Tonkinese vs Norwegian Forest Cat - Breed Comparison

Tonkinese vs Norwegian Forest Cat - Breed ComparisonNorwegian Forest Cat is originated from Norway but Tonkinese is originated from Canada. Both Norwegian Forest Cat and Tonkinese are having almost same weight. Both Norwegian Forest Cat and Tonkinese has almost same life span. Both Norwegian Forest Cat and Tonkinese has same litter size. Both Norwegian Forest Cat and Tonkinese requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

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Norway
Canada
Weight Male:
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
10 - 18 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
Wegie, Gentle Giant
The Tonk
Colors Available:
Many colors and patterns
4 Base colors - medium brown, champagne, blue and and platinum.
Coat:
Thick and long haired
Short and silky
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

norwegian forest catThe beautiful Norwegian Forest cat has a thick fur to survive the snow and icy weather in Norway. It is the official cat of Norway.

It originated in Northern Europe. It is believed that the cat was brought to Norway from Great Britain way back in the time of the Vikings. It is also believed that it reproduced with farm cats and has become the modern-day Norwegian Forest breed.

They were discovered in the early twentieth century by cat enthusiasts and in 1938 an organization was established devoted to this breed.

Also, a club was started for the cat in Oslo so as to preserve the breed. The 2nd World War saw the cat all but disappear but a breeding program was started. It was registered in Europe by the 1970s, and in 1994 by the American Cat Fanciers Association and others.

tonkineseIt was about in 1960 that a breeding program was established for these cats. The Tonkinese is a cat that hails from Canada and it was a certain Jane Batlett who was responsible for breeding this cat.

She wanted a cat that was in between the Burmese and Siamese.

Also, Margaret Conroy, another breeder, set up her breeding program between a Burmese female with a Siamese. Both Conroy and Bartlett worked together on the breed and the Tonkinese came about. The Cat Fanciers Association recognized this cat breed in 1984.

Description

norwegian forest cat kitten - descriptionThis domestic cat is a natural breed with a thick coat of long water-resistant fur and a woolly undercoat. The coat can be in many colors and patterns.

This is a big, strong, heavy boned cat with a bushy tail and long legs. It’s larger than your regular cat and can weigh anything between 3 and 9kg. The eyes are almond-shaped and can be any color while the large ears are high set.

Temperament:

In spite of this being a large cat, they are energetic and yet they don’t like being around boisterous, energetic pets. They are friendly, calm, gentle, and intelligent and enjoy being part of a human family.

They tend to be a bit reserved around strangers. It’s not a demanding cat and can entertain himself with his toys.

tonkinese kitten - descriptionAs a medium-sized cat, with a firm, muscular body, your Tonkinese will weigh between 2.5 – 6kg.The head is slightly rounded with fairly broad ears that are set wide apart.

The eyes are bigger than the classic Oriental shape and can range from green to light blue in color.

The coat of the Tonkinese is short and close-lying and is soft and silky to touch. The mask, the ears, legs and tail are all darker than the body.

The Tonkinese cat breed is recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 4 base colors - medium brown, champagne, blue and and platinum.

Temperament:

The Tonkinese cat, with one of its parents being the Siamese cat, just loves giving and receiving attention.

Active and social, he is an excellent choice for families with children and even other pets. They love just seeking out their human companions and lying down where they are.

They’re intelligent felines these, and you can even teach them some simple commands. Because of them being so very social, they don’t like to be left on their own – certainly not for the whole day while you go off to work.

Ideally, it would be nice to have two of these cats together.

Characteristics

norwegian forest cat cat - characteristicsRemember that your large Norwegian Forest cat likes to scratch so you want to provide him with a scratching post. He is so companionable, you want to reward him by ensuring you make his life as easy as possible.

Known as a gentle giant, the beautiful and undemanding Norwegian Forest cat will appreciate a calm household where he can quietly enjoy the companionship of the humans he loves.

tonkinese cat - characteristicsTonkinese cats can be active and highly entertaining with their antics. When you laugh at them, they are encouraged to perform more.

They are affectionate and intelligent cats and you will need to have toys for him. When he isn't playing, he likes nothing more than to be petted and pampered by his human family.

Your Tonkinese will get on well with children and other pets, and he generally makes a splendid pet for those who care well for him.

