The following are key events in the history of Tonkinese. Since TBA is a CFA club, the time line focuses on CFA and TBA events, but other events are included to make it more complete. All dates after 1975 are CFA except for 2 TICA dates.
Early dates are obtained from articles written by a variety of people and not based on original records. The CFA dates are based on CFA Board Minutes.
Note: In showing some board actions I have listed only the first request and if denied, I then put when it eventually passed. There may be more years when it was denied in-between.
Events
| 1800's | In the Thailand area, all three coat patterns exist that are today known as Siamese, Tonkinese, and Burmese and is the source for all 3 breeds |
| 1930 | Wong Mau imported to the United States. She is the foundation cat for the Burmese and the first known cat in the US with a mink pattern. |
| 1945 | CFA prohibits Siamese to Burmese crosses from being shown in Championship |
| 1950's | Miscellaneous breeding of Siamese and Burmese cats |
| 1965 | Margaret Conroy in Canada starts breeding Tonkinese & Jane Barletta in the US as well as many other breeders |
| 1966 | Tonkinese can't be registered in CFA but are shown in various classes over the next few years: Household Pets, For Exhibit Only, and Experimental Classes |
| 1967 | Canadian Cat Association (CCA) recognizes Tonkinese |
| 1971 | Canadian Cat Association (CCA) accepts Tonkinese
in Championship Class Tonkinese Breed Club (TBC) is formed to promote Tonkinese |
| 1972 | Independent Cat Federation (ICF) accepts Tonkinese |
| 1974 | Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF) accepts Tonkinese in Experimental class |
| 1976 | May 1 Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF) accepts Tonkinese in Championship class |
| 1977 | TBC Requests registration in CFA - denied |
| 1978 | TBC Requests registration in CFA - denied then
discussion reopened and approved Breed Council started |
| 1979 | CFA Tonkinese CFA registration complete and
Tonkinese start being shown in Miscellaneous class in 4 colors: Natural,
Champagne, Blue, and Honey Tonkinese Breed Association (TBA) forms to promote Tonkinese in CFA & publishes the first Aqua Eye in July CFA accepts both TBC and TBA as Tonkinese breed clubs TICA accepts Tonkinese first year it is created 1st TBA Logo created |
| 1980 | TBC resigns from CFA and TBA becomes the sole
representative club Intention to request move to Provisional barred by 5 year rule Platinum color added Malayans (Dilute Burmese) accepted as outcrosses Classified as hybrids Breed council disbanded due to 1979 rule requiring a breed be in provisional class first |
| 1981 | Request Provisional status - 5 year rule waived and it is approved |
| 1982 | Question regarding polling of Siamese and Burmese
breeders on their breed council ballots about Tonkinese Tonks shown in Provisional class and Breed Council formed again |
| 1983 | Request championship status - denied |
| 1984 | Request Championship status - accepted Outcrossing to Siamese and Burmese stopped |
| 1986 | Request separate color classes in competition - denied |
| 1989 | TICA accepts all 3 coat patterns in championship class |
| 1991 | Honey moved to AOV class |
| 1993 | Request separate color classes in competition
- accepted Color definitions added for 12 color, coat patterns |
| 1995 | Judges workshop at the annual in San Diego |
| 1998 | Request acceptance of all 3 coat patterns for championship - ruled out of order |
| 2000 | Request change from hybrid to established breed status - failed |
| 2001 | Request change from hybrid to established breed status - accepted |
| 2002 | Request acceptance of all 3 coat patterns for championship - accepted |
Breed Clubs
There have been 2 main national Tonkinese clubs in the US. The first was TBC. Although affiliated with CCF, it worked with members of many registries: CFF, CFA, TICA, and CCA. It was the breed club that worked to gain registration in CFA. In 1979 TBA was formed which focused on CFA alone. TBC eventually dropped out of CFA as TBA took dominance, but continued with the other organizations and did publish information about CFA as well. Many people were members of both.
TBA Shows
(may be incomplete)
| 1981 August 30 | Smithtown, NY | ||
| 1982 August 28/29 | Long Island, NY | Cats Ahoy | |
| 1983 August 13 | Long Island, NY | ||
| 1984 April 28-29 | Melville, NY | Honkey Tonks | |
| 1985 May 11 | Dracut, MA | ||
| 1990 Feb 24-25 | Salem, NH | ||
| 1992 May 30-31 | Pasadena, CA | Reflections | Jointly with the Havana Brown Fanciers |
| 1993 July 31, Aug 1 | Boxborough, MA | ||
| 1994 May 21-22 | Chicago, IL | 'Celebrate' 10 Years in Championship | |
| 1995 March 11-12 | Mesquite, TX | Jointly with the Lone Star Cat Club | |
| 1998 August 1-2 | St. Charles, MO | ||
| 1999 ? | Ontario, CA | ||
| 2000 Jan | Baltimore, MD | ||
| 2001 Sept 20-21 | Columbus, Ohio | ||
| 2002 June 29-30 | Allentown, PA | ||
| 2003 March 29-30 | Houston, TX | ||
| 2004 | Phoenix, AZ | ||
| 2005 | None | ||
| 2006 | Indianapolis, IN | ||
| 2007 Aug | Portland, OR | ||
| 2008 Sep | Baltimore, MD | ||
| 2009 Aug 16-17 | Allen Park, Mi |