How to Identify a Tonkinese Cat

Tonkinese cats were originally created by crossbreeding Burmese and Siamese cats. Today, the Tonkinese is a recognized breed of its own. Identifying a Tonkinese cat is simple if you have access to registration or breeding records. If you have no paperwork, however, it can be a challenge. You need to carefully consider the cat's features to determine if it could be a Tonkinese.

• Ask the breeder or owner for pedigree information. The surest way to identify a Tonkinese cat is by viewing its breed registration. Because the Tonkinese began as a hybrid of Burmese and Siamese cats, it it impossible to determine if the cat is a purebred Tonkinese without supporting paperwork.


• Examine the cat's features. While you may not be able to positively identify the cat without papers, you can make a good guess based on appearance. The ideal Tonkinese is a muscular cat with a slightly rounded wedge-shaped head, ears that point upwards and blue to blue-green, almond shaped eyes. It has strong, slender legs with longer hind legs than front legs and a thin, tapering tail.


• Look at the cat's fur, and feel its coat. Tonkinese cats have medium length coats that are dense and silky to the touch. Tonkinese coats have a natural sheen and come in platinum, slate, champagne and natural. If your cat does not have the characteristic coat or is any color other than one of the four Tonkinese colors, it is most likely a mixed breed or a different breed of cat.


• Consider the cat's coat pattern. Tonkinese cats can be plain like Burmese cats, pointed like Siamese cats or mink, a compromise between sharply defined points and uniform coat color. If the cat has a mink pattern, it is likely to be a Tonkinese, since this is a unique feature of the breed. If the cat is plain or pointed, it may be a Tonkinese, but it could also be another type of cat.