Health Problems

norwegian forest cat kittens - health problemsThe lifespan of this big, longhaired cat is usually 14 to 16 years, but you need to check out kidney and heart disease with this particular breed as well as patellar luxation.

You don’t want your cat having problems with the knee cap as this takes away from his ability to leap, pounce and crouch. It’s when the patella or kneecap is out of place. There may not necessarily be pain for your pet and in fact, your cat may not show any signs of abnormality till the condition has become quite advanced.

Your cat can actually become lame. You want to avoid this with the Norwegian as it's a particularly good climber.

tonkinese kittens - health problemsTonkinese are generally healthy cats but they can be prone to eye problems such as gingvitis.

Because they are part of the Siamese family, they can succumb to some of the diseases that the Siamese battles with. These are asthma/bronchial disease, heart defects, lymphoma, and crossed eyes.

Lymphoma:

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphocytes - cells involved in the immune system.

Lymphoma is linked with feline leukemia, a viral infection, and thankfully, more cats are being vaccinated for feline leukemia, so fortunately it is becoming less common.

Intestinal lymphoma affects the gastrointestinal tract and is the most common type of lymphoma in cats, being more common in older cats. Affected cats can suffer with weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. Get your cat to the vet as diagnosing this lymphoma will require the vet finding cancerous cells on microscopic examination.

Caring The Pet

norwegian forest cat cats - caringThe Norwegian has a long coat so you will need to brush it at least twice a week to keep it nice and shiny and free from tangles.

Trim your Norwegian forest cat’s claws. You will need a special nail clipper, but if you're nervous to cut the nails yourself, your vet or pet groomers can do it for you.

Cats battle quite a bit with periodontal disease and an excellent diet can help to prevent this. Cats hate you sticking a toothbrush into their mouths – they can become terrified - and it would b kinder to simply have your cat’s teeth checked out at the vet when you suspect that something might be wrong. At the same time, you can ask to have the inside of your cat’s ears checked for dirt and infection.

Keep your cat’s litter box spotlessly clean. These cats dislike a dirty litter box intensely. Remove all feces every single day – more often even if possible.

One good way to select the best food for your cat is to read the ingredients. The first two ingredients listed on the package should always be meat. Select a high-quality cat food. Keeping Norwegian Forest cats in good health requires high-quality cat food to meet all of your Norwegian forest cat’s nutritional needs.

You can feed your Norwegian Forest cat two meals per day. Always check with your veterinarian for a recommendation on how much and what to feed your cat.

Provide a constant supply of fresh, clean water for your Norwegian Forest cat.The bowl should be in an easy place for your cat to reach and in the shade.

Provide your Norwegian with a soft bed in a quiet, restful place.

tonkinese cats - caringThe Tonkinese has a short coat so a brush once a week will be sufficient for this cat as it just helps to brush away dust and loose hairs.

He will need a litter box and this will need to be kept spotlessly clean. Use a small rake, available from your vet or local pet shop, to rake up the cat’s feces.

When you first bring your Tonkinese cat home, you will at least need some of the basics to ensure his wellbeing. These are -

sleeping equipment – baskets or cushions in a nice warm, dry place for your cat.

Food and water bowls.

A cat tree for climbing and a scratching post. Cats are natural scratchers so you can’t get angry with your cat for scratching. Instead, invest in a scratching post so that he doesn’t use your furniture to scratch on.

Food is such an important part of caring for a cat. The best type of cat food can ensure your cat has a strong immune system that allows him to not succumb to every cat sickness there is.

Cats are carnivores so ensure he has food high in meat. Sometimes it can be costly, but try to provide your cat with the best, most high-quality cat foods there are to ensure his good health and happiness.

A cat needs a constant supply of fresh, cool water night and day. The water should be changed regularly.

Comparison with other breeds

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  3. Tonkinese vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Tonkinese vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Tonkinese vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Tonkinese vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Tonkinese vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Tonkinese vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Tonkinese vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Tonkinese vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Tonkinese vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Tonkinese vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
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  15. Tonkinese vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
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  17. Tonkinese vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
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  20. Tonkinese vs Birman - Breed Comparison
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  22. Tonkinese vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
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  24. Tonkinese vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Tonkinese vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. Norwegian Forest Cat vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. Norwegian Forest Cat vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison