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Tonkinese Eyes
Shape and Colour
© Linda Vousden
SHAPE
Tonkinese eyes are open and yet quite exotic looking, neither round nor 'oriental' in shape. The GCCF show standard calls for them to be - "Large and expressive, more almond shaped than round and set well apart. The top line of the eye is slanted down towards the nose; the lower line of the eye is rounded. " The eye shape is best assessed when the cat is relaxed, as it may have a more wide-eyed (rounded) expression when it is either excited or stressed.
COLOUR
I, like many other Tonkinese fans, came to know the breed after the passing of a beloved cat (in my case my Siamese, Moral). Having been used to the vivid blue of the Siamese I initially thought that aquamarine Tonkinese eye-colour was a little faded - but soon came to appreciate the incredibly subtle beauty of their eyes. I found it interesting that for numerous reasons the colour cannot be bred for; and that it is so subtle that both ambient and reflected light can alter the appearance of the colour. Please note that the photographs below have not been enhanced.
The fragility and variability of the eye colour means that although there are typical eye-colours associated with each coat-pattern some cats exhibit untypical eye-colour, for example cats with the intermediate coat-pattern may have more green toned eyes than aqua, or in maturity may loose some of the green tones and show more blue colour in their eyes. It has been noticed that eye-colour is also affected by hormonal changes, particularly in females, with a tendency to shift toward the blue end of the spectrum.
A Natural Aquamarine
Eye Colour in Tonkinese (intermediate/mink) coat-patterned Tonks.
Left to right: Mymystic Qadesh (Brown), Mymystic Pharoah (Blue-Tabby), Mymystic Chipharo (Caramel-Tabby kitten)
Eye Colour in solid (sepia) coat-patterned Tonks.
Left to right: Mymystic Metaluna (Brown Tabby) and Mymystic Shade (Caramel-Tabby kitten)
Eye Colour in pointed coat-patterned Tonks.
Mymystic Khamsin (Blue)