A woman has adopted her very own pig, gaining more than just a pet as she compares it to caring for a human toddler.

Mina Alali has always found the mammals extremely cute so when the chance came to get one of her own, she jumped at it – naming the pampered pig Merlin.

Merlin not only lives in her house but even sleeps in her bed, with the influencer, who has 1.9 million followers on TikTok (@mina.alali), sharing their life together online.

He even communicates with her through electronic “buttons”, having Mina attend to his every whim.

“Merlin is a mix between caring for a dog and a toddler,” the 25-year-old, from California, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.

“He can be very dramatic and stubborn but he is extremely sweet and cuddly – always wanting attention!

“Merlin has buttons around the house where he can express what he wants or needs.

“This includes stuff if he wants to go outside, to be given attention and cuddles, and especially if he wants ice cubes.

“Merlin also comes almost everywhere with me and is leash-trained.

“He recently got a stroller which makes things easier if I need to get from Point A to Point B fast, and/or don't want all the attention that comes with walking a pig on a leash in a crowded area.”

Having a baby, human or animal, doesn’t come cheap – with Mina spending around £77 ($100) on Merlin a month.

She also cares for other animals including two rats, Millie and Miracle, and Muffy the bearded dragon.

The influencer said: “Merlin sleeps either on the couch or in bed next to me, but other than that, very similar to a dog!

“He loves getting back and tummy scratches from them when they crawl on top of him.

“Merlin currently weighs 62 pounds and will get about 1.5 cups of his piggy kibble, as well as vegetables throughout the day.

“He also gets 1-2 tbsp of coconut oil in a dog toy daily to promote skin health. It's one of his favourite treats.”

Mina, who adopted Merlin in March last year, loves their life together and has no regrets about getting a more unusual pet.

She said: “I always wanted a pig – I love intelligent animals and always thought pigs were so cute.

“I knew I would have one, one day, so I was always really determined to make this dream come true.

“I decided to adopt Merlin in March of 2022, and haven’t looked back since – Merlin is a house pig now and forever!”

However, she says not all family members have taken so well to her decision.

She added: “In general, whoever meets Merlin falls in love with him instantly.

“He has human-like eyes, toddler tendencies and his short and stout figure is adorable.

“There are only a few Persian family members who are not huge fans.”

No bother – Merlin has plenty of fans online.

TikTok users have fallen in love with the cute pig, who is an influencer in his own right with 161,000 followers on Instagram (@‌merlinthepig).

Taylor Shea Moon said “It’s amazing how intelligent pigs are.

“They’re ranked pretty high up there, I think even more intelligent than dogs. They deserve the best.”

Alex March added “This is the only video I’ve ever cared about in my life.”

Brooke Lippo said “He is the cutest.”

Colin Smith added “It’s wonderful that you are giving a pig the best life - thank you!”

However, Mina has spoken about the backlash she has received online, saying “Any backlash I have has been people trolling, calling Merlin “bacon" or saying he looks delicious.

“There are also some people who doubt that he truly understands what the buttons around the house mean, but his accuracy with the buttons when the cameras are off prove otherwise.

“I know that the content I put out is authentic, wholesome, entertaining content that can put a smile on people's faces, and that's all I try to focus on.”

ENDS

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