The Tonkinese Cat Breed

The Tonkinese cat breed is similar in looks to both the Siamese cat breed and the Persian cat breed. It has the points of the Siamese but has a softer more rounded body shape, as opposed to the sleek contours of the Siamese.

The breed came about with the mating of a Siamese and Burmese during the 1950's in America. Because of this mix no litter ever produces a full litter of Tonkinese kittens, instead it is common to have a couple of Tonks, a Siamese and a Burmese in the litter.

The breed has a medium build with a soft wedge shaped head that is rounded at the top. It has a short nose similar to the Burmese that is angled and not pronounced.

The coat pattern shades to a darker tone around the ears, face, legs and tail. The coat is darker than a Siamese coat but lighter than that of a Burmese.

The recognised colour variations of this cat breed are:

picture by Anyaka on Flickr.com

Solid colours - Brown, blue, Lilac, Chocolate, red, cream, caramel and Apricot.

Tortoiseshell - Blue, brown, Chocolate, lilac and caramel

Tabby - brown, Lilac, Blue, chocolate, red, Cream, caramel and Apricot.

Coat: The breed has a short coat that lies close to its body. It is very soft and silky to the touch and has a lovely sheen to it.

Eyes: The eyes are almond shaped and slightly slanted, similar to the Siamese breed. The colours can range from Aquamarine to a greenish blue.

Grooming: The breed requires no special grooming and brushing the coat several times a week gently with a brush will be sufficient.

Temperament: This cat breed has a temperament similar to its close relatives the Siamese and Burmese breeds. It is very lively and inquisitive but also has an air of calmness and tranquillity. It requires lots of stimulus to keep it happy so a varied and active environment would be required.