Head:
Shape/Size: A modified wedge with clean, gently curved contours, slightly longer than wide; head and ears form an equilateral triangle when viewed full front. Profile: This should be a slight convex curve from top of head to just above eyes, dipping to gentle stop about eye level. There is no break. The nose should be very slightly convex. Muzzle: Is a medium length with good width across jaw, tapering to blunt finish, neither point nor round. There is a gentle muzzle break; no foxiness. A firm chin is expected. It is not heavy, prominent nor weak. Ears: Are moderate in size, slightly taller than wide with broad base and oval tips, set as much on side of head as on top. The outer edge is a continuation of the equilateral triangle from the chin to ear tip. Ears are pricked forward. Eyes: They are open and almond shaped, and are about an eye-width apart, with the outer corner pointing toward lower edge of outer ear base. Eye color is dependent upon coat pattern.
Eye colors:
Mink Pattern: Aqua is desired. Blue-green to green-blue is acceptable.
Solid Pattern: Chartreuse is desired. Green to yellow-green is acceptable.
Point Pattern: Blue is desired. Light sky blue to deep sapphire blue is acceptable.
All eye color should be clear, strong, with midrange colors preferred. Eye color is best seen in natural light. Note: Tonkinese eye color is negatively affected by indoor mercury vapor lighting as found in arenas and other large venues.
Body and Tail:
Torso/Neck: These are neither stocky nor rangy. The torso is a moderate rectangle. It is well rounded but not cobby. The abdomen is taut; well muscled and firm. The neck is medium in length. Allowance should be made for whole mature males who may be extremely muscular and lean looking. Legs/Feet: The hind legs are slightly longer than the front legs. They are well muscled without bulk. They are not delicate. The feet are a medium oval shape. Tail: It is medium length, tapering only slightly from base of tail to tip. It is not whippy.
Coat:
This is medium short (1/2 to 1 inch), luxuriant and close lying, soft with a lustrous sheen. Hair shafts of the coat can be lighter underneath when hairs are parted but the point color hairshafts should be sound to the roots.
Coat Color and Markings:
The color designation for Tonkinese refers to the point colors. The names of the colors (i.e. Natural, Champagne, Blue and Platinum) are what you “see” in the points “not” the body itself.
Accepted Colors:
| Natural Solid | Natural Mink | Natural Point |
| Blue Solid | Blue Mink | Blue Point |
| Champagne Solid | Champagne Mink | Champagne Point |
| Platinum Solid | Platinum Mink | Platinum Point |
Natural Mink, Natural Solid, Natural Point
Points: Rich dark chocolate to sable brown.
Mink Body Color: Warm light to medium brown. Contrast to points.
Solid Body Color: Just lighter than points.
Point Body Color: Creamy fawn with brown shading. Very marked contrast to points.
Nose Leather: Dark brown. Paw pads: Medium to dark brown (may have rosy undertone making it seem almost burgundy or purple).
Blue Mink, Blue Solid, Blue Point
Points: medium to dark slate blue.
Mink Body Color: Ash blue to medium blue, often with fawn overtones. Contrast to points.
Solid Body Color: Just lighter than points often with fawn overtones.
Point Body Color: Silvery blue-white with blue-gray shading, often with fawn tones. Very marked contrast to points.
Nose leather: Blue-gray. Paw Pads: blue-gray (may have rosy undertone).
Champagne Mink, Champagne Solid, Champagne Point
Points: light to dark chocolate.
Mink Body Color: Buff/cream to pale tan. Contrast to points.
Solid Body Color: Golden tan just lighter than points.
Point Body color: Ecru with buff/tan shading. Very marked contrast to points.
Nose leather: Cinnamon-brown. Paw pads: cinnamon-pink to cinnamon-brown.
Platinum Mink, Platinum Solid, Platinum Point
Points pale dove gray to medium pinkish lavender.
Mink body Color: Pale silver to light pearl gray, often with fawn overtones. Contrast to points.
Solid Body Color: Warm gray or pearly gray just lighter than points.
Point Body Color: Pearly white with silvery-gray shading, often with fawn overtones. Very marked contrast to points.
Nose leather: Lavender-pink to lavender-gray. Paw pads: lavender-pink.
Markings: No spots, rings, tabby markings, barring. Very slight light barring on lower legs and tail allowed in kittens. Tonkinese may take up to 18 months for coloring of mask on face to connect and it could take up to 18 months for spots/barring to disappear. Mature cats will darken with age, but contrast must remain where called for. Point color will blend into body color, and mask color must connect with ear color in adult cats. On pointed adult body color will darken with age on haunches, back of neck and occasionally stomach area. Ear and mask color will not continue over the head to form a hood. The underside of cats should be lighter than upper-side body/coat color. Intensity of point color should be equal in adult cats. Legs/feet will be the last to darken as cats mature.
| PENALIZE: | Spots, rings, tabby markings, barring in adult cats over 18 months of age. Round eyes. Poor condition. |
| WITHHOLD: | Locket, button[s]. Head with prominent round eyes, very short muzzle with nose break and short upper jaw and heavy lower jaw. |
