by Stefani Andrews

Created on: May 22, 2011   Last Updated: May 23, 2011

The guide to knowing how to pick a rare breed cat is knowing first how a rare breed is defined and then secondly to know what other breeds the cats originate from. A rare breed of cat is defined as one that is generally not recognized by any of the cat registration institutions and is usually a hybrid of other recognized breeds of cat. Sometimes these breeds are then recognized but because of their exclusivity are still highly prized and rare. It is very important that anyone considering buying a rare cat breed understands what the lineage of the animal is. For example, some breeds of cat have a temperament that may not create very friendly offspring if paired with the temperament of another breed but they may be awfully cute as a fluffy little kitten. Some breeds of cat have congenital defects or illnesses that the kitten may inherit though it is not a congenital defect of the rare breed by itself. 

Very highly prized on the list of rare cat breeds is the Kinkalow. This breed of cat was once considered a hybrid as a cross between the American Curl and the Munchkin, which are both rarer breeds as well. Lately, the Kinkalow has started to gain more acceptance as a breed unto itself. Kinkalows are a dwarf cat meaning its body is an average length and weight but the legs are shortened. However, the gene for this dwarfism is not a dominant trait so there is some variation in the length of the legs of the kittens, even within the same litter. Long legged Kinkalows are usually sold as pet animals and not used in further breeding programs to try and make the dwarf trait a more prevalent trait in the breed. Another distinctive feature of the Kinkalow is the curled ears, which are inherited from the American Curl from which this breed was originally spawned. Kittens are born with straight ears which will begin to curl within a few weeks of birth. While both the American Curl and the Munchkin have some health problems as a breed, the Kinkalow seems to be a breed that is generally in good health and free of most congenital defects or diseases. 

The American Wirehair is a breed that was first introduced in 1966 and developed as a spontaneous mutation in an established cat breed. The first breeder was a breeder of Rex breed cats and ended up with one little kitten that looked scruffy and out of place and recognized that this could be the beginning

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