Tonkinese cats are generally trim and muscular cats. They are heavier than they appear to be due to their very muscular bodies. They have a distinctive oval shaped paw, and a modified wedge shaped head, with large ears set towards the outside of their head. The most commonly accepted colors are: platinum, champagne, blue, and natural. Typically, solid Tonkinese cats have gold or green eyes, cats with the pointed pattern are blue eyed, and the mink cats have a shade of aquamarine. A great deal of subtle variation exists in colors and patterns, and Tonkinese body color darkens with age to some degree in all patterns. Cats kept in colder climates will typically be darker in their mink or point shading, like their Siamese cousins.

Tonkinese cats are unusually intelligent, curious, affectionate toward and interested in people. Tonks are playful cats, but not hyperactive, although they can be mischievous if they become lonesome or bored. Some interesting toys and a cat tree, or another Tonkinese, will keep them occupied when you’re not around. Unlike most breeds of cat, they are reported to sometimes, even often, engage in fetching, and they can often be found perched on the highest object in the house. Do not be alarmed if your Tonkinese jumps on your shoulders, as the breed is known for their love of heights. Tonkinese are more like Burmese in temperament than Siamese. They are less high strung and demanding. Their voices are also less piercing in most cases than the Siamese, but most Tonks are fairly vocal. Most observers feel they combine the more attractive features of both ancestor breeds.