Considering an exotic pet can be exciting, and the kinkajou, with its playful demeanor and sweet tooth, might seem like an intriguing choice. However, before you jump into kinkajou ownership, it’s crucial to understand the realities. Often perceived as cuddly companions, kinkajous are far more demanding and less domesticated than many realize. In fact, a staggering 10-15% of kinkajous are rehomed multiple times throughout their lives, highlighting the gap between expectation and reality.
While research and hands-on experience are vital for any exotic pet, they are especially critical for kinkajous. Before you get swept away by the charm of these nocturnal creatures, let’s delve into some essential information that strongly suggests kinkajous are not suitable pets for most people. This isn’t to say they aren’t fascinating animals, but rather to emphasize that their needs and behaviors are often incompatible with the average pet owner’s lifestyle and capabilities.
Think carefully about the following points. Our professional advice, based on years of experience, is to reconsider bringing a kinkajou into your home. You are unlikely to be the exception to the rule. The initial allure of a kinkajou quickly fades for many as the challenges of ownership become apparent around 18 months of age – and often sooner if the animal is not spayed or neutered. The heartbreaking cycle of rehoming is a testament to this. Don’t contribute to this cycle. Be informed and make a responsible decision.
Here are 21 critical considerations before getting a Kinkajou Pet:
-
High Cost of Ownership: The initial purchase price for a captive-bred baby kinkajou typically ranges from $2500 to $3500. For your first kinkajou, sourcing from a reputable USDA-licensed breeder or broker is strongly advised. Avoid “rescues” or “rehomes” as these animals often come with complex behavioral issues that are incredibly difficult to manage. Exotic pet stores should also be approached with caution as their primary motive is profit. Spaying or neutering is essential for a pet kinkajou, adding to the initial costs. Veterinary care, including routine check-ups and vaccinations, is also necessary and can be expensive, with emergency visits easily exceeding $1000. Their diet, primarily consisting of fresh fruit, is significantly more expensive than typical pet food. Furthermore, specialized housing with ample space and enrichment is a significant investment. Be prepared for potential property damage as kinkajous can be destructive, leading to costs for household repairs and replacing damaged items.
-
Specialized Veterinary Care is Essential: Before even considering purchasing a kinkajou, confirm that there is a veterinarian in your area experienced with exotic animals, specifically kinkajous. Research the costs of veterinary services beforehand. As mentioned, spaying or neutering is a must for pet kinkajous, and regular check-ups are crucial. Emergency veterinary care can be prohibitively expensive, and many emergency vets are not equipped to handle exotic animals after hours. Ensure these ongoing and potential emergency costs fit comfortably within your budget.
-
Demanding Housing Requirements: While minimum state requirements like Florida’s 6x6x8 enclosure might exist, they are far from adequate. Kinkajous are highly energetic and require substantial space to thrive. An enclosure of at least 10x8x10 feet is recommended for a single kinkajou, but even this should be considered a minimum. They also require significant “out-of-enclosure” time in a safe, enriched environment to satisfy their activity levels and curiosity.
-
Nocturnal Nature and Lifestyle Incompatibility: Kinkajous are naturally nocturnal animals. Attempting to reverse their sleep schedule is generally unsuccessful. They are awake and active throughout the night, typically becoming active around 8 p.m. and remaining so until sunrise. If you seek a pet that aligns with a diurnal schedule, a kinkajou is not the right choice. Owning a kinkajou requires dedicating several hours each night to their interaction and activity needs. They can also be quite vocal at night, which can be disruptive.
-
Intelligence and Destructive Potential: Kinkajous possess remarkable intelligence, often compared to a 3-year-old child, and possibly even higher. They are incredibly adept at problem-solving and exploration. Baby-proofing your home is essential as they will explore every nook and cranny, including cabinets, closets, shelves, and even walls. They can learn to open doors, including sliding glass doors, and some can even manipulate door knobs. This intelligence necessitates constant enrichment through new activities, furniture, and food items to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors. Staying one step ahead of their inquisitive nature is a continuous challenge.
