ALL manner of spiky, prickly, ferocious beasts — including racoons, coatis, sloths, wild boar and mangrove snakes — have officially become loveable.

In a shake-up of the laws on dangerous animals, these and other creatures are now considered sufficiently harmless to be kept as family pets.

Youngsters who, in the past, may have dreamt of owning a puppy or a hamster could soon legitimately yearn instead for a porcupine, an ostrich or perhaps even — in an idea worthy of cartoonist Charles Addams — a poisonous Brazilian wolf spider.

Bengal cats, which are part Asian leopard, part domestic cat, are to be removed from the list of dangerous species, which will be welcomed by the 20,000 people in Britain who already own one, though they have been the subject of wrangling for years.

The Government has always insisted that they be licensed and kept securely: not allowed to roam like domestic cats. Owners even previously had to have written permission from the Government two weeks before taking a Bengal cat to the vet.

But since the breed was imported to Britain in 1991 by Barry Algar-Street, from Shepperton, Middlesex — now chairman of the Bengal Cat Club — it has become very popular and owners have been trying to de-list it. Breed competitions and shows are held around the country and many owners have ignored the law requiring them to license their cats.

Mr Algar-Street, who has 20, said: “The Government has come to its senses at last: they were always wrong about this breed.

Many owners have been frightened by local council officers threatening to remove their cats or prosecute them. It’s been awful.”

Conversely dingoes, the Australian wild dogs noted for their ferocity, are to be banned as pets because ministers fear attempts to crossbreed them and develop a fighting dog.

Scorpions and four deadly snakes — the Argentine black-headed Snake, the Peruvian racer, the South American green racer and the Amazon false viper — will also remain banned.

As part of the overhaul of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, people will have the right to know in future if a nasty beast lives next door: a new register is to be kept by every local authority.

Elliott Morley, the Environment Minister, is consulting on whether dangerous pythons should be allowed as pets. Anacondas, for example, can reach 28ft in length and swallow a human in one gulp.

He also has reservations about rock and reticulated pythons and snapping turtles. At present there are some 5,000,000 reptiles, snakes, lizards and chameleons kept in Britain as pets.

Wild boar and ostrich farmers will no longer need licences to keep their animals, but will continue to be subject to tough controls under farm welfare laws.

In future if a dangerous animal escapes the owner will have to pay for any emergency service — such as a police helicopter — used to hunt the creature.

Anyone in breach of a dangerous animal licence is liable to a fine of up to £5,000.

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