Tonkinese

Tonkinese cats were developed from Siamese and Burmese ancestry, producing a moderate, muscular cat between the two parent types. Their coat patterns are often described as mink, pointed, or solid, with natural, champagne, blue, and platinum among familiar color terms. Mink Tonkinese are especially associated with aqua eyes, while pointed cats have blue eyes and solid-pattern cats may have green or yellow-green eyes depending on standards.

A Tonkinese generally suits a home that wants an interactive cat with less extremity than some modern Siamese lines and more animation than many quiet lap breeds. They need play, company, and predictable social contact, but coat care is simple. Breeders should explain pattern inheritance, because two mink parents can produce pointed, mink, and solid kittens. Health history, temperament, and early handling are more important than choosing the rarest color name.

Colors: Bicolor, Black, Blue, Blue Mink, Blue Point, Blue Solid, Brown, Calico, Champagne Mink, Champagne Point, Champagne Solid, Chocolate, Chocolate Point, Cinnamon, Classic Tabby, Cream, Cream Point, Dilute Calico, Dilute Tortoiseshell, Fawn, Flame Point, Golden, Harlequin, Lilac, Lilac Point, Lynx Point, Mackerel Tabby, Mink, Natural Mink, Natural Point, Natural Solid, Platinum Mink, Platinum Point, Platinum Solid, Pointed, Red, Seal Point, Sepia, Shaded, Shell, Silver, Smoke, Spotted Tabby, Tabby, Ticked Tabby, Torbie, Tortoiseshell, Van, White