-
Strong-Willed and Difficult to Control: Kinkajous are incredibly strong-willed animals. The concept of “no” is often foreign to them. They are persistent in pursuing what they want and are notorious for fixating on forbidden items. Retrieving an object once they have claimed it can be extremely difficult, and they are skilled thieves. Their determination to access restricted areas is relentless. Redirection can be ineffective, leading to vocalizations and biting behavior. Establishing mutual respect is crucial. Discipline is ineffective and detrimental to your relationship. Redirection and positive reinforcement training are better approaches but require significant time and consistency.
-
Severe Bites: A Matter of When, Not If: Kinkajou bites are notoriously bad. Despite how well-raised a kinkajou may be, biting incidents due to defense, frustration, or unpredictable triggers are common. Spaying or neutering is paramount to mitigate hormonally driven aggression. However, age, diet, inadequate enclosure, lack of enrichment, relocation stress, and overstimulation can also contribute to biting. Kinkajou bites are not minor nips; they are often severe and traumatic. They are deep puncture wounds capable of tearing through skin, muscle, and even reaching bone, often resulting in nerve damage and infection. Kinkajous may latch and lock their jaws or bite repeatedly. These bites are painful and can be psychologically distressing. It’s not a question of if a kinkajou will bite, but when. You must be prepared to love and care for your kinkajou unconditionally even after being bitten and make necessary adjustments if you can no longer manage their behavior.
A kinkajou in its natural arboreal habitat. Understanding their wild instincts is crucial before considering them as pets.
-
Specialized and Balanced Diet: Maintaining a proper diet is critical for kinkajou health. They are prone to obesity and diabetes if fed incorrectly. Their diet should consist of approximately 80% fruits and vegetables and 20% protein and other components. Providing a varied and balanced diet is essential, requiring careful planning and expense. Consult reliable resources for detailed kinkajou diet information.
-
Long Lifespan: A Decades-Long Commitment: Kinkajous have a remarkably long lifespan, averaging 20-25 years in captivity, with some documented to live up to 40 years. This is a significant, long-term commitment, often exceeding the lifespan of common pets like dogs or cats. Consider if you are prepared to provide for a kinkajou’s needs for potentially decades.
-
Social Needs and Attention Demands: Kinkajous are social animals, often enjoying the company of other pets (with careful introductions and excluding small animals), people, and other kinkajous. However, interactions between adult kinkajous and children are strongly discouraged due to safety concerns. Kinkajous require significant attention and interaction. Even more “aggressive” individuals may still seek interaction in the form of vocalizations or observation. If you travel frequently or work long hours, a kinkajou may not be suitable as they thrive on consistent interaction and can bond strongly with one or two individuals. While some may be more independent, they cannot be expected to behave like fully domesticated animals. “Social” for a kinkajou does not necessarily mean constant cuddling; they are often content being in proximity to their chosen companions while pursuing their own activities.
-
Grooming Requirements: Kinkajous require regular grooming. They can be messy eaters and can accumulate food and waste in their fur. Their hands and feet often become soiled. They secrete a brown oily substance that requires attention. Regular baths are necessary, and getting them accustomed to bathing from a young age is beneficial. Baby wipes can be used for daily spot cleaning between baths. Nail growth is rapid, and nail trimming will be a frequent necessity to prevent scratches, which are an inevitable part of kinkajou ownership.
-
Destructive Behaviors and Property Damage: Destructive behavior is a hallmark of kinkajou ownership. They are notorious for damaging property. Constant renovations to kinkajou enclosures and rooms are often necessary as they learn to bypass barriers and access restricted areas. They may strip paint from walls, chew on furniture, relieve themselves outside designated areas, move furniture, and knock items over. The oils in their fur can stain walls and enclosures. They may chew on wires, shoes, technology, and other household items. Patching holes in walls from removed fixtures is a routine task. Be prepared for significant and ongoing property damage.
-
Daily and Deep Cleaning Demands: Maintaining hygiene is a significant commitment with kinkajous. Daily cleaning is mandatory, with weekly deep cleaning strongly recommended. They produce a considerable amount of waste, scatter their food, and deposit oily secretions. To ensure a healthy environment, cleaning needs to be a twice-daily practice, supplemented by weekly deep cleaning sessions.
