Kinkajous - Pet Kinkajous
The kinkajou is a nocturnal rainforest mammal that lives in trees and are able to grasp trees with their prehensile tails. Kinkajous come from the rainforests of South America (the northern part), Mexico, and Central America. They are related to the North American raccoon, red pandas, coatamundi and other animals from the procyonid family. (Link for the pet raccoon and coatamundi will be listed toward bottom of page). The pet kinkajous can be a very sweet animal. They are also known as the honey bear.
They have a very docile and friendly personality for a procyonid. They can get aggressive if not spayed or neutered. They are capable of biting. Remember they are nocturnal, don't insist on waking a kinkajous. Plan your play and activity period for when they are awake. There is little worst than a upset procyonid. They can also get aggressive and bite if you don't spend a couple of hours a day with them. They are not an animal to ignore, they are a high maintenance pet.
Use your head when approaching these animals. If you have the scent of strange dogs stay away from them. and anything else of this order in your behavior, it will make them nervous and upset and even possibly nip.
You never yell at or hit a procyonid - ever. You spend months and years building a loving a trusting relationship. They can be a challenge and if given an opportunity be plenty destructive. They are very intelligent animals. They key, lots of loving attention and keep them engaged, busy, and plenty of exploration during their awake period - nocturnal. These animals need plenty of room in their kinkajou cage.
They do live a relatively long life of 20-24 years (average they have been known to live a long life) in captivity. They may outlive you, look for kinkajous for adoption.
They are not a overly large animal about the size of a small cat 3-8 pounds or 1.36 kilograms to 3.63 kilograms.
Health and vaccinations
Find a veterinarian familiar with kinkajous is critical before you consider acquiring one. There are several vaccinations that are essential even including one that is a vaccination for a bacteria that can be contagious to people and dogs for that matter. If you want a kinkajous and also have a dog, please discuss the Leptospirosis vaccination with your veterinarian. The vet may suggest giving the vaccination to the dog as well.
The kinkajous will also need a combination canine distemper/ parvovirus/ hepatitis series with boosters, rabies vaccinations with boosters, and feline panleukopenia with boosters.
Kinkajous can also have internal parasites including a round word called baylisascaris. Baylisascaris is also called the raccoon roundworm. It is highly contagious to humans and can cause serious damage. Raccoon roundworm article at bottom of article.
Procyonids can also get salmonella stay away from fresh meats, mice, rats, and other prey.
They can also get severe dental problems because of their soft diet. Stay on top of their teeth by having regular physical and dental check-ups with your veterinarian.
Kinkajous can get quite aggressive with sexual maturity. They can bite. They should be spayed or neutered before they reach sexual maturity. Males will reach sexual maturity around 1 1/2 years (18 months) and females around 2 1/2 years (30 months). They should not be fixed too early on account of health risks but don't wait too late. Plan accordingly with your veterinarian.
It is cruel to remove the claws from any animal of the procyonid family and this includes the kinkajous. They would be crippled and disfigured and it is nothing short of animal abuse. The same with removing any teeth.
The kinkajous mainly eat fruit but will supplement their natural diet with nectar, bark, insects and other proteins like eggs and vertebrates, along with flowers and some plants. However, they are primarily fruit eaters. one of their favorite foods is hibiscus flowers and leaves.
A diet for a kinkajou
Avoid citrus fruits, avocados, and strawberries though I doubt the strawberry allergy problem. Don't feed heavy sugary foods like honey.
Monkey biscuits work fine for a base diet anywhere from four to twelve depending on the size and age of the animal. Some of the biscuits can be soaked in fruit juice and offered throughout the day. Remove wet foods that haven't been eaten so that the animal doesn't become ill. Offer fruits and other fresh produce (papaya, mango, apricots, peaches, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes and other similar foods and dried fruit a few example dates, figs, dried papaya, apricots, and so forth should be offered throughout the day. They will get the majority of their protein from the monkey biscuits. They will love you forever if you are able to grow and provide hibiscus flowers and leaves. Make sure there is no chemicals or insecticides on these plants.
