Tonkineses History

Believed to actually have been what was considered a chocolate Siamese, the Tonkinese cat of today is a blend of the Burmese and Siamese. The first Tonkinese was unfortunately the only one of her kind, so breeders had to cross with two similar breeds in an attempt to recreate her. Unfortunately, they bred out all of the Tonkinese characteristics.

Later on, other breeders crossed the Burmese and Siamese back together until they again had the Tonkinese traits that they loved. Some people believe this to be a complete waste of time because they don’t think the Tonkinese is a breed unto itself. Nevertheless, the Tonkinese, affectionately called the Tonk, still holds its place in the hearts of its admirers. Tonk fans will tell you that there’s no other cat like them and that their place in the cat registries is well earned and deserved.