Tonkinese
A crossbreed of Siamese and Burmese with a distinctive mink coat pattern.
The Tonkinese is a domestic cat breed created through the deliberate crossbreeding of the Siamese and Burmese. Its most distinctive feature is a pointed coat pattern available in a range of colors, with the unique "mink" pattern—a dilution of the point color—being particularly characteristic. The breed is also shown in the more traditional Siamese-style pointed pattern with white and the solid Burmese-style sepia pattern. While the short-haired variety is best known, a semi-longhaired version, sometimes called Tibetan, enjoys greater popularity in parts of Europe, especially the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. The modern breed is a reconstruction of cats originally brought to the West in the 19th century, once known as "chocolate Siamese." Breeders working with imported cats from Malaysia noted some had aquamarine eyes and darker coats than the Siamese. Many cats used to establish the Siamese and Burmese breeds in the West, including the famous Wong Mau, are believed to have been Tonkinese. Interest in developing the breed as distinct emerged in the 1950s, and by 1965 it was recognized in Canada, where the name originated—a reference to the Tonkin region of Indochina, though the cats have no actual connection to that area. Two breeders, Margaret Conroy in Canada and Jane Barletta in the United States, independently crossed Siamese and Burmese to create the ideal combination of appearance and personality, and the breed moved from crossbreed status to an established breed in 2001. Tonkinese are medium-sized, muscular cats, intermediate in build between the slender Siamese and the stockier Burmese. Their coat comes in colors including black (also called brown, seal, or natural), blue, chocolate (champagne), lilac (platinum), cinnamon, fawn, red, cream, and additional dilute modifiers like caramel and apricot. Each color appears in three patterns: pointed (dark points on a pale body with blue eyes), solid or sepia (uniform color with faint points and golden-amber or green eyes), and mink (a lighter, harmonious base with aquamarine eyes). Tortoiseshell and tabby patterns are also possible. Recognition varies by registry; the Cat Fanciers' Association and World Cat Federation accept only four base colors in all three patterns, while the GCCF and The International Cat Association accept a wider range. Temperamentally, Tonkinese are active, vo
- origin
- Crossbreed of Siamese and Burmese
- coat patterns
- Point, solid (sepia), mink
- eye color
- Blue, golden-amber, green, or aquamarine
- temperament
- Active, vocal, people-oriented
- known for
- Intermediate type between Siamese and Burmese; aquamarine eyes in mink pattern
Lore & Background
The modern Tonkinese breed is a reconstruction of a cat brought to the West in the 19th century and originally called the 'chocolate Siamese'. Breeders who worked with imported cats from Malaysia observed that some of these animals had aquamarine eyes and darker coats than the typical Siamese. Many of the cats used to establish the Siamese and Burmese breeds in the West, including the famous Wong Mau, are believed to have been Tonkinese. Although Tonkinese cats were bred, they were registered as either Burmese or Siamese until the 1950s, when dedicated breeders began to take an interest. These breeders worked together to develop specific breeding lines, and by 1965 the Tonkinese was recognized as a distinct breed in Canada, where the name originated. The modern Tonkinese is the result of crossbreeding programs carried out independently by two breeders: Margaret Conroy of Canada and Jane Barletta of the United States. They crossed Siamese and Burmese cats to create an ideal combination of both parent breeds' appearance and personality. The breed was moved from crossbreed classification to an established breed in 2001. The name references the Tonkin region of Indochina, though this is suggestive only, as the cats have no actual connection to that area.
Reader's Guide
The Tonkinese breed represents a deliberate reconstruction of an older type of cat, the 'chocolate Siamese', that had been brought to the West in the 19th century. Its development in the mid-20th century by breeders Margaret Conroy of Canada and Jane Barletta of the United States, who independently crossed Siamese and Burmese cats, aimed to combine the distinctive appearance and lively personalities of both parent breeds. The breed's name references the Tonkin region of Indochina, though it is suggestive only, as the cats have no connection with the area. The Tonkinese is significant for its intermediate type between the slender Siamese and the more cobby Burmese, and for its unique 'mink' coat pattern, which results from having one gene for the Burmese solid pattern and one for the Siamese pointed pattern. Its presence on postage stamps in over 30 countries further attests to its global appeal.
Did You Know?
- The name 'Tonkinese' is a reference to the Tonkin region of Indochina, though the cats have no connection with the area.
- Breeding two mink-patterned Tonkinese cats does not usually yield a full litter of mink kittens; on average, half are mink, one quarter pointed, and one quarter sepia.
- In the West, Tonkinese cats under six months were historically called 'small-cats' rather than 'kittens', a term that became almost obsolete by the mid-20th century.
Common Misconceptions (Editorial)
- Some people may think the name "Tonkinese" indicates the breed originated in the Tonkin region, but the facts show the name is merely a reference to that area and the cats have no actual connection to it. - Another common misconception is that breeding two mink-patterned Tonkinese cats always produces mink-patterned kittens, but the facts state that on average only half the litter is mink, with one quarter pointed and one quarter sepia.
Why It Matters (Editorial)
The Tonkinese endures as a distinctive breed because it bridges the characteristics of the Siamese and Burmese, offering a balanced temperament and a unique "mink" coat pattern with aquamarine eyes. Its history—tangled with the origins of two other major breeds—highlights how careful breeding can resurrect lost varieties and that even well-known cats like Wong Mau may have been Tonkinese, giving the breed a special place in feline genetics and breed history.
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