Enclosure for the Kinkajou - kinkajou cages
The enclosure for the kinkajou should be the size of a small room with considerable height. They will need climbing branches, and vertical shelves. Supply a hidey box. (To feel safe in the wild they will hide in hollow spots in trees; dead trunks/branches)If you can't keep them in a suitable enclosure don't get one. You will need to spend considerable time socializing with the kinkajou. Keep the enclosure clean. Make sure they always have plenty of fresh filtered water.
Remember they have very sharp claws and plastic water bottles don't survive those claws. Use heavy crocks that are firmly attached. They do enjoy playing in water so expect to change the water frequently. Many of these animals love to swim.
They will need plenty of toys rotated frequently. Bring in a somewhat shallow tub of water to play in. Hide toys in tubs with leaves or mulch hiding the toys. The kinkajou need to be kept busy to avoid behavioral problems. They will grow bored easily and it is your job to keep the busy with plenty to do. Keep the kinkajous busy with containers holding hidden food. Give them plenty of opportunities to explore.
Many procyonid can learn to use a litter box including the coati and the raccoon. However, the kinkajou usually doesn't learn to use the litter box. If you choose to have the enclosure inside it is up to you to keep it clean, the kinkajou has no interest in cleaning.
The species is from a warmer climate and you can't expect to keep it outside without warmth and protection from the elements. Use a safe heat source.
To find kinkajou breeders and kinkajous for sale try the different classified sites under pets. Be very weary of who you buy from. Don't forget to look for exotic pets for adoption or kinkajous for adoption. They do live a long lifespan and you may have a delightful surprise.
To find many exotic animals try exoticanimalsforsale.net. There is one kinkajous listed for sale as of this writing.
exoticanimalsforsale.net
Kinkajous pictures or kinkajou images
kinkajou images
***Raccoon roundworm
***Raccoons - How to Care for the Pet Raccoon
***Coatamundi - How to Care for the Pet Coatamundi
***Kinkajous - Pet Kinkajous
Join Exotic Pets Bellaonline on Facebook - be sure to click the "like" Exotic Pets Facebook
Exotic Pets @ Twitter
Kinkajous (Nocturnal Animals)
They have a very docile and friendly personality for a procyonid. They can get aggressive if not spayed or neutered. They are capable of biting. Remember they are nocturnal, don't insist on waking a kinkajous. Plan your play and activity period for when they are awake. There is little worst than a upset procyonid. They can also get aggressive and bite if you don't spend a couple of hours a day with them. They are not an animal to ignore, they are a high maintenance pet.
Use your head when approaching these animals. If you have the scent of strange dogs stay away from them. and anything else of this order in your behavior, it will make them nervous and upset and even possibly nip.
You never yell at or hit a procyonid - ever. You spend months and years building a loving a trusting relationship. They can be a challenge and if given an opportunity be plenty destructive. They are very intelligent animals. They key, lots of loving attention and keep them engaged, busy, and plenty of exploration during their awake period - nocturnal. These animals need plenty of room in their kinkajou cage.
They do live a relatively long life of 20-24 years (average they have been known to live a long life) in captivity. They may outlive you, look for kinkajous for adoption.
They are not a overly large animal about the size of a small cat 3-8 pounds or 1.36 kilograms to 3.63 kilograms.
Health and vaccinations
Find a veterinarian familiar with kinkajous is critical before you consider acquiring one. There are several vaccinations that are essential even including one that is a vaccination for a bacteria that can be contagious to people and dogs for that matter. If you want a kinkajous and also have a dog, please discuss the Leptospirosis vaccination with your veterinarian. The vet may suggest giving the vaccination to the dog as well.
The kinkajous will also need a combination canine distemper/ parvovirus/ hepatitis series with boosters, rabies vaccinations with boosters, and feline panleukopenia with boosters.