-
Difficult to Litter Train: Animals in the procyonidae family, including kinkajous, are generally very difficult to litter train. As arboreal animals, they instinctively prefer to eliminate waste from elevated locations. Some owners manage to train them to use a specific perch, but consistency is challenging. Some kinkajous may even use their owners as a preferred perch for elimination as they feel secure with them. Their fast metabolism results in frequent defecation. Perfecting a litter training system remains a challenge for most owners.
-
Poor Travel Companions: Kinkajous do not travel well, making them unsuitable for individuals who travel frequently. Taking them on trips, even for errands, is generally not advisable and often illegal. Finding boarding facilities for kinkajous is extremely difficult, and veterinary boarding can be expensive. They typically do not adapt well to unfamiliar pet sitters. Limited specialized boarding options may exist in specific locations, such as Kinkatopia in South Florida, but these are exceptions.
-
Strict Routine Dependence: Kinkajous are highly sensitive to routine. Any deviation from their established schedule will be immediately noticed and can cause distress. For example, if their owner is typically home in the evenings but is unexpectedly late, they may exhibit signs of anxiety and engage in destructive behaviors. They develop strong expectations regarding feeding times, interaction schedules, and environmental consistency. These expectations quickly become needs. They are deeply reliant on their established routine, their people, and their environment. Interruptions to their routine can lead to significant distress and behavioral issues.
-
Selectivity in Social Interaction After Maturity: After reaching 1-1.5 years of age, kinkajous often become highly selective about who they interact with. Many owners find that their kinkajou becomes primarily comfortable only with family members or a very limited circle of individuals. They are generally not suitable “ambassador” animals for social gatherings, and interactions with strangers should be approached cautiously.
-
Legality of Ownership and Permit Requirements: Before acquiring a kinkajou, thoroughly research the legality of owning one in your specific state and region. Permit requirements vary significantly. Ensure you obtain all necessary permits and comply with local regulations to avoid legal repercussions and protect the animal’s welfare. Unlawful ownership puts the animal at risk of confiscation and potentially euthanasia.
-
Unsuitability for Households with Children: Kinkajous and children are generally a dangerous combination. Kinkajous often have short tempers, and children, by nature, are energetic and lack the boundaries necessary for safe interaction with an exotic animal. The risk of bites and scratches is significantly elevated in households with children. Do not risk the safety of children or the well-being of the kinkajou by attempting to keep them together. Your situation is unlikely to be “different.”
-
Potential for Unpredictable Aggression: It is a stark reality that a kinkajou may turn aggressive towards its owner without apparent reason. Owning a kinkajou is, to a degree, a gamble with a wild animal’s unpredictable nature. Even subtle changes can trigger a negative reaction. To reiterate: Bites are not a matter of IF, but WHEN. You must honestly assess your capacity to love and care for a kinkajou unconditionally, even after a bite incident, and be prepared to make necessary adjustments if their behavior becomes unmanageable.
-
High Energy Levels and Constant Activity: Kinkajous are inherently high-energy animals. Questions like “When will my kinkajou calm down?” or “Is it normal for them to be so hyper?” are common among new owners. The answer is that this is normal kinkajou behavior. They are consistently active and high-energy. If you cannot accommodate a perpetually moving, high-energy animal, a kinkajou is not the right pet for you.
This list represents a compilation of experiences and critical considerations regarding kinkajou ownership. They are not easy pets, and no exotic pet is. Successful ownership requires a significant commitment from the human, often involving substantial adjustments to lifestyle and expectations to meet the kinkajou’s needs. Despite being captive-bred, they retain their wild instincts. Before making a decision, it is strongly recommended to meet and interact with kinkajous firsthand, speak with experienced owners and experts, and critically evaluate the realities of ownership beyond social media portrayals, which often showcase only idealized glimpses of kinkajou life. While they are spectacular animals, acknowledging their limitations as “pets” is paramount. They are undeniably captivating as babies – seemingly gentle and interactive – but their nature changes dramatically beyond the first year. The scarcity of adult kinkajous in long-term homes speaks volumes about the challenges of their care. Make a responsible and informed decision to break the cycle of rehoming.
Consider these facts carefully and choose responsibly.
Please reach out if you have further questions or need additional information. We are here to help you make an informed decision.
