diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index bb9b94c23955..bab1f67bab53 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -1044,34 +1044,24 @@ class itself will store the flag and the ``_on_timer`` method should be
 
     - ``_on_timer``: The internal function that any timer object should call,
       which will handle the task of running all callbacks that have been set.
-
-    Attributes
-    ----------
-    interval : int, default: 1000ms
-        The time between timer events in milliseconds.
-    single_shot : bool, default: False
-        Whether this timer should operate as single shot (run once and then
-        stop).
-    callbacks : List[Tuple[callable, Tuple, Dict]]
-        Stores list of (func, args, kwargs) tuples that will be called upon
-        timer events. This list can be manipulated directly, or the
-        functions `add_callback` and `remove_callback` can be used.
     """
 
     def __init__(self, interval=None, callbacks=None):
-        #Initialize empty callbacks list and setup default settings if necssary
-        if callbacks is None:
-            self.callbacks = []
-        else:
-            self.callbacks = callbacks.copy()
-
-        if interval is None:
-            self._interval = 1000
-        else:
-            self._interval = interval
-
+        """
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        interval : int, default: 1000ms
+            The time between timer events in milliseconds.  Will be stored as
+            ``timer.interval``.
+        callbacks : List[Tuple[callable, Tuple, Dict]]
+            List of (func, args, kwargs) tuples that will be called upon
+            timer events.  This list is accessible as ``timer.callbacks`` and
+            can be manipulated directly, or the functions `add_callback` and
+            `remove_callback` can be used.
+        """
+        self.callbacks = [] if callbacks is None else callbacks.copy()
+        self._interval = 1000 if interval is None else interval
         self._single = False
-
         # Default attribute for holding the GUI-specific timer object
         self._timer = None
 
@@ -1105,6 +1095,7 @@ def _timer_stop(self):
 
     @property
     def interval(self):
+        """The time between timer events, in milliseconds."""
         return self._interval
 
     @interval.setter
@@ -1117,6 +1108,7 @@ def interval(self, interval):
 
     @property
     def single_shot(self):
+        """Whether this timer should stop after a single run."""
         return self._single
 
     @single_shot.setter
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
index 7afd6298e69b..b9df92ec6402 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/_backend_tk.py
@@ -80,22 +80,8 @@ def blit(photoimage, aggimage, offsets, bbox=None):
 
 
 class TimerTk(TimerBase):
-    """
-    Subclass of :class:`backend_bases.TimerBase` that uses Tk's timer events.
+    """Subclass of `backend_bases.TimerBase` using Tk timer events."""
 
-    Attributes
-    ----------
-    interval : int, default: 1000ms
-        The time between timer events in milliseconds.
-    single_shot : bool, default: False
-        Whether this timer should operate as single shot (run once and then
-        stop).
-    callbacks : list
-        Stores list of (func, args) tuples that will be called upon timer
-        events. This list can be manipulated directly, or the functions
-        `add_callback` and `remove_callback` can be used.
-
-    """
     def __init__(self, parent, *args, **kwargs):
         TimerBase.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
         self.parent = parent
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
index 0aac2cac046c..7fd0a3fe4d0b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
@@ -51,21 +51,7 @@
 
 
 class TimerGTK3(TimerBase):
-    """
-    Subclass of `.TimerBase` using GTK3 for timer events.
-
-    Attributes
-    ----------
-    interval : int, default: 1000ms
-        The time between timer events in milliseconds.
-    single_shot : bool, default: False
-        Whether this timer should operate as single shot (run once and then
-        stop).
-    callbacks : list
-        Stores list of (func, args) tuples that will be called upon timer
-        events. This list can be manipulated directly, or the functions
-        `add_callback` and `remove_callback` can be used.
-    """
+    """Subclass of `.TimerBase` using GTK3 timer events."""
 
     def _timer_start(self):
         # Need to stop it, otherwise we potentially leak a timer id that will
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
index eced4dfc622e..b8b66bfd08f5 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_macosx.py
@@ -19,22 +19,7 @@
 
 
 class TimerMac(_macosx.Timer, TimerBase):
-    """
-    Subclass of `.TimerBase` that uses CoreFoundation run loops for timer
-    events.
-
-    Attributes
-    ----------
-    interval : int, default: 1000ms
-        The time between timer events in milliseconds.
-    single_shot : bool, default: False
-        Whether this timer should operate as single shot (run once and then
-        stop).
-    callbacks : list
-        Stores list of (func, args) tuples that will be called upon timer
-        events. This list can be manipulated directly, or the functions
-        `add_callback` and `remove_callback` can be used.
-    """
+    """Subclass of `.TimerBase` using CFRunLoop timer events."""
     # completely implemented at the C-level (in _macosx.Timer)
 
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
index d2b43742ab00..ed738e0e000b 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt5.py
@@ -175,25 +175,10 @@ def wrapper(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
 
 class TimerQT(TimerBase):
-    """
-    Subclass of `.TimerBase` that uses Qt timer events.
-
-    Attributes
-    ----------
-    interval : int, default: 1000ms
-        The time between timer events in milliseconds.
-    single_shot : bool, default: False
-        Whether this timer should operate as single shot (run once and then
-        stop).
-    callbacks : list
-        Stores list of (func, args) tuples that will be called upon timer
-        events. This list can be manipulated directly, or the functions
-        `add_callback` and `remove_callback` can be used.
-    """
+    """Subclass of `.TimerBase` using QTimer events."""
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         TimerBase.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
-
         # Create a new timer and connect the timeout() signal to the
         # _on_timer method.
         self._timer = QtCore.QTimer()
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
index de7be3db56fb..088789985944 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_wx.py
@@ -69,21 +69,7 @@ def error_msg_wx(msg, parent=None):
 
 
 class TimerWx(TimerBase):
-    """
-    Subclass of `.TimerBase` that uses WxTimer events.
-
-    Attributes
-    ----------
-    interval : int, default: 1000ms
-        The time between timer events in milliseconds.
-    single_shot : bool, default: False
-        Whether this timer should operate as single shot (run once and then
-        stop).
-    callbacks : list
-        Stores list of (func, args) tuples that will be called upon timer
-        events. This list can be manipulated directly, or the functions
-        `add_callback` and `remove_callback` can be used.
-    """
+    """Subclass of `.TimerBase` using wx.Timer events."""
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         TimerBase.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)