Cat Breed of the Week: Tonkinese
Tuesday February 27, 2007
Nothing quite matches the enthusiasm of Tonkinese admirers for this cat, which has a colorful personality to match its colorful coat. Developed from a cross of the Burmese and Siamese cats, the Tonkinese glorifies the best of both breeds.Tonks are ideal companions, highly intelligent and curious. They will dream up dozens of games you can play with them, and love to retrieve and play "hide 'n seek," either with a human or another Tonk.
Give your Tonk plenty of activity toys, and work out with them regularly to keep them from being bored. A bored Tonk can be a mischievous Tonk, so if you are gone long hours, you might want to consider two of these splendid cats. Keith Kelly, whose female Tonk, Nutmeg, is featured here, shares his home with several of these lively cats.
Photo © Keith Kelly
Comments
I adopted a cat that the Humane Society called Siamese because she reminded me of the blue point Siamese I grew up with. I love the personality of the Siamese and that they talk a lot. I named her Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war (appropriate, I thought, given her Siamese lines). But Athena didn’t seem totally Siamese.
One day, I was looking in my cat breed book for clues to what a friend’s cat’s heritage was when I saw the Burmese and thought, “Hm, she almost has the build of a Burmese.” Pages later, I saw the Tonkinese and said “Athena! You’re Tonkinese!” She gave me that look of feline disgust that could only say, “You’re just now figuring that out? Stupid human.” I love my Tonkinese. Wish I had a pic downloaded that I could send you. She is a beauty. She likes to steal Kleenxes out of the trash can and bat them around for fun and lay in wait for my legs to come around the corner so she can attack them. I’m happy to oblige her. I am curious, though, do other Tonkinese have a tendency to chomp on their human companions like mine does? Do they make chew toys for cats? (Other than their human’s hands and arms, that is.)
After I sent in my first post, I went exploring the links listed here and found this!
“For its part, the cat-loving public has never shown anything but enthusiasm for Tonkinese. Visitors to cat shows who see pointed Tonkinese are given to exclaim, “Oh, that’s like the Siamese we had for 15 years.” Indeed, there’s something of a demand for Tonkinese among people who had the old style Siamese or Burmese for a long time and now can’t find them anymore.”
That is so fitting with why I fell in love with Athena!
I have had my platinum Tonk, Mina, for nine years, and she is the absolute love of my life. She is everything I have ever wanted in a companion, and apparently I fit the bill for her, too. I have never met anyone sweeter, lovelier or more perfect. She is the ultimate cuddlesome nose-licker, a purr machine of magnificent proportions. We are lucky to be able to live with such marvelous beings.
I wanted to respond to Alice’s comment-better late than never.
I have what I believe to be a Tonkinese mix and she bites a lot more than other cats I’ve had. She is very affectinate and playful, but if you go to far or she’s not in the mood, she’ll let you know.
I haven’t found a chew toy, but she has a small stuffed bear that she likes to carry around and play fetch with. I usually put him in the line of fire when she goes for my hands.
(she also jumps out at me like your cat does… she thinks its hilarious.)
I’ve had my Tonkinese, Tia, for almost 17 years. Yes she is a grand old dame. When she arrived on our doorstep (one stormy night) as a beautiful kitten we were astounded to find the vet thought she was a Christmas gift cat who had been dumped.
As a younger cat she loved to play games and she still has an obsession with feet. She will give a nip on the hand when she is not in the mood, but will happily attack feet passing her cushion (or in the middle of the night).
She is also very obedient (will go to her cushion when told, only sits on the few chairs on which she is allowed) and follows the family around most of the day (when she’s not sleeping of course).
I have had 2 tonks and both were special babies. One had the habit of nipping when he had had enough and the other never did his whole life. He was so remarkable because he would just walk away even from our other cat. I don’t know how I got such an angel!