Kinkajous protect themselves from their dense fur to repel mosquitoes and bees, screeching to warn others or scare predators, clawing their sharp nails, and by biting with their sharp teeth.
The first is through their short and dense fur. Because they live in the jungle, their fur helps them keep warm during the cooler nights. Yet they have nude palms and thinner fur on their bellies that they can expose when they grow too hot.
Their dense fur also helps them stay protected from bee stings. This is essential for a kinkajou since it loves to eat nectar and honey from flowers and hives.
Another method for its protection is its vocalizations. Should they notice danger around, they’ll start to loudly screech to warn each other or to scare off the attacker.
Because many predators are awake during the day, kinkajous have evolved to be nocturnal. By being awake during the night, they’re less prone to encountering predators stalking the floors and trees of the jungle. Their eyes allow them to see clearly in the night, spotting danger quickly.
If they are taken up by a predator, then the kinkajou will cling to the predator with all four paws. These paws have sharp nails that can pierce the predator’s flesh and make it uncomfortable for them to take the kinkajou down. While holding into the predator, the kinkajou will bite down with its sharp teeth. Because they’re carnivores, even though they eat mostly fruit and nectar, they have sharp teeth that can be used to eat insects, eggs, and other small animals.
Those teeth can bite into the predator and make them think twice about attacking the kinkajou.
Signs That A Kinkajou Feels Scared
If your kinkajou starts to feel frightened, then the situation may quickly escalate. Their bites and scratches can hurt. One of the first signs the kinkajou may show is by vocalizing. Females, in particular, are notorious for being loud. However, males will screech or cry out, too.
This is typically done when they’re warning others that danger is near or when they’re trying to scare something away.
Another sign is if they try to hide. Kinkajous will try to climb away or burrow away in the presence of danger. This can prove difficult because it may get somewhere that you can’t easily extract it from. Because of their long claws, they may end up digging a hole into your cushion and burrowing in there.
They may also perch on you. In order to get away from the danger that’s threatening them, they may climb up your shoulder to perch and watch the danger. This isn’t too problematic if you’re already wearing something to protect you from their claws. Otherwise, you’re likely going to feel very uncomfortable when they sink their claws into your shirt and skin to balance themselves.
One final sign is if a kinkajou continuously marks an area. To communicate territories to one another, kinkajous mark territories with their scent glands. If your kinkajous are marking its territory continuously, then it likely feels threatened in some way.
How To Calm Your Kinkajou
If you start to notice the signs that your kinkajou is frightened, then here are a few steps you can take to help keep it calm.
1. Offer a Safe Burrowing Place
Because kinkajous feel safe in tight areas, you may want to create an area for them. This might be a storage crate with a few holes cut into it to allow them to slip into it. Or you may just let them destroy a cushion and place it in their habitat for them to burrow into for safety.
Once the threat passes, the kinkajou will feel safe to leave the area.
2. Distract with Treats
Another way to calm your kinkajou is to keep them distracted with special treats. If you find a treat that your kinkajou particularly enjoys, then you should put it aside and use it only for situations when it’s need direly. When your kinkajou starts to feel afraid, then pull out the treats and help them feel more comfortable by leading them out of the area where the threat is located.
Just be careful that you’re not reinforcing bad behavior. If your kinkajou starts to act up because they know they’re going to get their favorite treat, then it may be time to change your tactics.
3. Remove the Kinkajou From the Area
If you can get the kinkajou to wrap around you, then you can take them out of the area where the threat is located.
4. Keep Them Stimulated
Sometimes your kinkajou may be acting out because they’re bored or understimulated. You can help keep them calm by introducing lots of toys and new furniture for them to climb and play with. They’ll exhaust themselves playing and won’t have the energy to act out.
Are Kinkajous Poisonous?
Kinkajous are not poisonous in that they do not contain venom or a toxin in their bodies. However, they are capable of carrying diseases that can be problematic for humans should they transfer over.
Are Kinkajous Safe As Pets?
While kinkajous may seem cute and cuddly, they’re still quite wild. Because they’re an exotic pet, they haven’t had the kind of generational domestication like cats and dogs. This can make controlling and owning one difficult.
They’re also quite dangerous. They have long claws that can easily scratch through the skin. Their teeth, however, are the most dangerous features about them. Kinkajou teeth are similar to a cat’s fangs. They’re long and extremely sharp. They’re designed to puncture through the skin and grip with extremely strong jaws.
Kinkajous have been known to send their owners to the hospitals to get stitches.
Sometimes they may bite or claw because they’re aggressive or because they’re playing around.
Kinkajous can also spread diseases through their bites and claws. Those diseases are transferrable to humans.
Because some families have a small child with their kinkajou, bites and scratches can severely injure a young child or baby. You need to be ready to deal with the challenges they offer.
