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Cornish Rex vs Tonkinese
Two playful, people-loving cats. The Tonkinese is larger, softer-voiced and top-rated with children and pets; the Cornish has the rex coat and more energy.
Verdict
These two are close, and the one thing that decides it is coat and size. The Cornish Rex is small, with a thin, waved coat and top marks for energy. The Tonkinese is a medium, muscular cat with a smooth mink coat and a moderate voice. It rates top marks with children and other pets. Both love company and play. Choose the Tonkinese for a sociable all-round family cat, and the Cornish for a smaller, more energetic cat with a rex coat.
Choose the Cornish Rex if
- You want the curly rex coat.
- You want a smaller cat, at 6 to 9 lb.
- You want a little more energy.
- You can keep the house warm.
Choose the Tonkinese if
- You want a cat that rates top marks with children and other pets.
- You prefer a smooth coat without a rex gene.
- You want a muscular, medium-sized cat that is moderately talkative.
- You will ask your vet about gum disease, the one condition on its watch-list.
Where they are alike
Both score top marks for affection and play, and both have short coats that need little grooming and shed lightly. Both do poorly when left alone for long hours.
Side by side
| Cornish Rex | Tonkinese | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf | Shorthair |
| Origin | Cornwall, England | Canada and the United States |
| Size | Small | Medium |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are slightly larger | 6-12 lb (2.7-5.4 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | Typically 12-16 years |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Very fine, soft, tightly waved coat of down hair only, with no guard hairs | Medium-short, close-lying, fine, silky coat with a lustrous sheen |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1964 | Championship breed since 1984 |
| How common | Uncommon | Uncommon |
| Affection | 5 | 5 |
| Energy | 5 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 5 |
| Talkativeness | 3 | 4 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 1 |
| Shedding | 2 | 2 |
| Good with children | 4 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 5 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 1 |
| Trainability | 4 | 5 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The thin coat sheds less hair than most, but allergens come from saliva and skin as well as fur. | — |
| Suits | An active household that wants a playful, people-loving cat and can keep the home warm. | A family or a person at home much of the day that wants a sociable, clever, moderately talkative cat. |
| Less suited to | A cold house, a home that is empty all day, or anyone who wants a calm lap cat. | Anyone out for long hours; the breed is prone to loneliness and boredom. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch | — |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026