When you hear the word “pet,” an image of a dog or a cat most likely pops into your head. But what about adopting a capybara or taking your chimpanzee for a ride in your car? These animals are considered exotic pets and are becoming more popular.

According to therichest.com, more than 20 million Americans own some type of exotic animal. There is no official rule that determines what types of animals are considered to be exotic pets, but that classification usually refers to any type of animal that is not often kept as a pet, especially one that is not native to the owner’s location. For example, hamsters and goldfish would generally not be considered exotic, but monkeys and hissing cockroaches might be. Because the term is so subjective, getting an exotic pet might not always mean getting an extremely dangerous or high maintenance wild animal.

The legal regulations on exotic pet ownership in the United States vary by state. 34 states ban at least some types of “dangerous wild animals,” as shown on a map from humanesociety.org, while five states have no laws whatsoever forbidding the ownership of exotic pets. Eleven states do not ban any animals as pets, but require a permit to own certain species.Outlawing certain types of animals as pets addresses safety concerns. Some animals are simply more dangerous than others. According to the Humane Society, more than 300 incidents involving big cats have occurred since 1990, leaving children and adults mauled, injured or killed. The laws protect not only human safety, but also the safety of the animal. Large wild animals require far more attention, food and exercise than their domesticated counterparts. Due to improper care, big cats that are kept as pets are often malnourished and have severe health problems.

However, if you are simply searching for a unique pet, you are in luck: small animals, such as tarantulas, bearded dragons, sugar gliders and hedgehogs are all legal and perfectly safe when given the proper care. These animals range in price from less than $20 to a few hundred dollars.

One issue that many exotic pet owners face is getting their pet the proper care. Not all vets are experts in every animal, so make sure you do your research before getting a pet. It may seem obvious, but make sure that, before you adopt an exotic pet, you are actually going to take care of it for the rest of its life. Once the novelty of having an unusual animal wears off, you are still responsible for the animal’s care.