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| Vital Statistics: |
| Place of Origin: United States/Canada |
| Coat Type: short, silky, close to body |
| Color: natural mink, blue mink, champagne mink, platinum mink, either with points or solid |
| Temperament: active, curious, trainable, social, good with children & dogs, not trustworthy with birds or rodents |
February’s Cat of the Month is the Tonkinese
This social cat is not shy and will get along with children, dogs and even strangers.
- Where is the Tonkinese from?
The Tonkinese is a cross between a Siamese and a Burmese bred in Canada in the 1970s. At the same time an American breeder was working on the same cross. The Canadian and American managed to get together and worked to form the Tonkinese. The name, originally spelled Tonkanese, was named for an island in the South Pacific.
- What does the Tonkinese look like?
The Tonkinese is a medium sized, muscular cat. The head is triangular with wide set eyes which are almond shaped and large. The ears are roundish. Paws are oval. The coat is short and silky, lying close to the body. Colors are Natural Mink, Blue Mink, Champagne Mink and Platinum Mink. These can be pointed like Siamese or Mink with less contrast in the points or solid. It takes about 2 years for the coat color to develop.
- Does the Tonkinese make a good pet?
The Tonkinese is a very sociable, active and curious cat. However, if you have other small pets like birds or rodents, great care should be taken to avoid trouble. The Tonkinese is a climber and will even climb curtains. It loves attention and is not at all shy with visitors. It gets on well with dogs and children. In fact, it often exhibits dog-like behavior. This cat is best kept indoors for its safety.
- Where can I adopt a Tonkinese?
Try www.tonkinesebreedassociation.org or www.tonkinese.rescueme.org.
Possible Health IssuesGenerally healthy, but watch weight.
