Beautiful soft colors characterize the luxurious coat of the Tonkinese, a cat with some of the best qualities of each of its parent breeds. The result of clever breeding, this lovely cat certainly justifies the effort made to create it. Did you know that the Tonkinese does not always breed true. Only about half of the kittens of two Tonkinese parents will be true to type, which is the reason it is not accepted by some British associations.
History
The only breed to originate in Canada, the Tonkinese was developed in the early 1960s by crossing a seal point Siamese and a sable Burmese. Feeling that Siamese show types were becoming too stylized and extreme for popular taste, the breeder hoped to create a cat with some of the qualities she liked best in each breed. She believed the Tonkinese, especially those with points and blue eyes, would appeal to people searching for a Siamese of the more old fashioned style.
A New York pet store owner had been working toward the same goal about ten years earlier. He had called his cats Golden Siamese and the Canadian strain took the same name until it was changed to Tonkinese. The Tonkinese was first accepted for championship competition by the Canadian cat association in 1965 and in the USA in 1972. It is now registered with all USA associations, but not in all colors and patterns. In Britain, only one association accepts the breed and it allows all the standard recognized Burmese colors. Other countries have yet to appreciate the qualities of the delightful animal.
Description
The ideal body shape is intermediate between the Siamese and Burmese, neither cobby nor svelte. It is medium sized with well developed muscles. The abdomen should be taut, well muscled and firm. The head is a modified wedge, somewhat longer than it is wide, with high, gently planed cheekbones. The muzzle is blunt and as long as it is wide. There is a slight whisker break and a slight stop at eye level. There is a gentle rise from the tip of the nose to the stop and a slight rise from the nose stop to the forehead. The nose leather should harmonize with the coat color.
The open, almond shaped eyes slant up along the cheekbones toward the outer edges of the ears. Their striking aquamarine to turquoise color is a definitive characteristic of the Tonkinese breed and is seen at its best in natural light. They are the result of combining the blue of the Siamese with the gold of the Burmese. The medium sized ears are covered with very short hair, and are broad at the base with oval tips. They are set as much on the sides of the head as on the top.
The legs are fairly slim and in proportion in length and boning to the body. The paws are more oval than round and the pads should harmonize with the coat color. The long tail tapers to a slender tip and should have no kinks.
The lustrous coat is medium short in length, fine and silky, and lies close to the body. In the mature animal, the body color should be rich, even and unmarked, shading to a lighter tone on the underparts of the body. There must be a distinct contrast between body color and points, which may darken with age. The points are densely marked on the mask, ears, feet and tail. An occasional combing to remove dead hair, a brush with a rubber brush and a rub over with a damp chamois is all that is needed to keep the coat in good condition.
Varieties
Some associations allow other colors, like Siamese (pointed, with blue eyes) or Burmese (solid colored, with golden eyes), but the Tonkinese comes in only these five colors for championship showing in the USA, either pointed or in solid colors:
Blue mink : the body is soft blur to blue gray; the points are slate blue, the nose leather and paw pads are blue gray.
Champagne mink : the body is soft, buff cream, the points are medium brown the nose leather and paw pads are cinnamon brown.
Honey mink : the body is golden cream, preferably with an apricot cast, the points are light to medium ruddy brown, the nose leather and paw pads are caramel pink.
Natural mink : the body is medium brown, the points are dark brown, the nose leather and paw pads are dark brown.
Platinum mink : the body is pale, silvery gray with warm overtones, the points are frosty gray, the nose leather and paw pads are lavender pink.
Temperament
Intelligent, lively and lovable, the Tonkinese is in every way a charmer, with the strong personality and curiosity of the Siamese evident. It dislikes being left alone for long periods of time and can be mischievous if bored or lonely. If you must be absent for hours at a time, consider acquiring two cats so they can keep each other company. Make sure your home is escape proof before you bring your Tonkinese home as it is adept at finding ways to get out. It is playful, affectionate, healthy, long lived and easy to look after, what more could you ask?
For those who regard the modern Siamese as rather rat like in its sleekness, and the American Burmese as too Persian and heavyweight, the Tonkinese is, perhaps, a compromise.
The breed is also seen as having the points of the Siamese but with a more softly contoured body and a less assertive nature.
Originally the result of a cross mating between Burmese and Siamese, the Tonkinese should not show too much of an inclination towards either of these foundation breeds, but a happy medium of the two, like this Lilac.
The Tonk is the product of mating Siamese and Burmese in America during the 1950s and the following two decades, although the type had occurred spontaneously for a long time. Such mixed parentage means no all Tonk litters. The offspring from a Tonkinese couplings is likely to be two Tonks, one Siamese, and one Burmese. The Tonkinese cat type displays the mingled characteristics of the two breeds, of medium build, it has a gently wedge shaped head rounded at the top, though slightly longer than that of the Siamese.
A blue Tonkinese has the required light aquamarine eyes. Siamese blue or Burmese chartreuse are considered faults.
Like the Burmese, there is an angle on its shortish nose, but it is not as pronouced. Tonkinese legs are slim but muscular, and its body is a perfect balance between the length of the Siamese and the tendency to stoutness of the Burmese. Ears are large with rounded tips.
The mixture of brown, red and cream in a brown tortie tonkinese needs to be well mingled and should darken at the points to meet the exacting standards set for the breed.
Coat color too, is a compromise – paler than Burmese but darker than Siamese. The cat has a calm temperament but with a streak of mischief and the welcome addition of hybrid vigour.
This Blue Tabby is a typical ecample of the Siamese ancestry being too obvious in its extended limbs and slim line. It may not win show prizes, but is nevertheless a beautiful animal. A blue tabby tonkinese has the preferred spectacle like rings around its eyes and spotted whisker pads. However, the M shape on hos forehead could be more distinct.
It is very important for the point color to be definitely darker than the main body color on mask, ears, legs and tail, but without any sharp color changes such as those seen in the Siamese. Underparts should be lighter than the upper body, which in turn should show gradation of tone rather than sudden changes.
The eye color of the Tonkinese is neither the startling amber not chartreuse green found in the Burmese, nor the deep sapphire of the Siamese. It can range from aquamarine blue to greenish blue ot bluish green. It may take some time for eye color to settle. Tonkinese generally mature slowly, reaching their final coloring and peak size at about two years of age.
Tonkinese Cat breed information
coat – short, close lying, fine, soft, silky with a lustrous sheen
eyes – almond shaped, slightly slanted, aquamarine
grooming - easy, regular, gentle brushing
temperament – equable, lively, inquisitive, relaxed, very friendly
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