Tonkinese, breed of shorthaired cat with subtle colorpoints (characteristic large spots of darker fur on the face, ears, legs, and tail contrasting with a lighter body coloring), the result of crossing Siamese and Burmese cats. The Tonkinese is the only pedigree breed to originate in Canada.
    A surprisingly heavy cat for its size, the Tonkinese has a medium-sized, muscular body with fairly long, slender legs. The back legs are longer than the front legs. The medium-sized, wedge-shaped head is slightly rounded and longer than it is wide with high cheekbones and a square muzzle. Medium-sized ears sit atop the sides of the head and tilt forward slightly. The ears are wide at the base and end in rounded tips. The medium-length tail tapers to a blunt tip.
    The eyes of the Tonkinese distinguish the breed. They are aquamarine to turquoise—a blend of the blue eyes of the Siamese and the gold eyes of the Burmese. The medium-sized eyes are set widely apart and slant upward at the outer corners. The soft, luxurious coat of the Tonkinese is a distinctive, mink-like fur. Coat colors include natural, blue, honey, champagne, and platinum.
    The Canadian Cat Association officially recognized the Tonkinese breed in 1965. It is now recognized by all cat associations.