About Tonkinese
A Wonderful Breed
- Great temperament,
- Beautiful features and looks
- Loyal
- Lovable
- A variety of colours, coats from dark chocolate to light cream showing the Siamese origins.
Linda Vousden on Tonkinese
Imagine a cat with all the grace and elegance of a Siamese but slightly more rounded, richer in colour and rather less vocal – and you have the Tonkinese. Although it is a newcomer to the West, the origins of the Tonkinese go back as far as those of the Siamese and Burmese and are intricately bound up with them. As well as recounting the history of the breed, Linda Vousden deals with all aspects of the care of this most attractive of cats. The colour breeding charts will be of special interest to the serious breeder and the pet owner will learn much from her insights into life with a ‘Tonk’.
Linda Vousden has owned and loved Siamese and Burmese cats since the 1960s, and has been breeding and showing Tonkinese under her Mymystic prefix since the breed was first recognised by the GCCF in 1991. She has been a committee member of the Tonkinese Breed Club since 1993, editing their magazine for two years, and Honorary Secretary since 1994. She has also served on the Tonkinese Breed Advisory Committee since its establishment in 1994. Her detailed knowledge of the breed and her particular fascination with colour breeding are apparent throughout this book but, perhaps most importantly, no reader can fail to recognise her love and enthusiasm for the delightful Tonkinese cat.
Tonkinese are irrepressible and I doubt that any Tonk lover could better Milan Greer’s description of them. In his book Fabulous Felines ( 1961 ), he describes the cats he bred and called Golden Siamese as the perfect combination of brains and beauty with the better traits of both the Siamese and the Burmese – a prodigy in fur.
Tonkinese are intelligent, inquisitive and communicative individuals. If you want a cat that will keep its feet on the ground and merge into your carefully-planned home and well-regulated timetable you should get an ornament, not a Tonkinese. Their outgoing and affectionate nature makes them truly wonderful pets for those who have abundant time and a secure environment for them. They like to keep you company whatever you are doing, a trait which I heard described as a drawback by someone who actually thought he owned his cal. Tonkinese make full use of their surroundings and, if ignored, will demand their fair share of attention with a moderately-toned voice.
Tonkinese have a sense of fun and the occasionally mischievous streak is moderated by their gentle dispositions. They develop strong ties with people rather than places. They enjoy family company and dispense their attentions among the whole family rather than devoting themselves entirely to one person. Please note that, although Tonkinese are undoubtedly happy in the company of people, they do need company of their own kind. A single-cat household is a very lonely home for any cat, but especially so for a Tonkinese, who will make sure that you know it.
The sensitive and responsive nature of the Tonkinese is so reliable that an American breeder, Joan Bernstein, and her Tonkinese were featured in a National Geographic documentary video. Joan uses some of her Tonkinese in a Pets As Therapy (PAT-cat) programme. Their temperament is ideally suited to being handled and fussed by people, who gain immense benefits and pleasure from relating with friendly animals. If you want to share your home, and life, with such a cat you must have will-power, patience and a sense of fun.
In the make-up of any cat breed the two basic factors are the head and body shape (referred to as the type) and the coat pattern, which in the Tonkinese is strongly related to the colour of the eyes.