Harry Potter's Animals - Would They Make Good Pets?

In the movies Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, animals play a big role. In fact, before Harry begins his education at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, he must bring an "owl or a cat or a toad" to school. But as one young student puts it, "If I brought a toad, I'd lose it as soon as I could."

Indeed, taking care of pets is a full-time responsibility and one that requires a commitment from the human caretaker. Perhaps you already have an animal in your home - a dog, cat, bird, or hamster - that you take care of. These kinds of animals make great companions.

Some kids, though, want pets they see in the movies because they see the animals doing neat tricks on screen. However, movie pets don't always make the best pets in real life. Oftentimes, the trick you admire is done through computer animation or by a fake puppet, so the animal is not actually doing the behavior you see in the movie.

And, of course, a wild animal, like an owl, may be portrayed as a companion animal in a movie, but would never be happy as a pet in real life.

The following is a look at animals in the Harry Potter movies. See which ones would make good pets, and which ones not so good pets, to have around the house.

Owls

In the Harry Potter movies, owls are used to deliver mail to the kids at Hogwarts School. Harry's owl is a snowy, which is indigenous (this means living in a particular region) to the arctic region. Their white feathers go all the way to their toes providing insulation against the cold. This would make them very uncomfortable living in a warmer climate. While it would be fun to have an owl swoop down and land on your arm, owls would not make good pets for several other reasons.

Owls are wild creatures that need to be outdoors to fly and hunt for food. With the exception of the Snowy Owl, which will hunt at any time, owls are nocturnal, which means they like to sleep during the day and stay awake all night. During the night they hunt for food. They are carnivorous creatures (they like to eat meat) and will eat small animals, like rodents. You would never want an owl around your pet hamster or gerbil.

State and federal laws also protect owls. It is illegal to capture or kill an owl and also illegal to possess one in the United States without the proper permits from local and state governments and from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

So while owls are cool to look at (and it's fun to imagine owls delivering mail), they could be happy only in the wild.

Though some owls, like the barn owl, live close to people, it is usually rare to spot one. You should never catch or touch owls, but if you live near woods, you can encourage them to nest in a nesting box in your yard, where you might be able to catch a glimpse of them. Occasionally, a barn owl will make one of these boxes its home, especially if you live in a rural area. Nesting boxes should be installed up high to minimize human disturbance and reduce the owl's risk of being eaten by snakes, raccoons and outdoor cats. Call your local wildlife agency to see if any owls are indigenous to your area.

Snakes

Snakes have become common pets for people in the last few decades, but they are not always properly cared for. To stay healthy in captivity, snakes require the same basic things as other animals - proper food, water and shelter - as well as a few specific things, such as the right environment.

Snakes are cold-blooded. That means that unlike people, they cannot regulate their own body temperature. While people maintain a constant temperature of 98.6 degrees, even when it's below freezing outside, snakes maintain the same temperature as their surroundings and would die in freezing temperatures. To keep their body at the optimum 80 to 88 degrees (depending on the snake), snakes must move to a warmer spot. If they get too hot, they must move to a cooler spot to cool down. Snakes kept in captivity require a heat source like a basking lamp to create a hot spot in their cage or terrarium for warmth.

All snakes are carnivorous. That means they eat meat and won't want any carrots, lettuce, fruit, crackers or bread. Snakes don't require live prey to eat, although many people think they do. Frozen mice are fine, as long as they are thawed before feeding. If you are thinking about adopting a snake as a pet, learn more about the species' specific housing and dietary needs.

Felines

In the Harry Potter movies, Mr. Filch (the keeper of the off-limit areas of Hogwarts) has a cat named Mrs. Norris, who watches the kids and reports any suspicious behavior. Professor McGonagall also transforms into a cat in the movies. Cats, of course, make great pets, as they are domesticated creatures that need people to take care of them to survive. If your family decides they are ready for a feline companion, check out your local animal shelter. There are lots of wonderful cats there in need of good homes.