- Tonkinese Cat size: Medium-sized
- Classification: Short-haired cat
- Color: Close-fitting, short, fine, shiny, no undercoat. Lighter fur on the body, darker on the points (face, ears, legs, paws, tail)
- Body care: Several times a week with a brush or stroke with a moistened hand
- Character: Affectionate, agile, curious, capable of learning, people-oriented, demanding, loves to romp
- Tonkinese Cat Origin: USA
- Weight: 3 to 4 kilograms (female), 4 to 5 kilograms (male)
- Eyes: Sky blue, aquamarine or yellow-green
- Life expectancy: 15 to 20 years
Origin and History of the Tonkinese Cat
The history of the Tonkinese cat goes back to the 14th century. In old manuscripts there are drawings of cats that look very similar to today’s Tonkinese. When the first Siamese cats came to Great Britain at the end of the 18th century, there were probably Tonkinese among them. But their road to popularity only began in 1930, when the American ship’s doctor Joseph C. Thompson brought a cat back home that he had discovered in Rangoon, Myanmar. He noticed the unusual coat coloring, brown with dark markings on the ears, face, legs and tail. He then mated Wong Mau, as he called her, with a Siamese tomcat, because he assumed that it was a Siamese cat. What he got, however, was a mixed bag of kittens. There were lighter ones with Siamese markings like the father’s and darker ones that looked like the mother. In further breeding attempts, kittens were born in three color types: solid/Burmese, point/Siamese and mink. The latter received the least attention at first.
It was not until the 1960s that two breeders from Canada and the USA began to cross Burmese with Siamese, and the kittens were born with brown fur and dark markings. Because the color was reminiscent of mink, it was given the name Mink. This is how the name for the Tonkinese’s coat pattern came about. In 1965, a Canadian breeding association recognized the Tonkinese as an independent breed, although many US and European associations still do not recognize it. However, this does not detract from its popularity, especially on the North American continent.
General Appearance
The Tonkinese’s body is muscular, but at the same time supple and elegant. Its hind legs are slightly longer than its front legs. It has short, silky fur that lies close to its body. Its tail is slender and long with a rounded tip.
Their ears, which stand on the sides of their heads, optically lengthen the wedge shape of the head. The large, widely spaced and almost almond-shaped eyes shine in sky blue, aquamarine or yellow-green. The eye colour depends on the coat colour of the Tonkinese cat: It comes in the basic colours chocolate brown, purple, blue and natural, but also in red and cream as well as tabby and tortoiseshell variants. “Sepia” cats with Burmese markings are dark with a barely visible facial mask and yellowish-green eyes. Light cats with a dark face and deep blue eyes are called “point” with Siamese markings. In these cats, the contrast between the coat colour on the body and that of the points is the strongest. Tonkinese, in which the points are darker than the body colour but blend seamlessly into the rest of the coat colour, have aquamarine-coloured eyes and are classified as the “mink” colour type.
Character of the Tonkinese
The Tonkinese carries the genes of Siamese and Burmese cats . Like the Siamese, it enjoys dialogue with its owners, although its sounds are not quite as loud. It loves being the center of attention and you can never give it enough attention. It is a lively companion and loves to play and romp around. Thanks to its cleverness, you can even teach it little tricks, and intelligence games also keep it entertained.
She feels most comfortable near you. If she can also sit on your shoulder and watch everything you do, then her happiness is complete. This cat knows exactly how to wrap you around her paw!
The Tonkinese cat is considered – like the Burmese – to be an adventurous, not easily frightened cat. Therefore, you can get it used to walking on a leash, go on excursions with it or even travel with it.
Keeping and caring for the Tonkinese
A Tonkinese cat needs variety. It is demanding and not necessarily suitable for inexperienced owners. If you leave it alone too much, it may make “visual changes” to your home. It is therefore important that this cat lives with at least one other cat. If these two are similar in character and temperament, the Tonkinese will prove to be a roommate that will bring you a lot of joy. Since it is not very fearful, it gets along well in families with children. It also generally gets on well with dogs.
If she lives in a cat-friendly apartment, she will be happy there, although she is also very open to going outside. Long walks on a leash can also please her. This cat is a bundle of energy and needs a lot of exercise and variety to relax and enjoy cuddles. If you want to adopt a Tonkinese cat, you must be prepared to devote a lot of time to her and offer her a variety of adventures, games and climbing opportunities.
The Tonkinese takes care of its own fur. However, it does not disdain regular brushing with a soft brush or extensive stroking with a slightly moistened hand – it is assured of your undivided interest in these moments.
Special Features and Health
The Tonkinese is one of the healthiest cat breeds. Breed-specific diseases or deformities rarely occur in them. In addition, thanks to their close-fitting coat and lack of undercoat, they only shed a moderate amount of hair.
My friend has a Tonkinese Cat. It can run fastly.