The Tonkinese, like its name, is more than what it seems at first glance! As a mix between the Burmese and the Siamese, naming a cat for the historical region of Tonkin seems like a cute nod to its Asian ancestry… Except for the fact that this Canadian-made breed was named for a foundation cat named Tonka, and was originally spelled Tonkanese. Today’s Tonkinese (Tonks, to their friends) are a happy medium between the extreme svelteness of the Siamese and cobbiness of the Burmese. They even have a strong historical basis—Wong Mau, the foundation cat of the Asian breed group, was likely a seal (natural) mink as she produced sable Burmese, seal mink, and seal point kittens, all patterns accepted in the Tonkinese today. Tonkinese are characters, with outgoing personalities reminiscent of the Siamese, but they form the deep emotional attachments of the Burmese. They are playful and active, and if not engaged by their owners daily, will turn their energies elsewhere.

Type & judging remarks
The ideal Tonkinese is intermediate in type, neither cobby nor svelte. It is an alert, active cat with good muscular development and heft. Generally, it resembles a perfect medium between the Burmese and the Siamese. The head is a modified, slightly rounded wedge; the body is medium in length and type.