BREED STANDARD: TONKINESE (TO)

(Young kittens may show a more compact type, as the bones tend to lengthen during maturation.)

POINT SCORE

HEAD: 30 points

Shape ............................................. 5
Ears .............................................. 4
Eyes ................................................ 5
Chin ................................................ 3
Muzzle ............................................... 3
Nose .................................................. 1
Profile .................................................. 8
Neck .............................................. 1

BODY AND TAIL: 30 points

Torso ............................................... 11
Legs ................................................ 3
Feet .................................................... 2
Tail .................................................. 2
Boning ............................................. 4
Musculature ........................................ 8

COAT / COLOR / PATTERN: 30 points

Length ...................................... 3
Texture ............................................... 3

Pattern / Color

Body ................................................ 8
Points, Nose and Paw Pads .... 8
Eyes ................................................ 8

OTHER: 10 points

Balance ............................................. 4
Condition ............................................. 3
Temperament ..................................... 3

CLASSIFICATION

DIVISION

Solid
Tortoiseshell

COLORS

All.

ALLOWABLE OUTCROSSES

Burmese
Siamese
European Burmese

HEAD

Shape

Medium-short modified wedge, with soft, clean contours, slightly longer than it is wide.
Viewed from the front, the head and ears form an equilateral triangle.

Ears

Slightly taller than they are wide
Broad base, oval tips
Medium size
Set as much on the side as on the top
Outer line follows the wedge
Slightly tilted forward

Eyes

Peach-pit shape:

Upper half almond-shaped
Rounded lower part
Medium size
Set well apart (at least one eye-width)
Slanting toward the ear

Chin

Firm curve
Neither prominent nor weak
Correct bite
In profile, vertically aligned with the nose

Muzzle

Medium length
Good width at the jaw hinge
Tapers gently to a blunt end
Neither pointed nor excessively rounded
Definite but gentle break
No “fox-like” appearance

Nose

Slight convex curve, neither straight nor arched.

Profile

Gentle curve from the top to above the eyes
Descends to a slight stop at eye level
No abrupt break
High, gently planed cheekbones

BODY

Torso

Medium rectangular
Semi-foreign
Neither compact nor elongated
Medium size
Males larger than females
Medium, rounded chest
Slightly curved ribs
Level flanks
Back rises gently to the rump

Legs

Slender
In proportion
Hind legs slightly longer

Feet

Oval, medium size.

Tail

Broader base
Tapers gently
Slightly blunt tip
As long as the body

Boning

Refined medium, in proportion.

Musculature

Solid
Well developed
Clean lines
Firm abdomen
Muscular shoulders in adult males

COAT / COLOR / PATTERN

Coat

Medium-short length, dense and close-lying.

Texture

Fine, soft, silky, with an intense sheen.

Body Color

Rich and even
No dark spots, stripes or white hairs
Slight lightening on the belly
Roots may be lighter

Pointed

Neutral shaded color on the body, with strong contrast.

Mink

Body color lighter than the points, with definite contrast.

Sepia

Body color close to the extremities, with less contrast.

Priority: clarity and maximum contrast, not shade.

Full development may take up to 18 months.

Point Color

Even
No stripes, ticking or white hairs
Well-pigmented pads and nose

Pointed and Mink

Even color on the mask, ears, legs and tail
Dense, well-defined points
Gentle transition in Minks
There should be “gauntlets” and tracings connecting the mask to the ears
The mask covers the whole face, without forming a “hood”