The Kinkalow cat is an eye-catching, rare breed of cat that originated in the United States. Known for it’s energy and playfulness the Kinkalow breed is a hybrid of the Munchkin and the American Curl – and has inherited both cat breed’s most defining characteristics.
Kinkalow Breed Characteristics
Size: Small, 3 to 7 lbs
Energy Level: 4/5 (with bursts of activity)
Talkative: 2/5
Coat: Short to long, fairly smooth and sleek, in any color or pattern.
Hypoallergenic: No
Child Friendly: Yes
Personality Snapshot: The Kinkalow cat is playful yet relaxed, fairly calm but curious, loves being around humans, enjoys clambering up into high places, social – gets along with almost everyone including cats and dogs.
Kinkalow Looks
The Kinkalow inherits its dwarf status including very short legs from the Munchkin. The Kinkalow is one of the smallest cat breeds, weighing just around half as much as other breeds. Even well into adulthood, they can easily be mistaken as a kitten due to the pint-sized physique.
The Kinkalow frame is so small, that the tail is typically longer than the body! The breed inherited the curled ears from the the American Curl.
Kinkalow Personality
What the cat lacks in size, is well made up for in playfulness. The Kinkalow gets bursts of energy, known for zipping in and around the home chasing anything that catches their attention or trying to engage humans in a game or two. Yes, the breed is known for playing fetch.
The Kinkalow breed has a penchant for toys, cat lasers and poles with feathers tied at the end, this will engage them hours. They also like scaling high spots in the house, the short legs are no obstacle for them.
The Kinkalow cat can be easily reared by all fanciers. In fact, the breed is one of the best picks for new cat owners, excellent breed health, easy going social nature, no special diets, no grooming requirements.
They’re also a great choice for parents with younger kids and older cat lovers looking for a laid-back companion feline.
Kinkalow Breed Roots
The breed began to take root in the mid-1990’s when a cat breeder from the United States by the name of Terri Harris deliberately paired two types of felines she loved, particularly a Munchkin cat and an American Curl, just to see what kind of kittens will be produced.
Much to her amazement, the kittens that resulted from the experimental breeding program she set up turned out the way she’d hoped them to be. Apart from inheriting the Munchkin’s shortened legs and longish physique, they also got the American Curl’s characteristic curled ears.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much information about what happened next in terms of breed development or if Terri Harris continued to refine the litters she produced in the months that followed. What I can tell you though is that we’ve been granted an Experimental Breed status by The International Cat Association (TICA) and are also recognized by The Dwarf Cat Association (TDCA).
How To Keep a Kinkalow Happy And Healthy
Interestingly, Kinkalow cats are considered one of the healthiest feline breeds in the world of cat fancy, likely inherited from the American Curl side of the family. Besides not being as vulnerable to kidney and heart issues compared to other cats, they’re also not as prone to genetic defects.
The Kinkalow needs a meticulous brushing at least every week to keep the coat looking well.
