Meet the Tonkers

Paddle, Ball, and Pong
Originally uploaded by tonkitty.

I'd like to introduce our Tonkinese felines. From left to right - Paddle, Ball, and Pong. Tonks are a breed originally crossed between a Siamese and a Burmese. Their distinguishing characteristics are beautiful aqua eyes (a blend between the Siamese's sapphire and the Burmese's yellow.) Paddle's eyes are more a light green than aqua. They have beautiful, soft, mink-like coats. The colors are blue, natural mink, champagne, and platinum. Ours are a platinum solid, a platinum mink, and a blue. Our Ping was a gorgeous natural mink.

Tonks are very sociable cats, quite muscular and athletic, and great talkers. Pong has a purr so loud you can easily hear it across the room. It carries over the telephone and can drown out the caller when he's in full purr mode. They love to be up high, and have even jumped up onto the top edge of doors. Paddle is a shoulder rider.

They're all sweet and lovable and very intelligent. I've heard Tonks described as the cat for dog people. I used to call Ping my puppycat because she followed me around just like a dog. Each of our kitties has its own distinct personality. Ball is the smallest cat, but he's the alpha male, loves to ambush and take pot shots of the others. Pong is nearly twice Ball's size, but he's just a big old marshmallow. Very easy going, a lover not a fighter. Paddle is our whiney cat. She can drive you crazy with her meowing, usually because she wants attention or she's lonely - can't find the other kitties and wants to cuddle with somebody. If she's shown where the other kitties are sacked out, she's happy and curls up in the pussy pile.