The Kinkalow cat breed is popular for its small stature and playful nature. They have become widely popular on social media and from that, have been more commonly found in family homes.
Since the Kinkalow is friendly, quiet, and affectionate, they have been deemed a great breed for small children to interact with.
A unique trait of the Kinkalow is that their soft luxurious fur can have nearly any coloration or pattern type, making them hard to identify sometimes.
| Kinkalow Breed Overview |
| Height | 7-8 inches (16-18 cm) |
| Weight | 3-7 lbs (1.5-3.5 kg) |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
| Colors | Varying, can come in any color |
| Suitable for… | Families, young children, households with pets, and seniors |
| Temperament | Affectionate, playful, but quiet |
| Breed Traits Overview |
| Lifespan | 4/5 |
| Energy | 3/5 |
| Sociability | 5/5 |
| Health | 4/5 |
History Of The Kinkalow Cat Breed
Having only been around since the 1990s, the Kinkalow still is not even recognized as an official breed by any cat fancy associations. Having been bred so recently, there is still much to learn about the Kinkalow.
The breed came about when cat breeder Terri Harris bred her Munchkin cat to her American Curl. After a few trials of breeding this short kitten with curled ears, the breed finally gained some traction and popularity in the late 1990s when it was finally recognized as an experimental breed by The International Cat Association in 1997.
The name Kinkalow came from the name given to one of the first-ever kittens—Kinkalow Louie. It’s thought that the name was formed due to the kink in the kittens’ ears and their small stature leaving them low to the ground.
Unfortunately, since breeders are still in the experimental phases with breeding the Kinkalow, the characteristics of the cat could still change slightly in the coming years. As of now, their personalities, lifespan, and overall health could still change quite a bit with the continued breeding efforts.
How Much Does The Kinkalow Cost?
While the pricing of a kitten will always vary based on the specific breeders, the average cost for a Kinkalow kitten is around $2,000 when purchased from a reputable breeder. This averages to about £1,447, €1,685, or A$2,663. While the price tag on these kittens may shock you, the reality is, with such a new and popular breed it’s quite easy for breeders to ask for a high price point.
In addition, since the Kinkalow is such a designer breed, it’s almost impossible to find them in a shelter to be adopted. Therefore, anyone who wants one of these cats has to purchase them. Another result of this is that, it’s hard to find an adult Kinkalow as most are purchased as kittens and don’t end up in shelters later on in their lives.
Personality Traits Of The Kinkalow
While the Kinkalow may be small, they sure know how to play! These kittens will carry their enjoyable energy into their adulthood making them great cats to be around children. Even if you’re a family with young children, you won’t need to worry about your Kinkalow as they are small and generally affectionate—even during their bursts of energy!
Since your kitten will play as much as you allow it to, bringing them into a home with other household pets can be a great way to socialize them and give them another outlet for energy. These little kittens will acclimate just fine to other cats around, and even dogs; so if you have a house full of animals already, don’t be afraid to introduce a Kinkalow into the mix.
With that said, the Kinkalow will rest as hard as they play. They are extremely affectionate and love to be in close contact with humans, making them great lap cats.
Although they are still in the beginning phases of breeding the Kinkalow, they are a surprisingly intelligent breed! You will see their intelligence through their tactics when playing with other animals, their ability to navigate their home with ease, and their need for stimulation through regular play.
You can keep your Kinkalows brain working at its best by giving them some toys that require strategy and skill.
There is much you can accomplish in terms of training since the Kinkalow is witty. Some owners have reported teaching their cats how to play fetch!
Among the most attractive personality traits of the Kinkalow is their youthful personality from the time they are kittens until they are geriatric. However, unlike many playful cats and kittens, the Kinkalow is not an overly vocal breed.
They will make it known to you when they are needing food or water, but other than that, you will not hear many vocalizations from these cats. Because of their quiet and affectionate nature, you will find that your Kinkalow will sleep right alongside you at night and will not be one to disturb.
How To Take Care Of A Kinkalow
Being a miniature breed, the Kinkalow has slightly different health considerations to take into account as an owner. Not only do they have varying health concerns from larger breeds, but also require distinct levels of care as far as diet and exercise.
Diet
Unlike some larger cat breeds, the Kinkalow is at very low risk of becoming overweight as they don’t often overeat. This is thanks to their small frame that can only carry a healthy body weight! Because of their generally healthy eating habits, you won’t need to worry about feeding them a special diet or regulating their food intake too closely.
Since overeating is not a problem, to maintain their health, simply buy a balanced cat food and always consult your veterinarian about the best option for your cat as it enters each new phase of its life and growth.
Exercise
When it comes to exercise, these little kittens should get plenty! They love to play and will engage with toys if they are offered; therefore, it’s highly recommended to keep a variety of cat toys around the house for them.
Offering them something like a cat wheel can exert more energy without the need for human interaction—this is a fantastic toy for those who are not home all the time to show the cat attention.
