Tonkinese

Tonks are usually sociable, intelligent and affectionate cats that bond strongly with their people and show it clearly. They want to be involved in everything, are often described as more like dogs than cats, and may play fetch. Many can be trained to walk on a lead or respond to simple requests.

They are often talkative and enjoy long "conversations", though they are generally less vocal and have quieter voices than the Siamese. On the downside, they are easily bored, can be stubborn and will not tolerate being ignored. They will sit on laps, but only when they choose to.

The Tonkinese is a medium-sized, firm and muscular cat that is often heavier than it looks. Adults typically weigh about 2.5 to 5.5 kg; males are larger than females. The coat is short, soft and close-lying with a lustrous sheen.

There are three coat patterns, each with its own eye colour:

• Tonkinese pattern: a lighter body subtly merging into darker points, with greenish-blue or bluish-green (aquamarine) eyes.
• Burmese pattern: a more even colour all over, with eyes from deep yellow to bluish-green.
• Colourpointed pattern: a pale body with clearly contrasting points and clear blue eyes.

Colours include brown, blue, chocolate, cinnamon, lilac, fawn, red, cream, caramel and apricot, in self, tortoiseshell, tabby and tortie tabby varieties, giving 78 possible combinations.

This is a highly active, playful cat that loves to climb and jump and may watch you from the top of a wardrobe. It needs extensive cat trees, climbing frames and a wide choice of toys, especially ones that can be stuffed with food, or your furniture may suffer. Play, clicker training and interactive feeding all help keep a Tonk content. Fragile ornaments are best put away.

The short coat largely looks after itself, and the GCCF rates maintenance as low. A weekly groom with a rubber brush or bristle brush removes loose, dead hair and is a chance to check the skin. Shedding is low, though the Tonkinese Cat Club points out that Tonks still shed fur and dander, so they are not a solution for people with allergies.

The GCCF says Tonks do not mind being house cats as long as they have a companion and plenty to amuse them. A secure cat run or very secure garden with branches, platforms and tunnels gives them space to run and climb. Purina UK advises against free access outdoors, as they are bold, inquisitive and attractive to pet thieves.

Tonks need company, human or feline. They do not enjoy being home alone for hours every day; with another cat for company they can cope while their owners are at work, but they need focused attention when people get home. They may find a very busy household stressful, and suit people who are at home for much of the day.

Tonks generally get on well with children who have been taught to respect animals and not to chase, pull or tease them. Purina UK says they are fine with older children but may find noisy, active children coming and going stressful.

Whatever the breed, young children should be supervised around cats and shown how to stroke them gently and let them walk away.

Tonks need feline company and get on well with most types of cat, particularly other active, intelligent ones. They usually get on with cat-friendly dogs.

The GCCF says the Tonkinese has no specific health problems, and Purina UK describes it as generally healthy. The breed is long-lived: average life expectancy is around 15 years, and ages of 19 or 20 are quite common. Purina UK names a few inherited conditions to be aware of.