Tonkinese is domestic cat breed. It is an elegant medium sized animal.
A shorthair feline breed, Tonkinese is believed by some to have been
imported alongside Siamese from the Orient in nineteenth century.
Others maintain that it is an artificially created breed. In either
case the modern origin of Tonkinese was in twentieth century when it
was produced through crossing of Siamese with Burmese cats. Since then
the cat has gone through various stages of development and is now
recognized by most cat fancies around the world. To many it is still
very much a Siamese that resembles the traditional Meezer cat of a few
decades back. Tonkinese is the only feline breed whose modern roots can
be traced to Canada.
A combination of Siamese elegance and
Burmese muscularity, the Tonkinese is a medium sized cat. It is sleek
and strong and weighs in the range of eight to ten pounds for healthy
adults. Body shape is that of the classical Siamese of old with a
modified triangular head and almond shaped eyes that range in color
from blue to green and golden. They are the only purebreds to have aqua
colored eyes. Fur is short and dense and occurs in mink, solid or
pointed patterns. Coat colors include blue, silver, gray, platinum and
chocolate. Overall appearance of the Tonkinese is that of a slightly
rounded, charming cat.
Less vocal than their Siamese ancestors,
Tonkinese are still quite talkative. They are not hesitant to
expressive themselves and often carry out prolonged 'conversations'
with their humans. Since they have also inherited the somewhat laid
back nature of the Burmese, they are not overly demanding.
Temperamentally
Tonkinese are near perfect. They have got the best personality
attributes from their oriental ancestors. They are both cuddling lap
cats and are also very active and intelligent individuals who love to
play and have fun with all family members.
