TONKINESE
Standard of Excellence

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The overall impression of the Tonkinese is that of a well-proportioned and well-muscled cat of medium foreign type, with a firm feel and surprising weight for its size. The Tonkinese should fall squarely between the types of the Siamese and the Burmese from which its own distinctive breed derives. The impression should be of an alert, sociable cat in superb condition, silken coated and gracefully athletic. Categories: Sepia, Mink, Pointed. Seal, Blue, Chocolate(Champagne), Lilac(Platinum), Red, Cream, and the corresponding Torties.

Head
(Shape)

Medium-short modified wedge with clean, gently curved contours, just slightly longer than wide. Head and ears give the impression of an equilateral triangle when viewed from front.

Ears
(Shape & Set)

Slightly longer than wide. Broad base with oval tips. Medium in size. Placed as much on the side of the head as the top with outer line continuing line of wedge. Pricked slightly forward.

Eyes The shape of a peach stone, half almond on top, slightly more rounded on bottom and in proportion to the rest of the face. Medium in size and placed well apart, at least one eye width between. Slanted toward outer edge of ear.
Chin Firmly curved, neither prominent nor weak with proper bite. In profile, the tip of the chin lines with the tip of the nose in the same vertical plane.
Muzzle

Medium length. Good width at jaw hinge, tapering gently to blunt finish, neither pointed nor excessively rounded. Muzzle break is definite but gently curved following the line of the wedge with no suggestion of foxiness.

Nose Slight convex curvature, neither ruler straight nor humped.
Profile

Slight convex curve from top of head to just above eyes, dipping to a gentle stop at or just below eye level, with no appearance of a break. Cheekbones are high and gently planed.

Body (Torso)

Medium length rectangle, appearing neither compact nor elongated. Shape is semi-foreign, neither stocky nor rangy. Size is medium, males larger than females, appearing neither slight nor bulky. Chest is of medium width, rounding gently in front, ribs slightly curved. Flanks level. Back rises slightly from shoulders to rump.

Legs & Feet Fairly slim and proportionate in length and bone to body. Hind legs slightly longer than front. Feet, medium sized and oval in shape
Tail Wider at base, but not thick, tapering gently to a slightly blunted tip. Length is approximately equal to body length from rump to shoulder blades.
Boning Refined medium, proportionate to body. Neither heavy nor delicate.
Musculature Solid, well-developed, with clean lines. Not burly or coarse. Abdomen firm and taut. Shoulders may be quite muscular in mature males.

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Standard of Excellence

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Coat Length Medium short.
Coat Texture Fine. Soft, and silky, with lustrous sheen. Density is luxuriant, but close-lying.
Colour
(Body Colour) 		Rich and even, without dark spots, barring, or noticeable number of white hairs, shading gradually to slightly lighter hue on under parts. Hair may be lighter at the roots.
  • In Pointeds a shaded neutral lacking colour on under parts, showing a marked contrast to points.
  • In Minks a distinctly lighter shade of point colour, showing definite contrast to points.
  • In Sepias closer to that of extremities, showing slighter contrast to points.

Preference should be given to clarity and maximum contrast in all colours, not to hue. Full colour development may take up to 18 months, particularly in light colours.

Point Colour

Even and unbarred, without ticking or white hairs; paw pads and nose leather properly pigmented.

  • In Pointeds and Minks, colour comparable on mask, ears, feet and tail, with points dense and clearly marked, but merging gently into body colour on minks, particularly on legs. Except in kittens, there should be visible gauntlets and tracings connecting mask to ears. Mask should cover entire face including whisker pads, but must not extend over top of head like a hood.
  • In Sepias there is darker shading of varying degree on face, ears, tail, and feet, most noticeable in young cats and light colours; this is in no way a fault.
Eye Colour
  • In Pointeds – Blue, sky to violet.
  • In Minks – Aqua, blue-green to green-blue.
  • In Sepias - Chartreuse, green-gold to yellow-green.

