Kinkalow Cat Breeders and Information

Welcome to our Kinkalow Cats page! Here you will find everything you could ever want to know about Kinkalow cats and a complete list of all the Kinkalow catteries we have located in the USA.

The Kinkalow is a new cat breed not recognized yet by any cat fancy associations in the United States or abroad. However, its short stature and curled ears have endeared this little kitty to many cat lovers since the breed’s inception in the 1990’s.

Kinkalow Cat Breeders Near You

Kinkalow

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Kinkalow Cat Breed Information

General Information:

Height/Length: 7-8 in.

Weight: 3-7 lbs.

Lifespan: 12-15 years

Coloring: Any

Area of Origin: United States

Similar Breeds: Munchkin, Napoleon, American Curl, Highlander

Breed History and Origins:

Cat breeder Terri Harris wondered what would happen if she took one of her Munchkins and bred it to an American Curl. The result was a cat with short legs, like the Munchkin, and ears that curled back like the American Curl. She and other lovers of dwarf breeds developed the Kinkalow throughout the 1990s, and it finally gained recognition as an experimental breed by The International Cat Association in 1997. Harris named one of the original kittens Kinkalow Louie, which is presumably where the name for the breed originated. It may also be assumed that the name refers to the “kink” in their ears and the fact that they are “low” to the ground.

The Kinkalow is currently an experimental domestic hybrid breed—that is, it is not recognized by any national or international cat fancy associations, and it is still in a period of breeding in which its characteristics are being stabilized. Any information about this breed, particularly about its personality, lifespan, and genetic health, is still in flux and may vary depending on the individual cat.

Size and Physical Characteristics:

Kinkalow breeder The Kinkalow has a very unique appearance—it combines the kitten-like appearance of the Munchkin with the unique ears of the American Curl. These cats are short—only about 7 inches tall (approximately 18 cm) due to their dwarfed legs. Other than their legs, the cats have a medium build, with a longish, semi-exotic body. Their chests should be well-rounded and their stout legs set evenly apart. The front legs of a Kinkalow are often shorter than their back legs. Although they have firm muscles, Kinkalows should not appear bulky. Their tails are often longer than their bodies. The Kinkalow is known for its soft fur, which can be either short hair or long hair. Their coats come in a variety of shades and patterns, and in exotic combinations thereof.

The Kinkalow’s ears are another important part of their composition. The curled ears should be placed evenly apart on the head and curve backward to an angle between 90 and 180 degrees from the head. When alert, the tips of the ears should point to the skull’s center. Kinkalow kittens are born with straight ears, but they begin curling within a week of their birth. As the kittens grow, the ears change, settling into their final curl by about five months of age. These ears are made of a firm, stiff cartilage that can be very delicate.

Personality and Temperament:

While maintaining the small, kittenlike stature of their Munchkin roots, the Kinkalow also inherited the American Curl’s “Peter Pan” personality. This means that they are a sweet and playful breed, always ready to lounge in a lap or to play a game of fetch. They can retain their kittenish playfulness well into old age, and their low to the ground stature does not prevent a Kinkalow from keeping up with other playful pets. Indeed, you will often find these short cats perched in surprisingly high places—the top of a desk, for example, or a kitchen counter. Kinkalows make good companions for humans of all ages, as well as both experienced and first-time cat owners. They are not incredibly vocal cats, but they will voice their needs when they are hungry or need attention.

Advantages	Challenges
Playful	Not recognized by any official cat fancy associations
Not prone to overeating	Curled ears are delicate
Need little grooming	Ears are sometimes prone to infection
Few health issues
Kitten-like personality through adulthood
Not very vocal

Nutritional and Exercise Needs:

The Kinkalow is easy to feed—they have no special dietary restrictions, and they are not particularly prone to overeating. Still, it is always important to monitor the amount of food given to a pet, keeping the amount of food appropriate to the animal’s size and age. The Kinkalow is a very active cat, and they love cat trees, mouse toys, and puzzle toys. A Kinkalow owner should expect to play with their pet at least a few times a day.

Grooming and Upkeep:

Kinkalow grooming Kinkalows need very little grooming. Their coats need at least a weekly brushing—more often if it’s a longhaired cat—to keep the fur from tangling and to help clean out the undercoat. Regular upkeep is also necessary—that is, keeping the cat’s ears cleaned, teeth brushed, and claws trimmed. Ear care is particularly important in these curl-eared cats, since their cartilage is delicate. Forcing the ear to bend or fold a certain way can permanently damage the ear. All grooming activities ought to be introduced to kittens from a young age, so that they will be accustomed to the rituals by the time they are adults.

Health and Wellness:

The Kinkalow’s short legs are the result of a mutated gene which affects the production of cartilage in the joints. This mutation does not affect the cat’s health. Unlike dwarf dog breeds (e.g., Corgis, Basset Hounds, or Dachshunds), these cats do not seem to have back and joint problems. Some kittens may be born with feet that curve backward, but this is not an alarming sign. These feet will straighten out as the kitten grows older. Because of their smaller size, it is best to keep a Kinkalow indoors, so that it is protected from cars, unfriendly animals, and other dangers.

Similarly, the curved ears are not a detriment to the cat’s health, although some lines may have narrowed ear canals. This can lead to infections or earwax buildup, but both of these can be relieved by frequent cleaning with a vet-recommended cleaner.

3 Interesting Facts about the Kinkalow:

Both the Kinkalow’s short legs and curled ears are the result of spontaneous genetic mutations. Each of these traits have been systematically bred into different cat breeds since the late 20^th century.
The Kinkalow is a member of a growing trend to miniaturize cats by crossing them with the Munchkin breed. Other breeds like this include the Napoleon, which is a miniaturized Persian, and the Dwelf, which is a miniaturized Sphynx.
Not all Kinkalow kittens are born with both short legs and curled ears. Since dwarfism is a recessive trait, two short-legged cats have a 25% chance of producing one in their litter. The curled ears are a dominant trait, but two curl-eared cats could have as low as a 75% chance of producing similar kittens. Some Kinkalows, then, are born with both average height and normal ears!