Are there qualities that are inherently common to dogs that you wish you could have in your cat? Believe it or not, there are certain breeds of cats that are so people oriented, like dogs are, that they are referred to as dog cats. They are Tonkinese Cats. But the beautiful bonus to owning a Tonkinese Cat over a dog is you don't have to wake up in the middle of the night to let is out to go potty. Aren't litter boxes the greatest? And personality? You can't beat a Tonk when looking for a fun loving, sociably involved cat. They even love to play fetch.
According to documentation, Tonkinese cats have existed since at least the 1800s. However, if it were left up to Burmese and Siamese cat breeders, they would have been bred into extinction. Documentation aside, the first known Tonkinese was a cat named Wong Mau in the 1930s, the ancestress to the Burmese, which was bred with a Siamese. But most breeders of Burmese and Siamese cats were very careful to breed out the Tonkinese characteristics, resulting in the two breeds that exist today. Fortunately, in the 1970s, some breeders once again began cross breeding the two cats in order to bring about the existence of the Tonkinese that we have today. It could be said that the breeders who tried to wipe out this species feel that there is no reason to have the Tonkinese cats in existence; fortunately there are people who don't agree.
Tonkinese cats are intelligent and possess an avid curiosity like their Siamese relatives, but are considerably more laid back, like their Burmese side. They are known for their independence, have strong personalities, and can be as stubborn as all get out. They will never be considered lazy or slug-about, but these cats are just so happy and lovable that you certainly couldn't stay mad at them for long. They don't like being alone so it is best to have two or even another dog or cat to keep them company if no one is home for long periods of the day, say at school or work. They get along equally well with adults and children alike. It is also best to keep them indoor at all times, otherwise they might contract disease or even more likely be stolen.
They have gorgeous, open, and almond shaped eyes that vary in color from blue to green/gold, but Tonkinese are also the only pedigree cat that can have aqua eyes. They also have three distinctive coat patterns: solid, mink, and pointed.
Tonks hate closed doors; they prefer to know absolutely everything that is going on, and they love being high up, often jumping up on your shoulder for a quick ride and a cuddle. You should genuinely consider getting a cat tree for your Tonk as they love to run up and down them, and it is a great way for them to burn off excess energy.
If you listen to the advice of most conventional veterinarians, the answer would be "vaccinate for (nearly) all diseases, and give booster shots annually". However, I do not advocate this approach.
With the evidence as clear as it is, most veterinary schools are now advising alternate vaccine protocols - fewer vaccines and less often. Newer research is showing that vaccine immunity lasts much longer than previously thought. In some cases, a vaccine given at 1 year of age may provide lifelong immunity. The analogy can be drawn to people and Tetanus vaccine - it only needs to be boosted every 10 years (or perhaps longer), and this may be similar in dogs and cats.
In truth, vaccines do help prevent serious diseases, but they really should be used with caution. Before you vaccinate your cat or dog, take time to consider the actual risk. If you have a cat that is indoor-only (and she will never be exposed to non-vaccinated animals), the actual risk of infection is very low. On the other hand, if you board your dog often in kennels, or if she goes to a busy doggie day care, then she may have a high exposure to a variety of diseases.
The Vaccine decision is an individual one, and it should be guided by your personal research on the subject before you make the trip to your veterinarian. Talk with local veterinarians and other people in the pet health field, along with pet owners, and find out which diseases are common and what your dog or cat may be exposed to.
If you would like my dog and cat vaccine recommendations, visit one of my websites (see the resource box for a link to VeterinarySecretsRevealed or TheOnlineVet) and send an email to my support address with the request, and I'll send along my vaccine report. Best wishes to you and your pets!
Both Iro Ignatiadi & Dr. Andrew Jones, Dvm are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Iro Ignatiadi has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cats, Pets and Mobile Phone Reviews. For more specific information on Tonkinese Cats, click here , for more cat breed care and information on all types of felines visit our main site. Iro Ignatiadi's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Dr. Andrew Jones, Dvm has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets. The decision to vaccinate your pet can be confusing - should you , and what should you vaccinate for? Visit Dr. Jones' site. Dr. Andrew Jones, Dvm's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.