Tonkinese vs Sphynx - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Tonkinese vs Sphynx - Breed ComparisonBoth Sphynx and Tonkinese are originated from Canada. Both Sphynx and Tonkinese are having almost same weight. Sphynx may live 4 years less than Tonkinese. Both Sphynx and Tonkinese has same litter size. Both Sphynx and Tonkinese requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

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Canada
Canada
Weight Male:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 14 Years
10 - 18 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
None
The Tonk
Colors Available:
All colors
4 Base colors - medium brown, champagne, blue and and platinum.
Coat:
Hairless
Short and silky
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

sphynxThe Sphynx cat is well known for its hairlessness. This breed started its development in Toronto, Canada.

A hairless kitten was born and it was mated to produce more hairless kittens. These kittens were called Canadian Hairless Cats. They were used as the foundation for a new breed.

In the 1970s, more hairless kittens were born and placed into the Sphynx breeding program. They were mated with Devon Rex cats. The International Cat Association recognizes this cat breed.

tonkineseIt 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.

Description

sphynx kitten - descriptionThe Sphynx is a medium-sized, fine-boned, muscular cat that weighs roughly between 3.5 – 7 kg. The skin of the cat has a soft chamois type feel to it.

Sometimes there can be a few hairs. The head of this cat is longer and narrower than many of the other cat breeds. The ears are large.

This cat is going to need a bath once a week with special medicated cat shampoo. The cat also has no whiskers or eyelashes. The legs are long and slender and he has a barrel chest. All skin patterns and colors are available with the cat.

Temperament:

The Sphynx is a loving, friendly, energetic, extrovert cat that loves nothing more than to be petted and pampered.

It one of the few dependent cats there are. Even though he is social, he isn’t very vocal. They are playful too and because they are also intelligent, they will need stimulating games and toys to keep them from becoming bored.

They get on well with children in the home. Like many other cats, the Sphynx cat can be doglike and they like to welcome their owners home.

tonkinese kitten - descriptionAs 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.

Characteristics

sphynx cat - characteristicsThe Sphynx can be in a house where there are children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

The cat is energetic and loves to entertain and amuse his human family with his antics.

He is loving and loyal to his human family and absolutely hates staying on his own. He can actually get depressed when he is left on his own often.

He would be far better off with another cat companion. If you're looking for a fun, playul, loving and affectionate feline companion, you need look no further than the weird-looking sphynx cat.

tonkinese cat - characteristicsTonkinese 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.

Health Problems

sphynx kittens - health problemsThe Canadian Sphynx, just because of its lack of hair, already faces challenges. Other cats have fur to keep them warm and to protect the skin from sunlight.

In fact, when the kittens are born, without hair, they are vulnerable and become prone to respiratory infections. Reputable breeders, therefore, only allow their kittens to go to new homes when they are at least 14 weeks of age.

This cat is also prone to skin problems and this could include rashes and fungal infections. As with any other cat, the Sphynx cat requires protection from harmful cat diseases by being vaccinated.

tonkinese kittens - health problemsTonkinese 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.

Caring The Pet

sphynx cats - caringEven though the Sphynx cat is hairless, he isn’t to be regarded as a low maintenance cat. First of all, the sheer lack of hair means he is more vulnerable to the sun and to the cold. If he goes outdoors, you have to be careful that his skin doesn’t get burned.

These cats also have more ear wax than other cats as they don’t have hair in their ears. Dirt, wax, and oils can accumulate in the ears. They will need to be cleaned regularly, and a vet or the pet groomer can help you with this.

The Sphynx cat also collects oil and dirt under their nails, so just like the ears, the nails as well as the surrounding skin folds will need to be properly cleaned. Cat owners need to know that these hairless cats aren't as low maintenance as thought, but require quite a bit of grooming. Special grooming products are available for this cat.

What one cat likes to eat won’t be the same as another cat. The Sphynx, like every other cat, is a carnivore and he will need all the different nutrients from his food.

The best commercial cat food manufacturers know that the proportion of these nutrients will vary as the cat ages and goes through different stages of its life. Your cat needs the right meat foods and he needs the right quantity as well.

tonkinese cats - caringThe 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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Sphynx vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Sphynx vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Sphynx vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Sphynx vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Sphynx vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Sphynx vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Sphynx vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Sphynx vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Sphynx vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Sphynx vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Sphynx vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Sphynx vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Sphynx vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Sphynx vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Sphynx vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Sphynx vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Sphynx vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Sphynx vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Sphynx vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Sphynx vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Sphynx vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Sphynx vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Sphynx vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Sphynx vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Sphynx vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. Tonkinese vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. Tonkinese vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. Tonkinese vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. Tonkinese vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. Tonkinese vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. Tonkinese vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. Tonkinese vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. Tonkinese vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. Tonkinese vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. Tonkinese vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Tonkinese vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Tonkinese vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. Tonkinese vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. Tonkinese vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. Tonkinese vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. Tonkinese vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. Tonkinese vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. Tonkinese vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. Tonkinese vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. Tonkinese vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. Tonkinese vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. Tonkinese vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. Tonkinese vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. Tonkinese vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. Tonkinese vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison