Tiny pigs the size of tea cups are the latest pet craze sweeping across Britain.
The must-have micro pigs have become so popular they are almost impossible to get hold of in the UK and sell for up to £700 each.
The adorable piggies, which grow to just 14 inches tall, are even being snapped up by celebrities, including Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley.
“Demand for micro pigs is soaring and we are inundated with enquiries every day,” said Jane Croft, 42, who has given up everything to breed them full time
“It’s amazing how popular they have suddenly become and just how many people want pigs as pets.”
Micro pigs are much smaller than a standard farm pig and weigh 9oz, about the size of a tea cup when they are born.
At two years old they are fully grown and weigh in around 40-65 pounds and are around knee height at 12-16 inches tall.
They can live for up to 18 years, but make popular pets as they are low maintenance, quiet and surprisingly clean.
“Micro pigs make fantastic pets as they are very low maintenance. You don’t have to take them for walks and they have very few health issues,” said Jane.
“They don’t make much noise, they are easy to toilet train and once they have bonded with you they are very loving.
“They are actually very clean and never mess in their bedding and are just so adorable.
“They are also highly intelligent and are the fourth most intelligent species after man, monkey and dolphin.
“They really are the perfect pets, I don’t know why people haven’t thought of them before.”
Micro pigs, which grow no bigger than a Labrador, are also good alternative pets for people with allergies.
“Lots of people are allergic to cats and dogs but you can’t get allergies from pigs as their skin is very similar to ours, and the have hair not fur” added Jane.
“We’ve had many parents buy pigs for their children who suffer from fur allergies.”
Jane set up her micro pig breeding business five months ago at Little Pig Farm in Christchurch, Cambs.
She currently has 50 micro pigs, have been working 14 hours a day, seven days a week to keep up with demand.
Her company website has been getting 4,000 hits a week and she gets at least 60 emails and 40 phone calls a day from people all over the world, including America, Russia, Spain and even Australia.
"I have always adored pigs and I love the famous Winston Churchill quote about a pig being man's equal. I have been breeding pigs on and off as a hobby for 15 years,” said Jane.
"I saw some Micro Pigs on television and fell in love with them. They have become so popular as pets they were impossible to get hold of so I began breeding them myself.
“I spent months researching and finding suitable pigs and now at last I am able to do my dream job full-time.”
The pigs are crosses of Miniature Pot Bellied pigs with Tamworths, Kune Kunes and Gloucester Old Spots to create their tiny, colourful Micro Pigs, which are sold for between £195 and £700.
The pigs enjoy good food, lots of toys and even have Classic FM piped to their bedrooms.
The size of the piglets get smaller with every litter with Peanut the piglet believed to be one of the tiniest adult pigs in Europe.
The little piggy, who weighed just under 2kg at twelve weeks old, now lives indoors with Jane as a companion to her dog and sleeps on the sofa.
At 13 months she has almost stopped growing and is just 12 inches tall.
Jane hopes to breed from her next year and expects an even smaller litter.
“They really are fantastic fun, highly sociable and make amazing pets,” said Jane.
“They will sit on your lap while you watch TV so you can scratch their belly.
“They will even talk to you and have you giggling for hours.”