Allowances
  • Incompletely developed eye and point colour under one year of age.
  • Darker body colour due to age, provided acceptable contrast to points is maintained in pointed and mink colours.
  • Apparent greater width and rounding of head in adult males due to stud jowls.
  • Very slightly shorter, rounder head and more compact type in young kittens, as bone structure tends to lengthen during maturation.

Penalise
  • Round or overly oriental eyes.
  • Definite nose break.
  • Barring on body, tail or legs.


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Withhold
All Awards
  • Round head with protuberant round eyes, short muzzle, and nose break.
  • Extreme ranginess or cobbiness.
  • Miniaturization (mature males less than 7 pounds, females less than 5 pounds).
  • Rapid oscillation of eyes.
  • Depressed or protruding sternum.
  • White locket or button.
  • Pigment absent or spotty on leather.
  • Emaciation or apparent poor health.
  • Incorrect eye colour. Pure blue eyes on Sepia, yellow on Mink, green or yellow on Pointed.

SCALE OF POINTS
Total 100 points
Head 25
Body 25
Coat & Colour 30
Coat Texture 10
Eye Colour 10

RECOGNISED COLOURS:
Mink Colour Series.
Pointed Colour Series.
Sepia Colour Series.

ALLOWABLE OUTCROSSES:
Tonkinese to Tonkinese for generational advancement with departure.
Siamese to Burmese for first filial cross. (Gen 1)
Tonkinese to Burmese (reverts to Gen 1)
Tonkinese to Siamese (reverts to Gen 1)

MINK COLOURS
Coat colour

Lighter than the corresponding sepia colours, yet darker than the body colour of the corresponding pointed colours. The mature specimen should be a rich sound colour, shading almost imperceptibly to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts. Allowance may be made for lighter colour in kittens and young cats, and for darker body colour in older cats, but there must be definite contrast between body and points.

Eye Colour

Is also intermediate, being a blue-green, the shade ranging from aquamarine through turquoise. Preference is given to greater depth and clarity of colour.

Faults Ghost tabby markings are a fault, except in kittens. Allowance for paler colour or possible faint ghost tabby markings to be made for kittens and young cats.

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SEAL (NATURAL) MINK
Body Warm medium brown, shading to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts.
Points Bitter chocolate to sable
Nose Leather
& Paw Pads 		Medium to dark brown, coinciding with the intensity of the points. May have a rosy undertone.

BLUE MINK
Body Soft blue-grey to medium blue.
Points Darker than body colour, medium blue to slate, in direct relation to body colour.
Nose Leather
& Paw Pads 		Blue-grey, as dark or darker than the points. May have a rosy undertone.

CHOCOLATE (CHAMPAGNE) MINK
Body Buff-cream, darkening to buff in older cats.
Points Golden tan to warm milk chocolate or coffee brown.
Nose Leather Pinkish taupe to light brown.
Paw Pads Pink to light brown. May have a rosy undertone.

LILAC (PLATINUM) MINK
Body Very pale pearl to silvery grey, often with warm undertones.
Points Light pewter to taupe grey with pinkish lavender cast.
Nose Leather Lavender pink to lavender grey.
Paw Pads Rose pink to ash rose or lavender pink.

CINNAMON MINK
Body Golden amber, with an apricot cast (i.e strawberry blonde).
Points Light ruddy tan, a soft muted, burnt sienna or sorrel shade.
Nose Leather
& Paw Pads 		Peach pink to salmon pink.

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FAWN MINK
Body Light rosy sand beige.
Points Warm pinkish buff, a light mocha or cocoa shade, with pale lavender grey undertones.
Nose Leather Rosy pink to dusty rose.
Paw Pads Shell pink to rose pink.