While it’s great to have toys they can play with alone, it’s also encouraged to buy some toys you can play fetch with and use in your spare time to interact with your cat! Whether this is a toy made for teething when they are kittens or some string they can chase around the house when a burst of energy comes, having several toys accessible will improve their welfare and save your furniture from becoming a playground.
In addition to this, you should offer your Kinkalow several perches or trees so they can climb. The breed loves to sit high up on furniture and jump around the house. By having a few perches made just for them, you will save your furniture a bit from being clawed up!
Grooming
With a longer-haired cat such as the Kinkalow, you will need to stay consistent with your brushing schedule to keep them knot-free and silky smooth. It’s recommended to brush your Kinkalow about once a week for optimal coat care, although more frequent brushing may be necessary for more active kittens.
Since brushing is a huge part of Kinkalow maintenance, be sure to find a top-rated cat brush that will actually get all the extra fur off of your cat so you can minimize the amount that ends up around your house! On that same note, remember that Kinkalows are not allergen-friendly and will shed quite a bit, even with frequent brushing. If you have any allergies to pet hair or dandruff, this breed may bother you.
In addition to fur maintenance, it’s ideal that Kinkalow owners bathe their cats a few times a year to get all the excess dander out of the hair. To make the bathing experience a little less stressful and more enjoyable for both you and your cat, consider teaching your kitten to swim early on in their life! This will be great exercise for them and will ensure they are not afraid or angry when getting into the rub.
As with other cat breeds with curled ears, Kinkalows are at higher risk for ear infections or the buildup of ear wax. Because of a lack of production of cartilage in the ear brought on by a cartilage defect in the breed, paying extra close attention to ear health is non-negotiable for the breed.
Infections can easily be prevented with frequent cleaning of your cats’ ears with a high-quality cleaner. Be sure to consult your veterinarian for the best ear cleaner for your kitten and read up on exactly how to clean their ears effectively. This will greatly improve your cat’s overall comfort and health.
Training
As mentioned previously in the article, the Kinkalow is extremely intelligent and because of this, fairly easy to train! This breed is versatile and will be able to pick up on a lot when taught from a young age. It’s recommended to start training your Kinkalow from the time you get them as the younger they start, the better.
Apart from teaching them tricks like how to fetch and sit, you can train your Kinkalow to do things that will improve your ability to care for them. By training them to sit still when getting their ears cleaned or their coat brushed, your job as a pet parent will be significantly easier.
Another helpful behavior you may want to consider in your training is setting boundaries for the furniture they can and can’t jump onto to save your house from becoming a kitten’s playground. As long as you have the right tools and additional options for them to play with, your cat will be easy to train to create a more harmonious coexistence in your house.
Health
As with most dwarf breeds, spinal injuries pose a huge risk. Since their bodies are quite long in comparison to their leg length, it can be easy to injure the spine when playing. As an owner, it’s vital that you pay close attention to any tenderness in the back or any signs of pain from your cat.
If you see any signs of potential back injuries, be sure to bring your cat straight to the veterinarian as a spine injury can be life-threatening. The only other health-related issue to pay close attention to is potential ear infections due to the curled ear.
Other than those two things, the Kinkalow is a small but mighty breed of cat, having very few health-related issues!
Physical Attributes Of The Kinkalow
It is no secret that these dwarf cats are incredibly cute and appealing; but, they are also very distinct in their look making them easy to identify from other feline breeds.
- Head: The head of the Kinkalow is shaped similarly to a tiger with a dropped, long snout in comparison to head size.
- Body: The Kinkalow has a long body in proportion to its leg length. Although, don’t get “long” mixed up with “large”, as these cats are small and slender.
- Ears: One of the most unique features of the Kinkalow is their curled ears. The kink in the ear makes for a unique look in this cat breed.
- Eyes: The Kinkalow has large rounded eyes as many dwarf cats do. With their small head size, their eyes are also positioned relatively close together.
- Legs and paws: The legs of a Kinkalow are extremely short for their body size, positioning them low to the ground; however, paw size is relatively proportional to the body.
- Tail: With long slender tails, some may think that the tail of the Kinkalow is too long in comparison to their body size! However, their sleek tails just add to the overall elegance of the cat.
- Coat: Kinkalows have medium hair length that is generally shiny and luxurious. Some may develop longer hair than others, but across the board, expect shedding.
- Color: The color of a Kinkalow can range majorly! Common colors include pure white, tabby, brown, or bicolor.
All in all, the Kinkalow is muscular and athletic in appearance, despite being smaller than your average cat breed.
Conclusion On The Kinkalow Cat Breed
This eye-catching, rare breed has become increasingly popular due to its dwarf-like features and stellar personality. The sought-after combination of playful and cuddly makes these cats incredibly endearing.
While they are not the most affordable kitten on the market, the Kinkalow cat breed makes a great addition to any household that has the right amount of love and affection to offer!