Kinkajous can also have internal parasites including a round word called baylisascaris. Baylisascaris is also called the raccoon roundworm. It is highly contagious to humans and can cause serious damage. Raccoon roundworm article at bottom of article.
Procyonids can also get salmonella stay away from fresh meats, mice, rats, and other prey.
They can also get severe dental problems because of their soft diet. Stay on top of their teeth by having regular physical and dental check-ups with your veterinarian.
Kinkajous can get quite aggressive with sexual maturity. They can bite. They should be spayed or neutered before they reach sexual maturity. Males will reach sexual maturity around 1 1/2 years (18 months) and females around 2 1/2 years (30 months). They should not be fixed too early on account of health risks but don't wait too late. Plan accordingly with your veterinarian.
It is cruel to remove the claws from any animal of the procyonid family and this includes the kinkajous. They would be crippled and disfigured and it is nothing short of animal abuse. The same with removing any teeth.
The kinkajous mainly eat fruit but will supplement their natural diet with nectar, bark, insects and other proteins like eggs and vertebrates, along with flowers and some plants. However, they are primarily fruit eaters. one of their favorite foods is hibiscus flowers and leaves.
A diet for a kinkajou
Avoid citrus fruits, avocados, and strawberries though I doubt the strawberry allergy problem. Don't feed heavy sugary foods like honey.
Monkey biscuits work fine for a base diet anywhere from four to twelve depending on the size and age of the animal. Some of the biscuits can be soaked in fruit juice and offered throughout the day. Remove wet foods that haven't been eaten so that the animal doesn't become ill. Offer fruits and other fresh produce (papaya, mango, apricots, peaches, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes and other similar foods and dried fruit a few example dates, figs, dried papaya, apricots, and so forth should be offered throughout the day. They will get the majority of their protein from the monkey biscuits. They will love you forever if you are able to grow and provide hibiscus flowers and leaves. Make sure there is no chemicals or insecticides on these plants.
Enclosure for the Kinkajou - kinkajou cages
The enclosure for the kinkajou should be the size of a small room with considerable height. They will need climbing branches, and vertical shelves. Supply a hidey box. (To feel safe in the wild they will hide in hollow spots in trees; dead trunks/branches)If you can't keep them in a suitable enclosure don't get one. You will need to spend considerable time socializing with the kinkajou. Keep the enclosure clean. Make sure they always have plenty of fresh filtered water.
Remember they have very sharp claws and plastic water bottles don't survive those claws. Use heavy crocks that are firmly attached. They do enjoy playing in water so expect to change the water frequently. Many of these animals love to swim.
They will need plenty of toys rotated frequently. Bring in a somewhat shallow tub of water to play in. Hide toys in tubs with leaves or mulch hiding the toys. The kinkajou need to be kept busy to avoid behavioral problems. They will grow bored easily and it is your job to keep the busy with plenty to do. Keep the kinkajous busy with containers holding hidden food. Give them plenty of opportunities to explore.
Many procyonid can learn to use a litter box including the coati and the raccoon. However, the kinkajou usually doesn't learn to use the litter box. If you choose to have the enclosure inside it is up to you to keep it clean, the kinkajou has no interest in cleaning.
The species is from a warmer climate and you can't expect to keep it outside without warmth and protection from the elements. Use a safe heat source.
To find kinkajou breeders and kinkajous for sale try the different classified sites under pets. Be very weary of who you buy from. Don't forget to look for exotic pets for adoption or kinkajous for adoption. They do live a long lifespan and you may have a delightful surprise.
To find many exotic animals try exoticanimalsforsale.net. There is one kinkajous listed for sale as of this writing.
exoticanimalsforsale.net
Kinkajous pictures or kinkajou images
kinkajou images
***Raccoon roundworm
***Raccoons - How to Care for the Pet Raccoon
***Coatamundi - How to Care for the Pet Coatamundi
***Kinkajous - Pet Kinkajous
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Kinkajous (Nocturnal Animals)
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