RED MINK
Body Pale peach beige.
Points Apricot tint to points.
Nose Leather
& Paw Pads 		Pink

CREAM MINK
Body Very pale cream.
Points Apricot cream to peach.
Nose Leather
& Paw Pads 		Pink


TORTIE MINK COLOURS

SEAL (NATURAL) TORTIE MINK
Body Warm medium brown, shading to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts, with varying shades of red.
Points Bitter chocolate to sable.
Nose Leather
& Paw Pads 		Medium to dark brown, coinciding with the intensity of the points. May have a rosy undertone.

BLUE TORTIE MINK
Body Soft blue-grey to medium blue, with varying shades of cream.
Points Darker than body colour, medium blue to slate, in direct relation to body colour.
Nose Leather
& Paw Pads 		Blue-grey, as dark or darker than the points. May have a rosy undertone.

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CHOCOLATE (CHAMPAGNE) TORTIE MINK
Body Buff-cream, darkening to buff in older cats, with varying shades of red.
Points Golden tan to warm milk chocolate or coffee brown.
Nose Leather Pinkish taupe to light brown.
Paw Pads Pink to light brown. May have a rosy undertone.

LILAC (PLATINUM) TORTIE MINK
Body Very pale pearl to silvery grey, often with warm undertones, with varying shades of cream.
Points Light pewter to taupe grey with pinkish lavender cast.
Nose Leather Lavender pink to lavender grey.
Paw Pads Rose pink to ash rose or lavender pink.

CINNAMON TORTIE MINK
Body Golden amber, with an apricot cast (i.e strawberry blonde), with varying shades of red.
Points Light ruddy tan, a soft muted, burnt sienna or sorrel shade.
Nose Leather
& Paw Pads 		Peach pink to salmon pink.

FAWN TORTIE MINK
Body Light rosy sand beige, with varying shades of cream.
Points Warm pinkish buff, a light mocha or cocoa shade, with pale lavender grey undertones.
Nose Leather Rosy pink to dusty rose.
Paw Pads Shell pink to rose pink.

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Standard of Excellence

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SEPIA (BURMESE) COLOURS

SEAL SEPIA
Body

Rich, warm sable brown, shading almost imperceptibly to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts.

Nose Leather & Pads Deep brown.

BLUE SEPIA
Body Bright silvery grey with warm overtones.
Nose Leather & Pads Dark blue-grey.

CHOCOLATE (CHAMPAGNE) SEPIA
Body Honey-beige with overtones ranging from grey to pink. The pink flesh tones may show through on the ears.
Nose Leather & Pads Pinkish tan.

LILAC (PLATINUM) SEPIA
Body Bright silvery platinum grey, with faint overtones of pinkish grey.
Nose Leather Greyish-pink.
Pads Pink.

CINNAMON SEPIA
Body Warm honey to orange tinged gold.
Nose Leather & Pads Pinkish tan.

FAWN SEPIA
Body Warm taupe or beige.
Nose Leather & Pads Dusty rose to pink.

RED SEPIA
Body Light apricot shading to melon-orange overtones.
Nose Leather & Pads Pink.

CREAM SEPIA
Body Light cream with apricot tones.
Nose Leather & Pads Pink.

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TORTIES

SEAL (NATURAL) TORTIE SEPIA
Body Warm medium brown, shading to a slightly lighter hue on the underparts, with varying shades of red.
Points Bitter chocolate to sable.
Nose Leather & Pads Medium to dark brown, coinciding with the intensity of the points. May have a rosy undertone.

BLUE TORTIE SEPIA
Body Soft blue-grey to medium blue, with varying shades of cream.
Points Darker than body colour, medium blue to slate, in direct relation to body colour.
Nose Leather & Pads Blue-grey, as dark or darker than the points. May have a rosy undertone.

CHOCOLATE (CHAMPAGNE) TORTIE SEPIA
Body Buff-cream, darkening to buff in older cats, with varying shades of red.
Points Golden tan to warm milk chocolate or coffee brown.
Nose Leather Pinkish taupe to light brown.
Pads Pink to light brown. May have a rosy undertone.

