Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I'm new here and it took me forever to find the forums!

I'm planning on getting a new kitten. I just found out, by taking care of my daughter's two cats, that I'm not allergic to cats even though I tested positive to them almost forty years ago. I'm so excited because now I can get a cat!

I can't decide between a Tonkinese and a Burmese. I am at home a great deal because I have arthritis. I can get on the floor with the kitten but some days I may be too sore. I really want a kitten who is willing to sit in my lap but I also want one who's active and well, is everything these two breeds are supposed to be.

Is there a great deal of difference between the two? I understand that the Burmese has shorter hair so that's probably a good thing because one of my daughter's cats did bother me a bit when he was busy putting his face up to mine to tell me how much he loved me. But is the Tonks' fur that much longer?

So far, the breeders to whom I've spoken seem to favor the Tonk, even if they have some Burmese on the way.

And should I get a male or a female? I've studied a great deal about various cats but I never gave that a thought.

I appreciate any advice you can offer.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome...

Well, since Tonks are half Burmese...you get the best of both worlds really. From what I've read of the Burmese, the Tonks possess all of the personality characteristics...when I was looking I wanted a Siamese for the coloring and beauty...but found the Tonk to be a better blend of color and with the Burmese personality...it was just the perfect cat for me...

I've never had a Burmese, but as far as satisfaction goes with having a Tonk...I have three running around the house right now and if it were up to my husband we'd have at least 2 more...

Rumor has it that the male cats are a bit more affectionate than the female cats...I've only had males...and mine are rediculously affectionate...Bentley our first, was so needy we had to get him a buddy, just so I could go pee in peace...

But there are a number of female Tonks on this board, Sina, Emily, Liat...who seem to be very very snuggly also...the temperment of the parents play a big role...

The coat will also vary depending on the parents Bentley and Fin come from the same line and have longer silkier hair like the Siamese...Alastair comes from my breeders champion line (which hold more of the Burmese traits because that is show standard) and his coat is shorter and denser...

Hope this helped...

I got two tonks in January. I never owned a cat and for most of my life I actually disliked cats in favor of dogs. At some point my opinion changed and I decided to acquire a kitty.

I did the same type of research. Initially I wanted burmese for his character but then I was charmed by Tonkinese for their bland of beuty with the character.

Now about my innitial experience with them: I have to male kittens. They are not from the same litter but they are "cousins" - they grew up in the same house as I got them from the smae breeder. One is born in August 15 and the other in September 2.

There is quite a bit of difference in their character. They both are running afer me constantly. They want to be in the same room as I am, even though they are two they still want to be around me. The older boy is very affectionate from the day 1. He wants to cuddle with me and rolls down on the floor when he sees me. The younger one is less affectionate, he prefers to be near but does not like to be held, groomed, stroked.

Even though they wre growing in a family full of children cats and dogs (the breeder gave them really good socialization) they are shy. When guest come home they run and hide. I tried to take them as a gust to friend's house and the same happens there - they run under the sofa and I need to remove them from there, unless they would not show their face.

I guess their character will change as they grow. But overall they are very lovely.

Tonks are a blend of their parent breeds. They aren't as svelte or as 'whippy' as today show Siamese, but neither are they as rounded as Burmese. They should not look like a bad representation of either the Siamese or the Burmese. Thier purr-sonality also reflects this duality. Tonk have retained the socialness of the Siamese tempered by the sweetness of the Burmese. Or, as I like to say: Tonks: Siamese on valuim, Burmese on speed. They are, as a general rule (though we all know there are exceptions to every rule) a shoulder riding, in your lap, under foot, has to 'help' you with what ever you're doing kind of breed. There are 3 patterns: Mink, pointed, and solid and four accepted colors: Platinum, natural, blue and champangne. Eye color is linked to pattern. Minks should have the signature aqua eyes, solids should have green-gold eyes, and pointeds should have blue eyes. I emphise the word SHOULD. A kitten with the 'wrong' eye color may not be able to be shown as a champion or an alter but will still make a WONDERFUL companion for many years. Most Tonk easily live into their late teens to early twenties. As for male vs. female I find there really is no difference especially once spayed or neutered. My girls were just as loving and affectionate as my boys. I hope you find this information useful. In closing I leave you with these parting words: You don't own a Tonk, a tonk owns YOU! (and) Just remember, Tonks are like potato chips: You can't have just one!
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PURRS!!!!
Tricia
Da-Katz Tonks
Siamese on valium/Burmese on speed!

I think it is funny how many people are torn between tonks and burmese! I was certainly one of those people... in fact, originally I had my heart set on a burm. I've never regretted going for a tonkinese instead. My little girl Sina is very affectionate, very smart and has to be into everything. She likes to snuggle on the couch and spends every night sleeping either under the covers or next to me in bed. I love her so much it isn't even funny!

As to male v. female... I grew up with girls and have always preferred them. I find females to be better "one person cats." In my experience they bond well to a single person and while they may like other people too, they are very loyal to their one person. My mom, on the other hand, has found that her two most recent cats have made her prefer boys. Her boys (one is a sphinx and the other a devon rex) are far more outgoing than my two girls (Sina's best friend is a devon rex named Lea) and also play far more aggressively. Again, each cat is an individual, so they won't all fit the mold. I will say if I hadn't specifically wanted a girl it would have been much easier for me to find a kitten... when I was looking everyone had boys! So if you really don't care, it may make it easier to find a breeder with a kitten for you!

PS- I'm attaching a picture of Sina. She is a honey solid... which is a very unusual color, not in the standard natural, champagne, platinum, and blue.

I will say if I hadn't specifically wanted a girl it would have been much easier for me to find a kitten... when I was looking everyone had boys! So if you really don't care, it may make it easier to find a breeder with a kitten for you!
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>>PS- I'm attaching a picture of Sina. She is a honey solid... which is a very unusual color, not in the standard natural, champagne, platinum, and blue.
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The reason most breeders have more boys than girls for sale is a breeding a girl is worth more. You can always take a girl to an outside male, but you can only use a male so often before everyone is related to him and each other in some way. Most breeders, unless the boy is of OUTSTANDING quality, will choose to keep a show quality female over a show quality male. I've never heard of a 'honey' tonk before and your girl's eyes look more an aqua shade which denotes a mink pattern than the green-gold tone of a solid. Regardless, she is a purty girl!

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PURRS!!!!
Tricia
Da-Katz Tonks
Siamese on valium/Burmese on speed!

"I've never heard of a 'honey' tonk before and your girl's eyes look more an aqua shade which denotes a mink pattern than the green-gold tone of a solid. Regardless, she is a purty girl!"

I'm just going by what my breeder told me! She explained the whole honey genetics to me (its a cinnamon gene, which is very rare) but I just wanted a new baby... color wasn't really a huge factor. Oh, and her eyes... I'll attach another picture. I've never been able to settle on exactly what color they are. "Seafoam" almost seems right... sort of a very pale green. No blue tones at all though, so not aqua.