T he Tonkinese is a pedigreed breed of shorthair cat - classified as having a semi-foreign type, having been developed and derived from the breeds of Burmese and Siamese. The Tonkinese has proven to be a wonderful pet, and wins people over with the amazing temperaments that they freqently have.
The Tonkinese is a highly intelligent, active and interactive breed and requires a great deal of stimulation in comparison to many breeds. This page intends to provde an overview of the breed and all sections are expanded upon in other pages on this website.
So let's start from the beginning, with the Tonkinese Breed description;Both the Burmese and Siamese originated in the far east. The Tonkinese was subsequently developed by combining the two breeds, partially to express an intermediate form of what is known as the Himalayan pattern, ie; the pattern referred to as 'Mink'.
But the Tonkinese was also created to be of intermediate type, ie; a blend of the two divergent types (or builds) that the modern-day parental breeds exhibit.
A new Tonkinese bloodline can still be created through the mating of a Siamese to a Burmese, and the progeny of such a mating are referred to as a 1st. generation Tonkinese.
(for more detailed info; check out ... 'Breed History' page) Read more
Anniesong Eden (Chocolate-Mink) & Anniesong Avalon (Lilac-Point)
The bodytype is balanced between the extremes of the parental breeds Siamese & Burmese
Appearance
The Tonkinese is intended to be an elegantly-shaped cat of semi-foreign type. However the actual appearance of a Tonkinese will vary depending on the following factors;
The Country of origin (different countries reflect significant variations in type & breed standard)
The recipe used to breed a Tonkinese (variabilty in Siamese/Burmese contribution)
Essentially in Australia, The Tonkinese breed standard specifies a body-type or shape/proportion that hovers neatly between the divergent body types seen in modern Siamese and Burmese parent breeds, ie; the Tonkinese should look very different to both parental breeds.
Thus a Tonkinese should not exhibit the refinement of the Siamese or the Stocky body shape seen in the Burmese ...... as per the breed standard:
"Tonkinese conformation strikes a midpoint between the extremes of long, svelte body types and cobby, compact body types. Balance and proportion are more important than size alone"
Thus an intermediately-bred Tonkinese will be an elegant and athletic looking cat, capable of feats of great agility.This intermediate body-shape is reliant on a 50% contribution of the Siamese influence in order to maintain the balance required.
(for more detailed info on Tonkinese 'type'; in Australia; check out ... 'Tonkinese in Australia' page) Read more
One of the the most attractive aspects of the Tonkinese breed is the amazing array of colours & pattern combinations that define the breed. However, it is also one of the more confusing aspects of the breed, understanding the colours and patterns that are possible can be a challenge and many observers are confused further by all the different names used for colour & pattern.
The Tonkinese is traditionally a 'pointed' cat, ie; a cat where the colour is strongest on the extremities of face & mask, legs, tail, and yet fades to a tone that is lighter and less colourful on the body.
There are 3 versions of the Himalayan pattern, the high-contrast pattern associated with the Siamese breed, the low-contrast pattern associated with the Burmese breed, and the mid-contrast pattern referred to as 'Mink' - which was the defining pattern of the Tonkinese. Currently the Tonkinese is the only breed that permits all 3 patterns to be bred, shown and registered.
There are a total of 8 Colours that are currently bred in Australia, and each of these appear in all 3 patterns.
(for more detailed info on colour & patterns, including colour charts; check out ... 'Tonkinese Coat Colour & Pattern' page) Read more
All 3 kittens depicted are 'Seal' in colour but differ in pattern & associated eye-colour. The green-eyed 'Solid', the blue-eyed 'Point' & the aqua-eyed 'Mink'
The yellow/green eyes of the 'Solid' Tonkinese
The aqua eyes of the 'Mink' Tonkinese
The blue eyes of the 'Point' Tonkinese
Eye Colour
Tonkinese cats can possess one of three different eye-colours and the expression of an idividual cat's eye-colour is dependent on it's coat pattern. ie; whether the cat is a 'Solid', 'Mink' or 'Point'.
Thus each coat-colour has 3 versions as seen in the 3 'Seal' cats above.
- The 'Solid' patterned Tonkinese has yellow/green eyes.
- The 'Mink' patterned Tonkinese has aqua eyes.
- The 'Point' patterned Tonkinese has blue eyes.
Eye Shape
The eye shape of the Australian Tonkinese is described generally as being of an 'almond shape', although I have heard them described as ideally being 'almond' shaped on top line of the eye, but 'peach-pit' shaped on the below line.
In other countries the eye-shape along with type varies greatly - USA Tonkinese have round eyes, something that is considered a fault in the Australian breed standard.
Described in the Breed Standard as:
"Open almond shape. Slanted along the cheekbones toward the outer edge of the ear. Eyes are proportionate in size to the face"
It can often take some time before the full expression of eye-colour is seen in the Tonkinese.
This is especiially true for the yellow/green eye colour associated with the 'Solid' pattern, and for the aqua eye-colour asscoated with the 'Mink' pattern.
At weaning age, the blue eye-colour of the 'point'-pattern kittens, is often pretty strong and well-developed, whereas the eye colour of the Solids and Minks is often a lot duller than their eventual colour will be.
The final expression of eye-colour can take up to 2 years to fully develop, but older cats often express a weaker eye colour as they age.
(for more detailed info on eye colour; check out ... 'Eye Colour' page ) Read more
Anniesong Peony @12 week-old, She is a Blue-Solid, so has yellow/green eyes
Anniesong River @14 week-old, She is a Seal-Point, so has blue eyes
Anniesong Pharaoh @14 week-old, He is a Lilac-Mink, so has aqua eyes
Charming, engaging, eccentric, intelligent, interactive; all are adjectives used often to describe the temperament & personality that is a characteristic of the Tonkinese breed.
The Tonkinese is not a cat to be ignored. A well-bred tonk will have an exceptionally engaging personality and will not want to be left out of anything.
It's not unusual to be interupted by your needy tonk while involved in household activities, mundane tasks such as putting the shopping away tend to be a source of endless fascination to tonks, accompanying their owner to the toilet is commonly reported.
For those that choose to spend share their home with a Tonkinese cat or cats, the experience is a unique one, and people often describe the reality of ownership and their abilty to interact as being more of an owning a dog-like experience.
Anniesong Rustem @12 week-old, He is a Seal-Mink
Some of the Anniesong crew getting cosy
A Social Breed
Tonkinese cats are generally a very socially-oriented breed and will bond very tightly with their owners and family members.
Sometimes a Tonkinese will gravitate toward a particular family member but mostly they are more than happy to 'share the love' around.
Indeed a Tonkinese will frequently bond with other non-human family members and are quick to embrace the presence to other cats and dogs, it is easy to see they thrive in the company of others.
The degree of sociability seen in a Tonkinese is highly dependent on the method in which they have been raised. And in my opinion there is only one way to see the full potential of the Tonkinese temperament and that is by 'home-raising'.
(for more detailed info on ensuring a good temperament; check out ... 'Buying a Tonkinese' page) Read more
Two Tonkinese add a completely different dynamic to a household and the entertainment value inherent in having more than one increases massively.
Many a Tonkinese lover finds themselves owning 2 Tonkinese and this is either due to purchasing 2 kittens at the same time or they are so beguiled by the addition of one Tonkinese to their lives, that they can't resist adding another.
These days I advise potential buyer that they need to beware; ... Tonkinese are addictive ! ... and I do so on the basis of the number of people that come back for a second Tonkinese, and is a testament to the charm and character of the breed.
Two together, or more even ensure that they always have company, and owners tend to feel less guilty for leaving them at home when they have each other.
Two 'Pointed' kittens - Chocolate-Point & LIlac-Point
Lilac-Solid & Chocolate-Mink siblings
Adding a second kitten, to a household that already has an adult Tonkinese is a scenario that often occurs when we place Anniesong kittens, and this always comes with the proviso that should they not bond, the kitten may be returned and a refund given, but this has yet to happen.
Despite what often looks like the incumbent Tonk is 'very upset' at the new arrival in their territory, their anger and apparent hostility very quickly gives way to affection and often an obsessive interest and excitement at their 'new friend'.
It's not uncommon for the established Tonk's attitude to suggest a statement of "how dare you bring a kitten into my house", to switch very quickly to "Thanks for the present".
(for information of available kittens @ Anniesong) Read more
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