Tonkinese Cats
Tonkinese cats are inquisitive, playful, intelligent and energetic cats.
They are gentle cats who love their humans but need feline company to be truly happy.
The History of The Tonkinese
I'm not going to delve deeply into the history of the Tonkinese breed, if you're interested then I highly recommend Linda Vousden's book, 'Tonkinese Cats – A History', where she describes in detail the history of the breed. However, Tonkinese cats owe their ancestry to Burmese/Siamese matings. If you mate a Burmese and a Siamese cat the result will genetically be a Tonkinese and the first genetically proven Tonkinese was bred in the 1930's. These matings are recognised as F1 Tonkinese, and still permitted within the breed, although there are some restrictions if you wish to show them. The breed was first officially recognised in 1965 by the Canadian Cat association, going on to be granted Provisional (New Breed) status by the Cat Association of Britain (CA) in 1986 (Details from Linda Vousden, 'Tonkinese Cats – A History', https://www.lindavousden.uk).
Tonkinese Coats & Colours
Recognised colours for the Tonkinese include brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, caramel, red, cream and apricot, with the following recognised patterns; tortoisehell, tabby and tortie- tabby.
In addition, there are three coat restrictions:
BCR - Burmese Colour Restriction - BCR cats have an even tone of colour across their whole body, with slight lightening underneath.
TCR - Tonkinese Colour Restriction - TCR cats have darker ears, mask, legs, feet and tail with a subtle merging of the colour in tone across the body.
CPP - Colourpointed Pattern - CPP cats have a body colour which is a shade relative to their points.
Sounds confusing?
Look at the photos on the 'Our Cats' page, and the photo of all three on this page. Peony is a Brown TCR - so she has a brown face, feet, legs and tail and a subtly lighter brown body colour. The Tonkinese Standards of Points describes Brown TCRs as, 'Warm brown body colour merging with darker points'.
Pixie is a Brown CPP - She has a dark brown face, feet, legs and tail (points), and a lighter shade of brown through her body. The difference in colour between her points and her body is more marked than Peony's.
Loki was also a Brown CPP.
Aurora is a Chocolate CPP - She has a lighter brown (chocolate) face, feet, legs and tail and an even lighter, ivory shade through her body.
Celeste was a Blue TCR, described in the Standard of Points as, 'Bluish-grey body colour, which may have warm undertones, merging with darker slate-grey points.
Interested in Adopting?
Contact Mo Chuisle Tonkinese today to learn more about our available kittens or to discuss going on our waiting list.
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