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Not everyone has the space for a dog or a cat. And some people just prefer to think outside the litter box when choosing critter companions. The following are seven creatures guaranteed to make great – albeit different – pets.

1. Chinchillas Chinchillas are known for their soft, stroke-able fur. In fact, their coats are so dense that fleas and other parasites suffocate if they try to dig their way in. While chinchillas are extremely intelligent and can pick up tricks, they don’t really like to be held and do better in homes without small children. In terms of care, their diets are highly specialized, and they can’t get wet because mold and other fungi might grow on their skin. (That hair of theirs really is thick. They actually “bathe” by rolling around in a fine dust to remove dirt from their coats.) Domesticated chinchillas can live for nearly a decade, so be sure you’re ready for a commitment before you take this fluff ball home.

2. Sugar Gliders The sugar glider is a small member of the possum family that usually has a 5-6 inch body and a tail that’s just as long. Sugar gliders love to play and interact with humans and usually bond quite well with their owners. (Most like to snuggle in the front pocket of a shirt. An ignored sugar glider can suffer from depression and even die.) Make sure you have enough room for a big cage to accommodate these frisky fellows. And, again, since the life span of a sugar glider is twelve to fourteen years, picking out a sugar glider isn’t the same as buying a hamster or guinea pig -- sugar gliders will be with you a lot longer.

3. Hedgehogs People have been keeping hedgehogs as pets for about twenty years. Despite their quills, hedgehogs are actually quite snuggly. But they do require lots of special attention. Hedgehogs can have trouble adapting to domestication. Cages, weather changes and food choices can all provide problems affecting the health and well-being of these pets. They also need lots of room to roam and a specialized diet so they won’t become obese or sick. But, if all goes well, hedgehogs make an excellent addition to the family and tend to get along with everybody -- humans and other animals included.

4. Tarantulas Although their looks can certainly be intimidating, tarantulas are very gentle creatures that really are more afraid of you than you are of them. And if you’re looking for an inexpensive and low-maintenance pet that has the added benefit of really creeping your friends out, a tarantula might be it. The arachnids usually cost less than fifty dollars if you buy them young and have the bonus feature of being odorless. You won’t sniff out a tarantula’s cage like you would a lizard’s or a snake’s.

5. Dwarf Rabbits The Dutch first bred smaller rabbits as household pets, and a true dwarf rabbit weighs no more than three pounds. Most dwarf rabbits in the United States are crossbred with larger breeds, but you’ll still find rabbits small enough to keep indoors rather than in an outside hutch. Plus, not only are dwarf rabbits adorable, but they also have something in common with your more standard household pets – it’s possible to housebreak a rabbit.

6. Fancy Rats This probably sounds like an oxymoron, but “fancy rat” is the term for a domesticated rat, as opposed to the common rodent most associated with sewers and trash heaps. Rats from the pet store are inexpensive and intelligent. But it’s probably best to avoid co-ed groupings: Even though these are “fancy rats,” you still probably don’t want more than two in your home at any given time.

7. Goats Goats can make excellent pets, and they crave attention and companionship like many other domesticated animals. It is best to have lots of space for a pet goat and also consider getting more than one since they don’t like to be alone. Pygmy goats rarely grow over two feet tall and also make good additions to the household.