The Tonkinese cat, or Tonkinese in English, is a mix of Siamese and Burmese cat, a beautiful golden Siamese with Canadian roots. This cat is famous all over the world for its qualities, but why is this breed of cat gaining so much popularity? Want to know why this breed is so popular? In this PlanèteAnimal sheet, we share the characteristics of the Tonkinese cat so that you can get to know it, discover all its care and much more!
Origin
- America
- Canada
Physical Characteristics
- Thin tail
Size
- Average
Average Weight
- 3-5
Life expectancy
- 10-15
Character
- Active
- Extrovert
- Affectionate
- Curious
Climate
- Temperate
Hair type
- Short
Origin of the Tonkinese Cat
As said in the introduction, the Tonkinese is a descendant of the Siamese and the Burmese, because it was through crossbreeding of cats of these two species that the first Tonkinese cats were born.At first they were known as the Golden Siamese, making it difficult to exactly date the breed's appearance. Many say that Tonkinese cats have existed since 1930, while others maintain that it was not until 1960 that the first litter was born that will be recognized as such.
Whatever the date of origin of the Tonkinese cat, in 1971 the breed was recognized by the Canadian Cat Association and by the Association des amateurs de chats in 1984. On the other hand, the FIFE has not not yet established the breed standard.
Physical characteristics of the Tonkinese
Tonkinese cats are characterized by a balanced body, neither too big nor too small, with an average weight between 2.5 and 5 kilos, being medium-sized cats.
By following the physical characteristics of the Tonkinese cat, we can say that its tail is quite long and thin. Its head has a rounded silhouette, longer than it is wide and with a blunt muzzle.On his face, his eyes stand out with a penetrating, almond-shaped stare, large in size and always a sky blue or blue-green color. Its ears are medium sized, rounded and with a wide base.
The colors of the Tonkinese cat
Tonkinese coat is short, soft and lustrous. The following colors and patterns would be accepted: natural, champagne, blue, platinum and honey ( although the latter is not accepted by the FCA).
Tonkinese character
Tonkinese cats are gentle, very affectionate and love spending time with their family and other animals, which is a big plus if we want our Tonkinese to live with children or other animals. That's why they don't tolerate spending a lot of time alone, because they need the company of their own to be happy.
We must consider that this breed is extremely active and restless, and therefore must have enough space to play and exercise, otherwise they will be excessively nervous and may have destructive or disruptive tendencies like excessive meowing.
Since they are so playful, we can prepare a playground for them with scratching posts of different heights, or toys bought or made by ourselves.
How to take care of a Tonkinese cat?
These cats are also very easy to maintain when it comes to grooming, as, for example, their coat will only need weekly brushing to keep it clean and in good condition. However, we must ensure that their diet is balanced and he althy, by not giving them too many treats and by providing them with quality food that allows them to have optimal he alth and weight. We can also choose to prepare a homemade diet, such as the BARF diet, following the advice of a veterinarian specialized in nutrition.
As the Tonkinese cat is a breed that is characterized by great activity, it is good that we play with them daily and provide them with adequate environmental enrichment, with scratching posts of different heights, various toys, etcIf we have children, it will be easy for both parties to spend time together and have fun in this mutual company.
Tonkinese cat he alth
Tonkinese cats are fairly he althy, although they seem to suffer more easily from a visual abnormality called strabismus, which causes their eyes to appear uncoordinated and unsightly. They share it with the Siamese, a condition inherited from these cats, but this involves no more problems than the simple aesthetic aspect, and there are even cases where it corrects itself.
Anyway, it's important to visit the vet regularly to check that your cat is in perfect he alth, administer the appropriate vaccines and carry out an adequate deworming. If given all the care it needs, the Tonkinese cat's life expectancy is 10 to 17 years.
Pictures of Tonkinese