LILAC (PLATINUM) TORTIE SEPIA
Body Very pale pearl to silvery grey, often with warm undertones, with varying shades of cream.
Points Light pewter to taupe grey with pinkish lavender cast.
Nose Leather Lavender pink to lavender grey.
Pads Rose pink to ash rose or lavender pink.

CINNAMON TORTIE SEPIA
Body Golden amber, with an apricot cast (i.e strawberry blonde), with varying shades of red.
Points Light ruddy tan, a soft muted, burnt sienna or sorrel shade.
Nose Leather & Pads Peach pink to salmon pink.

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TORTIES

FAWN TORTIE SEPIA
Body Light rosy sand beige, with varying shades of cream .
Points Warm pinkish buff, a light mocha or cocoa shade, with pale lavender grey undertones.
Nose Leather Rosy pink to dusty rose.
Pads Shell pink to rose pink.


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POINTED COLOURS

SEALPOINT
Body Even pale fawn or cream, shading gradually into a lighter colour on the belly and chest.
Points Dense, deep seal brown.
Nose Leather & Pads Seal brown.

BLUEPOINT
Body Even platinum grey or bluish tones, shading gradually into a lighter colour on the belly and chest.
Points Deeper greyish blue tone.
Nose Leather & Pads Dark blue-grey.

CHOCOLATE (CHAMPAGNE) POINT
Body Ivory colour all over, shading, if any, to be in the colour of the points.
Points Warm milk chocolate.
Nose Leather Burnt rose.
Pads Salmon pink.

LILAC (PLATINUM) POINT
Body Even milk white colour, shading if any to be in the colour of the points.
Points Lilac grey or pinkish tone, the dilute pigment permitting the flesh tone to show through.
Nose Leather A translucent old lilac hue.
Pads A coral pink tone.

CINNAMON POINT
Body Buff to ivory colour all over, shading, if any, to be in the colour of the points.
Points Reddish cinnamon brown.
Nose Leather Salmon pink.
Pads A coral pink tone.

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Standard of Excellence

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FAWN POINT
Body Ivory cream.
Points Warm beige to taupe colour.
Nose Leather & Pads Dusty rose.

REDPOINT
Body Warm, even, creamy white, shading, if any, the same tone as the points.
Points Deep orange red, a ‘hot’ colour, the deeper the better.
Nose Leather & Pads Hot pink.

CREAM POINT
Body An even white all over, shading, if any, to be same colour as the points
Points An even white all over, shading, if any, to be same colour as the points
Nose Leather & Pads Rosy pink.

TORTIEPOINTS

SEAL TORTIEPOINT
Body Fawn, shading if at all to a warmer tone.
Points Seal brown intermingled with shades of light and/or dark red.
Nose Leather & Pads Plain or blotched, brown or pink.

BLUE TORTIEPOINT
Body Glacial white, shading if any gradually into grey-blue.
Points Blue intermingled with shades of light and/or dark cream.
Nose Leather & Pads Plain or blotched, blue or pink.

CHOCOLATE TORTIEPOINT
Body Ivory, shading if at all to the colour of the points.
Points Chocolate intermingled with shades of light and/or dark red.
Nose Leather & Pads Plain or blotched, chocolate to mushroom pink.

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Standard of Excellence

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LILAC TORTIEPOINT
Body Off-white (magnolia), shading if any gradually to the colour of the points.
Points Lilac/mushroom pink intermingled with shades of light and/or dark cream.
Nose Leather & Pads Plain or blotched, pinkish/faded lilac and/or pink.

CINNAMON TORTIEPOINT
Body Ivory, shading if any gradually to the colour of the points.
Points Rich warm toned cinnamon brown intermingled with shades of light and/or dark cream.
Nose Leather & Pads Plain or blotched, light tan and/or pink.

FAWN TORTIEPOINT
Body Very pale ivory, shading if any gradually to the colour of the points.
Points Pale pinkish fawn intermingled with shades of light and/or dark cream.
Nose Leather & Pads Plain or blotched, fawn and/or pink.

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