Size: Medium.
Coat Length(s): Short hair.
Body Type: Moderate.
Grooming Requirement: Little grooming needed.
Talkativeness: Vocal.
Activity Level: Very high.
Affection: Very affectionate.
Usually Good With: Adults, seniors, and children (6+).
Time Alone: 0 to 4 hours per day.
Attention: Needs lots of attention.
Handling: Moderately docile.

The Tonk, as it’s affectionately called, is a human-made hybrid deliberately created to combine the best qualities of both its parent breeds, the Burmese and the Siamese. However, it’s very likely that natural crosses between Burmese and Siamese have existed for hundreds of years, since these two ancient breeds came from the same general area. Both breeds were depicted in the ancient text The Cat-Book Poems, a manuscript written in the city of Ayudha, Siam (now Thailand) some time between 1350, when the city was founded, and 1767, when the city was burned down by Burmese invaders (people, not cats). The first American Burmese, Wong Mau, who became the foundation cat for the Burmese breed in North America, was later found to be a Siamese-Burmese hybrid. Some of the "chocolate Siamese" shown in the late 1800s in British cat shows were likely what we’d call Tonkinese today.

However, the planned parenthood of the Tonkinese didn’t begin until the mid-1960s. Wanting to produce a cat with a moderate body and head type, breeder Jane Barletta of New Jersey crossed a sable Burmese with a seal point Siamese. Around the same time, Canadian breeder Margaret Conroy bred her sable Burmese female to a seal point Siamese male because she couldn’t find an acceptable Burmese mate for her timid cat. The offspring of these crosses were lovely tan cats with moderate body and head types, beautiful aqua eyes and appealing personalities. Barletta and Conroy communicated about their special new cats and worked together to develop the breed. Barletta did much to recruit breeders and promote the breed in the United States. News about the breed’s beauty and engaging personality spread, thanks to the work of the early breeders, and efforts to achieve recognition began in both the United States and Canada. Tonks were first accepted by the Canadian association CCA under the name Tonkanese. In 1971, Tonk breeders voted to use the spelling Tonkinese.

Not everyone was as enthused as the Tonk fanciers. Most Siamese and Burmese breeders wanted nothing to do with these hybrids. Siamese and Burmese were both being selectively bred to achieve the refined forms we see today: sleek and svelte for the Siamese and compact and muscular for the Burmese. The Tonkinese, whose head was rounded, and whose body type falls midway between compact and svelte, wasn’t either breed’s ideal. Achieving a uniform head and body type was also challenging for Tonkinese breeders, since the two parent breeds were dissimilar and became even more so as time passed.

However, Tonk fanciers were determined that their sleek, personable felines would have a place in the cat fancy. After many years, they achieved the look they wanted and the recognition the Tonkinese deserved. In 1971, CCA became the first cat association to grant championship status to the breed. CFF recognized the Tonkinese in 1972 and TICA followed in 1979, the year they were founded. CFA belatedly granted championship status in 1984. Today, all cat associations accept the breed, including the Traditional Cat Association (TCA).

The cat loving public had no prejudice against the Tonkinese and was just as enthusiastic as Tonk breeders. Tonkinese cats are particularly popular among cat lovers who do not favor the svelte type of the Extreme Siamese or the compact type and foreshortened muzzle of the Contemporary Burmese. The Tonk’s head and body type are similar to the Traditional Siamese, since the cats used to create the breed were less extreme in type than today’s show Siamese and Burmese. Some Tonkinese breeders also breed the Traditional Siamese and other traditional breeds. Because Tonks are popular, many breeders maintain waiting lists. But fanciers say the terrific personality, moderate body style and attractive color combinations are well worth the wait.

These lovable bundles of feline joy combine the traits of the super-affectionate, smart and talkative Siamese with the super-devoted, playful personality of the Burmese. That makes the Tonk super-affectionate, super-playful, super-smart—just all-around super, say fanciers. These super-cats are known for their athletic abilities, too; they are faster than a speeding cat toy and able to leap tall cat trees in a single bound. Some fanciers even claim they have X-ray vision and can see cat treats through sealed containers behind closed cupboard doors.

While they are less talkative than the Siamese and have softer, less intrusive voices, Tonks are firm supporters of the feline first amendment. They want to share all the kitty news with their beloved humans when they get home.

Everything is a toy to a Tonk, from the cheapest wad of paper to the most expensive remote-control mouse, as long as you’re willing to take part in the fun. Like the Siamese, many Tonks naturally enjoy playing fetch and return toys to their humans for repeated throwing. After a good play session, Tonks enjoy dozing on or beside their selected humans. If you want a loving lap cat, the Tonk is your breed.

And Tonks select their humans, say fanciers; kittens pick their new families rather than the other way around. If you are lucky enough to find a breeder from whom you can choose your own Tonk, take home the one who crawls into your purse, climbs purring into your lap, or entices you to play, even if the kitten isn’t the color or gender you had in mind. The close, loving bond you’re likely to develop with the Tonk who chooses you is much more important.

Tonkinese crave human attention—lots of it—and have a ready purr for any human who provides it. Be prepared to be wrapped around your Tonk’s velvety paw. These cats form very strong bonds with their favorite humans. They love their humans and demand to be family members rather than "just pets."

