The Tonkinese is a Siamese-Burmese cross bred to be a 'best of both' companion, but that also means an extremely vocal, attention-demanding cat that will talk back and follow you room to room — the opposite of the low-maintenance lap cat its short coat might suggest.
Health tests to ask the breeder for
There is no CHIC program for cats. These are the DNA and screening tests that the testing laboratories and cat health bodies name for the Tonkinese. A breeder who tests will show the certificates; a DNA result of "clear" for one variant is not a guarantee against the disease.
- PRA-rdAc (CEP290) DNA test (UC Davis VGL / Langford Vets) screens for late-onset progressive retinal atrophy / blindness
- Burmese Hypokalaemia (WNK4) DNA test (UC Davis VGL / Langford Vets) screens for episodic low-potassium muscle weakness
- Burmese GM2 Gangliosidosis (HEXB) DNA test (Langford Vets) screens for fatal neurological storage disease
- Burmese Head Defect DNA test (Langford Vets) screens for lethal craniofacial malformation
- Erythrocyte Pyruvate Kinase (PK) Deficiency DNA test (UC Davis VGL / Langford Vets) screens for inherited haemolytic anaemia
When to spay or neuter: by five months, whatever the breed. That is the one answer the AVMA, the feline practitioners and AAHA all give, and the spay and neuter page has why, and the two weeks after.
Sources: langfordvets.co.uk · vgl.ucdavis.edu · vgl.ucdavis.edu. Checked September 2026. Check a breeder has the questions.
Adopt a Tonkinese near you
Shelters and rescues list Tonkineses and Tonkinese mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
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Living with a Tonkinese
Tonkinese are relentlessly social and vocal — CFA itself describes them as talking in 'complete sentences that require a prompt response' — so this is not a background cat. Expect a cat that follows you everywhere, wants to be included, and gets bored (and mischievous) without real daily engagement.
Health you should know about
- Shares the relatively small, closed foundation gene pool of its two parent breeds (Siamese and Burmese) — CFA calls the breed generally robust, but it hasn't been tracked in a large enough population over enough generations to rule out the hereditary conditions documented in both parent breeds.
- Gingivitis in older cats — CFA flags this as the breed's main documented issue, largely preventable with early tooth-brushing habits.
Read the full Cat Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a cat needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Tonkinese? Thai cat names, 79 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 3 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 3 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.