Pigs who naturally stay the size of a teacup don’t actually exist. “Teacup pig” is not a breed, it’s a deceptive label. According to reports, these animals are really potbellied pigs who are either deliberately malnourished so that they remain smaller than average or are falsely advertised as being “mini.” One pig guardian shared this photo of her “Tea Cup Piggy” named Banksy:As adorable as he is, he’s certainly much larger than a teacup.2. Giving up a companion pig is just as heartbreaking as giving up any other animal. Many people who discover that their full-grown “teacup” pigs will actually weigh 100 pounds or more either choose or are forced to abandon them. “Most of these animals end up in overburdened shelters or are euthanized once they outgrow their suburban habitats,”
Bringing an animal companion into your life is a huge decision—and should be an informed one—regardless of whether you’re considering adopting a dog, a cat, a pig, or a member of any other species.

Just like “purebred” dogs—animals bred to have certain genetic traits or appearances—pigs intentionally bred in an attempt to keep them small can suffer from “a host of health issues resulting from reduced genetic diversity, such as squished snouts, which cause breathing problems later in life,” . Breeders also underfeed these animals in order to stunt their growth and then instruct their guardians to feed their new companions a restricted diet, too.Just as nature didn’t create dog breeds, it didn’t create “teacup” pigs, either.

Pigs are social, playful, protective animals who bond with one another. It’s been documented that they show empathy for each other. Many sleep in “piles,” much like dogs, and they make nests, relax in the sun, and cool off in the mud. Depriving them of their natural social environment isn’t in their best interest, and if raising one full-grown pig is a struggle, chances are that caring for a second one will mean double trouble. 

The smallest breed of pig in the world is the KuneKune.