With an exotic look resembling that of a tiger, the Toyger cat breed is a one of the newest breeds of cat and is completely domesticated. