GENERAL: the ideal Tonkinese is intermediate in type, neither cobby nor
svelte. The Tonkinese should give the overall impression of an alert, active
cat with good muscular development. The cat should be heavy While the breed
is medium in size, balance and proportion are of greater importance.
Head
slightly rounded wedge somewhat longer than it
is wide, with high gently planed cheekbones. The muzzle is blunt, as long
as it is wide. There is a slight whisker break, gently curved, following
the lines of the wedge. There is a slight stop at eye level. In profile
the tip of the chin lines with the tip of the nose in the same vertical
plane. There is a gentle rise from the tip of the nose to the stop. There
is a gentle contour with a slight rise from the nose stop to the forehead.
There is a slight convex curve to the forehead.
Ears
alert, medium in size. Oval tips, broad at the
base. Ears set as much on the sides of the head as on the top. Hair on the
ears very short and close-lying. Leather may show through.
Eyes
open almond shape. Slanted along the cheekbones
toward the outer edge of the ear. Eyes are proportionate in size to the
face.
EYE COLOR: aqua. A definitive characteristic of the Tonkinese breed, best
seen in natural light. Depth, clarity, and brilliance of color preferred.
Coat
medium short in length, close-lying, fine, soft
and silky, with a lustrous sheen.
BODY COLOR: the mature specimen should be a rich, even, unmarked color,
shading almost imperceptibly to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts.
Allowance to be made for lighter body color in young cats. With the dilute
colors in particular, development of full body color may take up to 16 months.
Cats do darken with age, but there must be a distinct contrast between body
color and points.
POINT COLOR: mask, ears, feet, and tail all densely marked, but merging
gently into body color. Except in kittens, mask and ears should be connected
by tracings.
TONKINESE COLORS
NATURAL MINK: Body: medium brown. Ruddy highlights acceptable. Points: dark
brown. Nose leather: dark brown (corresponding to the intensity of the point
color). Paw pads: medium to dark brown (may have a rosy undertone).
CHAMPAGNE MINK: Body: buff-cream to beige. Reddish highlights acceptable.
Points: medium brown. Nose leather: cinnamon-brown (corresponding to the
intensity of the point color). Paw pads: cinnamon-pink to cinnamon-brown.
BLUE MINK: Body: soft, blue-gray with warm overtones. Points: slate blue,
distinctly darker than the body color. Nose leather: blue-gray (corresponding
to the intensity of the point color). Paw pads: blue-gray (may have a rosy
undertone).
PLATINUM MINK: Body: pale, silvery gray with warm overtones. Not white or
cream. Points: frosty gray, distinctly darker than the body color. Nose
leather: lavender-pink to lavender-gray. Paw pads: lavender-pink.
Remarks
PENALIZE: extreme ranginess or cobbiness. Definite nose break. Round
eyes.
DISQUALIFY: yellow eyes. White locket or button. Crossed eyes. Tail faults.
Points
Body / Type
Head
Eyes
Coat texture
Coat color and markings
Condition