Tonks are not for everyone, of course. Sharing your life with a Tonkinese is not a decision to make lightly. Very social, Tonks don’t do well if left alone for long periods. If you really must go out to earn the cat food, be sure your Tonk has a feline companion or other compatible animal friend with whom to interact while you’re away. They tend to get along well with other cats and cat-friendly dogs, as long as the proper introductions are made. However, Tonks prefer humans. Very people-oriented, Tonks pine and can even become depressed if their people leave them alone too much or for too long, or don’t give them enough love and attention. If you don’t have time to give Tonks the abundant affection they need, another breed might be a better choice.

Since the Tonkinese is popular but usually not numerous enough to supply the demand, be prepared to wait to find your special Tonk. If you have your heart set on a particular gender, color, and pattern, prepare to wait longer—flexibility on these details will reduce your wait time. Find a reputable breeder first, then reserve a kitten from an upcoming litter or get on the breeder’s waiting list. If that breeder is nearby so much the better, since you can visit the cattery and see how the Tonks are bred and raised. The kittens need lots of early handling to grow into loving, people-oriented cats.

The Siamese and Burmese from which the Tonk was developed possess some hereditary health problems, but apparently the Tonk didn’t inherit many of them. The early Tonk breeders were careful to avoid inbreeding and worked hard to eliminate any bloodlines that seemed to have detrimental genes. Tonks are usually very healthy and hardy, but it’s still wise to buy from a breeder who provides a written health guarantee.

However, like the Siamese and Burmese, Tonks are prone to plaque, tartar deposits, and gingivitis. Gingivitis can lead to the dental disease periodontitis (an inflammatory disease affecting the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth), which can cause tissue, tooth, and bone loss. Untreated, dental disease can undermine your Tonk’s overall health. If your Tonk is prone to dental problems, she needs dental exams during her annual veterinary checkups and teeth cleaning by your veterinarian as needed. If your Tonk will hold still for it, a soft child’s toothbrush and cat toothpaste help cut down plaque buildup and can allow your Tonk to go longer in between professional cleanings, which require anesthesia and the associated risks.

The medium-short, close-lying coat doesn’t require much grooming, although your Tonk usually loves the attention she receives with brushing. Regular grooming is also good for your Tonk’s feeling of well-being. Breeders usually recommend a good quality rubber brush with a concave surface to remove dead hairs and stimulate your Tonk’s skin. Avoid "slicker" wire brushes because they can damage your Tonk’s coat.

Neither streamlined like the Siamese nor stocky like the Burmese, the Tonkinese strikes a happy medium. The conformation is midway between the extremes of the svelte body type and the cobby, body type. The Tonk has a medium-length torso that shows well-developed muscular strength without coarseness. The abdomen is taut, well-muscled and firm. The legs are fairly slim and are in proportion to the body in length and boning, with the hind legs slightly longer than the front legs. The paws are more oval than round. The tapering tail is in proportion to the length of the body. Tonks are surprisingly heavy for their size. Adult males usually weigh 8 to 12 pounds and adult females usually weigh 6 to 8 pounds. Overall balance and proportion are more important than size.

The head is a slightly rounded modified wedge, somewhat longer than wide, with high, gently planed cheekbones. A slight, gently curved whisker break follows the lines of the wedge. The blunt muzzle is as long as it is wide. There is a slight nose stop at eye level. A straight line can be drawn from the tip of the nose to the tip of the chin. A gentle contour, with a slight rise from the nose stop to the forehead, can be seen.

The ears are alert, medium in size, and broad at the base with oval tips. They are set as much on the sides of the head as on the top. The hair on the ears is very short and close-lying, and the skin may show through.

The open, almond-shaped eyes are in proportion to the face and are slanted along the cheekbones toward the outer edge of the ear. Eye color depends upon coat pattern; pointed Tonks have blue eyes, mink Tonks have aqua eyes, and solid Tonks have green to yellow/green eyes. Depth, clarity and brilliance of eye color is preferred, and is best seen in natural light.

The coat is medium-short and is close-lying, fine, soft and silky with a lustrous sheen. Because the Tonkinese inherited the color and pattern genes from both its parent breeds, the Tonk’s coat comes in three patterns: mink, pointed and solid (called sepia by some associations such as TICA). Contrast is the difference between the three pointed patterns: pointed Tonks have point color with high contrast to the body color; mink Tonks have point color with medium contrast to the body color, and solid Tonks have point color with low contrast to the body color. Solid Tonks are not the same as solid colors of other breeds, however; the body colors are slightly lighter shades of the point colors, with little contrast with the points. The quality of the coat color is very important in this breed; CFA’s breed standard allots a full 25 points out of the possible 100 to the coat color.

Each of the three patterns comes in four colors: natural, champagne, blue and platinum. More contrast exists between points and body color for the champagne and platinum than for the natural and blue.

The colors can be confusing, because similar colors exist in the Siamese and Burmese breeds, but are called by other names. For example, a natural pointed Tonkinese is the same color and pattern as a seal point Siamese. A natural solid Tonkinese is the same color and pattern as a sable Burmese. Champagne point is the same color and pattern as a chocolate point Siamese, and platinum point is the same color and pattern as a lilac point Siamese.

Tonkinese colors beyond the four universally accepted colors do exist, but are not accepted by all cat associations. CCA, for example, accepts honey and fawn in addition to the universal four.

In CFA, outcrossing Tonkinese with Siamese and Burmese hasn’t been allowed for many years, but in TICA Burmese, Siamese and European Burmese are allowable outcrosses. ACFA also allows Burmese and Siamese outcrosses. Since the breed has achieved its unique head and body type, many breeders rarely outcross. However, some breeders are concerned about future genetic diversity and include judicious and carefully planned outcrosses in their breeding programs.