Tonkinese (cat)

The Tonkinese cat breed combines characteristics of the Siamese and Burmese in a medium sized cat with turquoise eyes.

History

Manuscripts from the 14th century from Ayuttaya ( 1351-1767 capital of Siam, today's Thailand ) show images of the so-called copper cat ( " Maeo thong Daeng " ), pale brownish animals with dark Badge - strikingly similar to the Tonkinese.

It is also likely that, even Tonkinese were among the first Siamese, who came in the late 18th century to the UK. In fact, a distinction then between the " Royal Cat of Siam" (Royal Cat of Siam ), the dark badges ( points) and had a lighter body, and so-called "Chocolate Siamese ". The latter were probably Tonkinese. With them were (and still are ) true colored badges vigorously, the contrast between body and badge color ( points) but very weak. The body color itself so a mixture between the hue of Burma and the body color of Siam.

Thus, although darker colored mask cats in England were described since 1800, repeatedly, the actual history of the Tonkinese began in 1930, when the American ship's doctor, Dr. Joseph Thompson brought a small brown cat named Wong Mau mask to California from one of his trips. The cat was described as a hybrid brown with darker points on the face, legs, feet and tail. They were held for a Siamese cat with poor color and bred it with a Siamese cat. In union there were brighter kitten with Siamzeichnung and darker, which resembled the mother. One of the darker cat was then zurückverpaart to his mother. In this litter there were juveniles in three different types of color: bright kitten with dark mask ( pointed / Siamzeichnung ) with deep blue eyes, dark kitten with barely visible mask / solid / burmesenfarben ) with yellowish- green eyes and kitten with medium contrast ( Mink ) and aqua colored eyes. The breeders have focused in the following on the dark kittens from which Burma was, and neglected cats with medium contrast, the Tonkanesennachkommen. So Wong Mau is considered ancestress of the Burmese, even though they " Tonkinese " really was.

Only in the year 1950, the New York Breeders Milan Greer discussed the Tonkanesenzucht. But He showed them rarely at shows, so that the cat scene did not begin seriously to care for them. In the sixties of the last century then began two breeders in the U.S. and Canada to breed Siamese with Burmese. The offspring from these matings had a warm brown color with darker markings. As the fur of the kitten reminded the breeders to a mink, they called the color "natural Mink " ( mink ). So was " Mink " is the term for the Tonkanesenzeichnung. This was the origin for the triumph of Tonkinese throughout the English-speaking world.

The first Tonkinese registered in Canada. In the 1970s, they came then really fashionable. Sometimes they were called Golden Siamese, because they were almost entirely gold - bronze sepia coloring, in which one had at that time mainly bred Burma.

Some breeds are in terms of popularity on and dismounted. Tonkinese have undergone a steady upward trend without any ups and downs. At the beginning of the Tonkinese ranked at number 17, now ranks 12th The race is the seventh largest in the CFA with regard to the registration of litters. The total number of registrations has declined in the CFA since 1990 by 42%; other hand, the registration of the Tonkinese has, however, increased by 30% over the same period. Some kennel wore a striking amount to this by they have produced many winners; total, there are many breeders and exhibitors who work with Tonkinese. In the last ten years 238 Tonkinese received a Grand title.

Cristy Bird, a Siamese breeder has recently photographed wild cats in the streets of Bangkok, who had the coat color and blue eyes of the Tonkinese.

Appearance and color

The Tonkinese is an elegant, graceful cat with short silk coat, which is exactly the type between Siam and Burma. The overall appearance is the perfect embodiment of harmony and elegance without extreme, without exaggerated emphasis on certain characteristics. In addition to the basic colors of so-called natural, blue, chocolate and lilac the standard allows the breeding of Tabby, Tortie ( Tortoiseshell ), red and cream.

Character

In the Tonkinese combines the good properties of the original breeds, the Siamese and the Burmese: She is playful, people oriented, fearless, curious, open-minded towards other animals and friendly to children and always up for a prank. Although her ​​voice is usually quieter and finer than that of the Siamese, they know they skillfully use to manifest their desires. She enjoys to be near their people and to look after the household from an elevated observation post from, preferably the shoulder of the man. If it has a docile people, she brings him even when to throw her favorite toy, so that they can bring it back again and again. Tonkinese are very affectionate, but at the same time also own cats, who understand how their people to wrap around the velvet paw. Tonkinese cats are very sociable and should never be kept alone as possible, but at least two. The other cat does not necessarily have to be a Tonkinese, but care should be taken that it is similar in character, that is, active, playful and sociable.

Standard

Excerpt from the W * F * U Standard Book (Translation of the GCCF standards)

Body: Medium to long stretched, well balanced, strong and muscular. Chest slightly rounded, deep flanks, rump slightly uphill from the shoulders to the hull. Head, body, legs, feet and tail should fit in relation to each other to make a balanced impression.

