wild birds, small pets, pet birds, fish, chickens and farm animals Nevada: Small pets, pet birds, wild birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

New York: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish Ohio: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, reptiles and amphibians Oklahoma: Small pets, fish, wild birds, pet birds, horses

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

Oregon: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, chickens and farm animals Pennsylvania: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians Rhode Island: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, chickens and farm animals

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

South Carolina: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, chickens and farm animals South Dakota: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, reptiles and amphibians Tennessee: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, horses Texas: Horses, small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

Utah: Small pets, pet birds, wild birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians Virginia: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, chickens and farm animals Vermont: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, chickens and farm animals, fish Washington: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, chickens and farm animals, fish

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The most popular pets in each U.S. state, aside from cats and dogs, according to Chewy:

Wisconsin: Small pets, wild birds, pet birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians West Virginia: Small pets, wild birds, fish, pet birds, reptiles and amphibians Wyoming: Small pets, fish, wild birds, chickens and farm animals, horses

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