Tonkinese - The facts every owner of this cat breed should know

Learn the facts on maintaining good health, grooming needs, living conditions and more when it comes to the Tonkinese cat

The Tonkinese breed is widely considered a 'newer' breed, a cross between a Burmese and a Siamese, though some dispute this saying the breed existed in the 1800s. The first known Tonkinese was Wong Mau, a descendant of ancient Burmese. Wong Mau was bred with a Siamese and over time, the Tonkinese was bred into its own separate breed but it was not recognized as a distinct breed until 1984. This cat is a medium sized breed with males weighing eight to twelve pounds and females six to eight pounds. Tonkinese (affectionately referred to as 'Tonks') have a short, thick coat that requires no more maintenance than once weekly brushing and come in three colors: pointed, mink and solid. The pointed coat is much like a Siamese and the solid is much like a Burmese. However, the mink is unique to the Tonkinese. It is a combination of a Siamese coat and a Burmese coat but not a blend. Usually, one half (legs only or the body) is one coat and suddenly, it becomes the other.

The Tonkinese personality is described as 'the best of both worlds'. From their Siamese side, they take curiosity and intelligence. From their Burmese side, they take their easy-going personality. They are active and stubborn but not particularly high strung or stressed out. Tonkinese are social creatures. They enjoy their humans and get along well with other pets and children. Tonkinese do not like being left alone and it is recommended that if they are going to be left alone for long periods of time, there should be two Tonkinese in the home. It is also useful to have a cat condo around for exercise and play, and to keep them out of trouble stemming from boredom. Tonkinese tend to have almost no genetic medical concerns though they are more prone to gingivitis than other breeds.

There is a website that has great information on Tonkinese and most other breeds of cats. It has details that pertain to a cat breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url: http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. BenjaminCopyright ?2007 You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.