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Tonkinese breed guide
The Cat Fanciers' Association calls the Tonkinese a happy medium: a cross of Siamese and Burmese meant to create the midpoint between the two, neither cobby like the Burmese nor svelte like the Siamese.
Eye color follows pattern: aqua in mink-patterned cats, green in solid cats and blue in pointed cats.
Temperament
Gregarious and outgoing, Tonkinese follow the principle that we were put on earth to love them, so they take over your lap or shoulder and supervise your activities. They get along well with dogs, other pets, children and guests and greet visitors at the door.
Very sensitive to moods, they may appear with a comforting purr after a bad day.
Personality
Excellent memories let them learn what you do not want quickly, though in Tonkinese thinking the word no means okay to do when Mom is at work. Enthusiastic owners describe them as part monkey and part elephant, the latter for a noisy gallop through the house.
They vocalize in complete sentences that need a prompt response and what they want is usually clear.
Care
Tonkinese are seasonal shedders. Grooming with a rubber brush two or three times a month keeps shedding to a minimum and conditions the silky coat and the flat side of the brush or a soft chamois accentuates the sheen.
Bathing is rarely needed unless the cat is shown.
Health
Tonkinese are genetically diverse and robust and breeders share health and genetic testing information and remove cats with issues from breeding programs. The only breed-specific concern is a tendency to gingivitis in older cats.
Getting a Tonkinese used to tooth brushing while young may prevent it and regular senior checkups should address dental issues.
History
Most Tonkinese descend from Wong Mau, also the Burmese foundation cat, who was eventually determined to be a natural mink Tonkinese. Bred to Siamese she produced kittens like herself, Siamese-marked kittens and solid brown ones; the solid browns founded the Burmese and the Wong Mau types produced more Tonkinese.
The breed was recognized first in Canada in 1960. CFA accepted it for registration in 1982. Mink-patterned cats reached championship in 1984 and pointed and solid colors joined them in 2002.