Legs: Slim and muscular hind legs slightly longer than front legs.

Tail: Explore tapering to the end, medium length, neither thick nor whippy.

Head: top should be slightly rounded, with good width between the ears, slightly wedge-shaped, with a muzzle that is neither pointed nor long and sharp, but not exaggerated whisker pads. In the profile seen a slight "break" should be visible, leading down to medium-strong chin.

Ears: Medium size, slightly higher than wide, inclined forward, with a broad base and rounded tips. Evenly placed between sides and top of the head portion, the outer edges extend the wedge shape.

Eyes: Large and impressive, more almond-shaped than round and set well apart. The upper line of the eye is slightly nose upward sloping, the lower rounded. Any shade of greenish- blue or bluish - green is allowed. The eye color at all Tonkinese can vary in intensity, depending on the influence of light and the cat's mood.

Fur: ​​Thick -fitting and short. Fine, soft, silky and shiny.

Color: The coat pattern is unique, neither point nor monochrome colors. It differs from non -agouti or Point - color variants. Ears, mask, legs, feet and tail should be tinted darker, lighter in body color temporarily. It is important that the difference between points, and the body color is not conspicuous. Legs and feet may be paler than the other points, but must fit in hue to it. The body color should be gradually brighter towards the lower half of the body out. The body should be in adult non-agouti animals without tabby markings; the color is brighter at the hairline. In young animals, the coat color may develop slowly and show slight ghost markings, which should not be considered an error.

The body should be than the points and without tabby markings in a lighter shade. The paw pads may be more brightly colored than the muzzle and shine through bright. In red or cream-colored adults, a slight ghost markings may be present, but should be considered in a typey cat out of the question. All colors, as they occur at the origin of races are permitted. The three color variants differ mainly by the contrast between point and body color and eye color and get the basis of which the appropriate suffix to the respective color.

Mink Light contrast, body color slightly lighter than the color of the points Eye color: blue-green to green- blue

Sepia Hardly contrast between body and point color. Eye color: all shades of blue

Point Strong contrast between body and point color. Eye color: all shades of blue

Natural mink: Body: medium brown, reddish luminous accepted. Points: dark brown Nose: dark brown paw pads: medium to dark brown ( may have a rosy undertone )

Champagne mink: Body: tan colored cream to beige, reddish luminous accepted. Points: medium brown Nose: Cinnamon brown paw pads: cinnamon zimtrosa to

Blue Mink: Body: soft blue gray with a warm overtone Points: slate blue nose leather: blue gray balls: blue gray ( may have a rosy undertone )

Lilac mink: ( Platinum mink ) Body: pale dove gray with a delicate pink tinge Nose leather: lavender - pink paw pads: pink

Genetics

The special inheritance The Tonkinese there is a peculiarity with regard to the coat color and some other features. This inherited not dominant or recessive manner, but intermediate, that is, the features mix, at least in animals, which have the Tonkinese drawing. Because the genetic material of Siam characterize the look as strong as that of Burma. This form of inheritance is a feature that does not occur in the dominant- recessive inheritance. Is it possible for most cat breeds, already in its fifth generation, the race purely herauszuzüchten ( herauszumendeln ) and only allowed to introduce kittens to the world, which both externally and genetically carry the same racial characteristics. At intermediate devolution there is always a certain percentage of burma and siamfarbigen pups. However, this splitting refers only to the color type, the kittens are all Tonkinese. Therefore, there is Tonkinese in three different color forms of the Points:

Points in MINK = Tonkanesenausprägung gene code cscb Points in SOLID = expression in Burma -type gene code cbcb Points in POINTED = expression in the type of Siamese gene code cscs

The range of colors extending over the full-color brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, caramel and apricot, the Tortie, Tortie Tabby and tabby variants, as well as the previously designated points- expression in 78 color variations. Since Tonkinese are mostly born bright, it is often initially difficult to determine which type of color correspond to the kittens. The final coat and eye color is often developed only completed with the completion of the second year of life.

The American type of the Tonkinese is heavier and rounded, starting from the U.S. type of Burma Cat. The English Tonkanesentyp is allowed leaner and stronger with reference to the type of Siamese.

Breeding

Tonkinese are not yet recognized by the breed associations long as a separate breed. The breed has a complicated color genetics. As heterozygous cats to their children split into " siamfarbene Points animals ", " tonkanesenfarbene Mink " and " burma -colored sepia ". The final standard was established by the Canadian CCA in 1972. After Erstverpaarung Siam × Burma should only be bred Tonkinese Tonkinese with. Thus, the type is consolidated and stabilized the breed. Most growers in Central Europe depend on the breed standard of the British GCCF.