Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Perfect Pet: A One Hundred-Pound Rodent





(Above: Caplin Rous.)

This post is dedicated to all of the readers who said they'd rather cuddle rodents than eat them. (Anyone who wouldn't mind giving them a nibble can skip this post and click here.)

Texan Melanie Typaldos knew she could never be satisfied with a hamster for a pet. No, Ms. Typaldos wanted all the rodent love she could get. So she adopted a South American capybara. Though the enormous beasts can weigh over a hundred pounds and are widely believed to be dumb as rocks, Ms. Typaldos insists they make perfect companions.

She claims her capybara, Caplin Rous, can perform more tricks than most dogs and likes to cuddle up on cold winter nights. He follows her around the house all day and sits in her lap nibbling treats until his bulk begins to cut off the circulation in her legs.

Aww. I never thought I'd say this, but he is kind of cute. Maybe I won't try that capybara chili after all.

Read a full interview with Melanie Typaldos (complete with photos and videos) here.

UPDATE 8-9-9: NEW VIDEO BELOW!

33 comments:

The 355 said...

awww! he is soooooooo cute!

Sydney said...

Hello. Well, I have never heard of that type of rodent. But I know of a kind that looks like it- EXACTLY like it. It is called a nutria. They're are many of them in New Orleans. (Where I am right now.) Could they be the same thing? Hmm... I really dont know! But Where DO you get these ideas of eating rodents. ahahaha. That is just VILE. hahaha!

Nellie said...

I feel kind of bad--the post is dedicated to me (:P) and I think that that thing is U-G-L-Y ugly. It looks like a cross between a dog and a porcupine. XD

Orchid said...

For a rodent the capybara is pretty adorable. :)

UU said...

Omgygosh! Princess bride, anyone?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?


Rodents of Unusual Size! (ROUS!)

Cassie said...

That is so cool! It reminds me of the Princess Bride's R.O.U.S.s :D

I love rodents and this is the coolest one I EVER seen!

brave chickens said...

He looks like a nice sleepy wombat with thinner legs.

I feel like giving him a cuddle XD

42 said...

It's better then a fish.

Peacey said...

Aww! He's adorable! I want a capybara so bad now!!! Of course, my mothers calls the hamster I have a rat, so I think that's as far as I'm getting for rodents NOW, but I can dream! I love that look on his face. Having known many rodents, I can tell that's the universal look of a good rodent.

Lara said...

I want one!! Where can you get them???

Lioness said...

i like my pet rats more. :)

Anonymous said...

Is it even legal to have a capybara as a pet?

Patsee said...

That thing is as big as my golen retriever.


I love giant rodents as much as the next girl, but I prefer guinea pigs. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have a 30-lb rodent? As in, a giant guinea pig, but not capybara-sized?

Arielle said...

so, this is totally off topic...but when does the next book in the KS series come out?

eternal espionage said...

that's super cute!
Oh and by the way Kirsten, I saw something interesting on the news tonight. Type in Brooke Greenburg into google and check it out.

Air is Where said...

How did you know about my favorite animal (besides the teddy bear, but i don't think that counts)? i'm not sure i would want one to sit on my lap though.
interesting trivia fact though: they are the larges rodents in the world but i'm not sure they've found out about what's in new york's other city.

Kira said...

AAAAWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!! he's adorable! hey, "capybaras" like the capybaras corp. from book one of kiki strike? the one that gave the irregulars 100,000 dollars each? hmmmmmmmm..............I loved that book. then again, who on this blog doesn't?

Charm said...

It is soooo cute! I have a hamster, but it farts.

Anonymous said...

cats are better! but it's still waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cute!

Cjhrstar said...

ITs a ROUS!
AHHHH itsgonna kill us ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL AHHHHHHHHHHH!
Sorry I spazzd out for a sec lol that thing looks weaird

Kitty said...

Awww... I wanna one!! X3

Aye Ayes United! said...

* But cats are still the best.

Aye Ayes United! said...

My two sisters
Guinea Pigs look just like it! It is pretty cute!

Kiwi said...

AWWWWWWWWWWW!! That is so adorable! (Not the Cabybara itself... I think it's about 6 and a half on the cute scale. I mean the loyal and cuddleiness of Cabybara. It's like a dog... Kinda)

UU: Ohmyosh! I love that movie!! It does kinda remind me of those giant rodents. =)

irregular kiki said...

im so sad about michael jackson :( :( :(

KikiCullen said...

I WANT IT!!!!!!!!!!!

UU said...

Kirsten - Have you read The Mole People? It's about the homeless people who live in the subway tunnels and other (lower) tunnels in NYC. It's really good and interesting! I think you would like it.

BTW-my fried Maw bought the Pride and Predijuce and Zombies book. BONUS - It also has minjas!

Narcissus said...

i love those things! but i will always love my evil cats more, one of them sees dead people

Anonymous said...

You guys? remember the bunny (widely accepted as the cutest animal in existence) is a RODENT!!!!

Bao Yu said...

i will be asking for one for christmas.

Spring said...

I used to be obsessed with capybaras! I don't even know why. It was a while ago. But I don't think I'd ever want one as a pet.

Mariana said...

They're essentially just giant guinea pigs. They live in the wild in parts of South America and are usually quite friendly. Small children can even ride on them safely. And unless I am much mistaken, they are more closely related to rabbits than rodents.

Anonymous said...

Yall Need To Stop Lyin!! That THing Is An Unusual Creature That No one Should Own!Who Wants A 100 pound Rodant In there Home Pool And around there Neighborhood!Im So Distgusted,People Do Anything for 15minutes Of Fame!Next Week We Will Be Reading About It Eating Her!Remember The Monkey?U Do The Math!This Is Outragouse and Crazy!This Thing is Beyong Ugly Its Creeepy!What Did U Feed It That It Gets From 3pounds To 100 hundred!OMG!GET RID OFF IT!