Tonkinese vs Pantherette - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

There isn’t too much history to the beautiful black Panetherette cat as it is still in development. It is in other words a hybrid cat and the name ‘Pantherette’ was give to the cat to describe its magnificent looks.

It looks just like the wild Black Panther or Black Leopard. There is, however, certainly no wild black panther or leopard that has been used

The Pantherette is a hybrid breed of cat that is still under development. It is intended to look similar to a Black Panther. It is a new breed based on a Melanistic (Black) Bengals as one of the foundation breeds.

The Pantherette is registered with the International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance (IPCBA).

It was about in 1960 that a breeding program was established for these cats. The Tonkinese is a cat that hails from Canada and it was a certain Jane Batlett who was responsible for breeding this cat.

She wanted a cat that was in between the Burmese and Siamese.

Also, Margaret Conroy, another breeder, set up her breeding program between a Burmese female with a Siamese. Both Conroy and Bartlett worked together on the breed and the Tonkinese came about. The Cat Fanciers Association recognized this cat breed in 1984.

The Panehterette is a medium to large black cat still being developed, It weights in the area of 4 – 9kg. It is muscular and strong with a long body and a broadish head.

The legs at the back are slightly longer than the front. The legs are strong and muscular and medium in length with large, round paws. The tail of the Panethereet is medium to long in length, thick and slightly tapered.

The beautiful coat is short to medium in length and luxurious and silky. The ears are small to medium with rounded tips. The eyes are oval and set wide apart. They can be gold-colored or green.

Temperament:

The Pantherette breed is still in the beginning stages of its development, so there isn’t too much information on its temperament. Those who work with these cats say that they have the typical temperament of a domesticated cat and that they are alert, friendly, curious and that they enjoy being in the company of their human companions.

As a medium-sized cat, with a firm, muscular body, your Tonkinese will weigh between 2.5 – 6kg.The head is slightly rounded with fairly broad ears that are set wide apart.

The eyes are bigger than the classic Oriental shape and can range from green to light blue in color.

The coat of the Tonkinese is short and close-lying and is soft and silky to touch. The mask, the ears, legs and tail are all darker than the body.

The Tonkinese cat breed is recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 4 base colors - medium brown, champagne, blue and and platinum.

Temperament:

The Tonkinese cat, with one of its parents being the Siamese cat, just loves giving and receiving attention.

Active and social, he is an excellent choice for families with children and even other pets. They love just seeking out their human companions and lying down where they are.

They’re intelligent felines these, and you can even teach them some simple commands. Because of them being so very social, they don’t like to be left on their own – certainly not for the whole day while you go off to work.

Ideally, it would be nice to have two of these cats together.

Domestic hybrid cats such as the Pantherette make great pets. However, you need to bear in mind that these cats have that wild side to them and they often try to escape.

They are larger than the regular cat and its always advisable to have an outdoor shelter for them as well. The Pantherette is a truly beautiful cat but read up all you can on hybrid cats before you bring one into your home.

Tonkinese cats can be active and highly entertaining with their antics. When you laugh at them, they are encouraged to perform more.

They are affectionate and intelligent cats and you will need to have toys for him. When he isn't playing, he likes nothing more than to be petted and pampered by his human family.

Your Tonkinese will get on well with children and other pets, and he generally makes a splendid pet for those who care well for him.

Hybrids suffer from genetic defects. These defects can often require surgery. A cat such as the Pantherette also requires a top-notch diet. You may even have to speak to your vet because these cats often battle to digest their food.

People who work with these hybrid cats say that a problem they often see is inflammatory bowel disease and diarrhea. Remember that cats like these are carnivores and their diets have to be made up essentially of meat if they are to remain healthy.

Tonkinese are generally healthy cats but they can be prone to eye problems such as gingvitis.

Because they are part of the Siamese family, they can succumb to some of the diseases that the Siamese battles with. These are asthma/bronchial disease, heart defects, lymphoma, and crossed eyes.

Lymphoma:

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphocytes - cells involved in the immune system.

Lymphoma is linked with feline leukemia, a viral infection, and thankfully, more cats are being vaccinated for feline leukemia, so fortunately it is becoming less common.

Intestinal lymphoma affects the gastrointestinal tract and is the most common type of lymphoma in cats, being more common in older cats. Affected cats can suffer with weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. Get your cat to the vet as diagnosing this lymphoma will require the vet finding cancerous cells on microscopic examination.

To ensure a quality lifestyle for your Panetherett, you want to care for him properly. A well cared for cat is one that becomes the best pet.

He will have to go to the vet at some stage for sickness and for his vaccines.

Make sure you invest in a cat carrier or sturdy leash as your cat won’t like going to the vet. These cats can struggle, wriggle and writhe and he will make every effort to get away.

Speak to your vet about ticks, fleas, and worms in your pet as these parasites can cause havoc with your cat’s health.

Domestic hybrids such as the Pantherette will need to have a litter box that is cleaned every day. These cats like a clean litter box. Make sure that you scoop the litter box at least one time each day. If you don't clean his litter box regularly, you’ll find that he tends to use other areas of your home as a toilet. Being a hybrid, it is quite likely that he will in any case as these cat's wild side see to this.

Ensure he gets the best cat food there is. A cat is a carnivore which means he is a meat eater. If you buy commercially manufactured pet food, make sure that the top ingredients on the label have meat and protein listed at the top.

Speak to your vet about the absolute importance of quality cat food for your feline pet, as poor quality food can make your cat sick and you’ll be spending more time at the vet.

Cats can easily become dehydrated, so ensure that he has a bowl of fresh, cool water available to him around the clock. You can have one or two water bowls available to him and the water bowls must be cleaned regularly.

The Tonkinese has a short coat so a brush once a week will be sufficient for this cat as it just helps to brush away dust and loose hairs.

He will need a litter box and this will need to be kept spotlessly clean. Use a small rake, available from your vet or local pet shop, to rake up the cat’s feces.

When you first bring your Tonkinese cat home, you will at least need some of the basics to ensure his wellbeing. These are -

sleeping equipment – baskets or cushions in a nice warm, dry place for your cat.

Food and water bowls.

A cat tree for climbing and a scratching post. Cats are natural scratchers so you can’t get angry with your cat for scratching. Instead, invest in a scratching post so that he doesn’t use your furniture to scratch on.

Food is such an important part of caring for a cat. The best type of cat food can ensure your cat has a strong immune system that allows him to not succumb to every cat sickness there is.

Cats are carnivores so ensure he has food high in meat. Sometimes it can be costly, but try to provide your cat with the best, most high-quality cat foods there are to ensure his good health and happiness.

A cat needs a constant supply of fresh, cool water night and day. The water should be changed regularly.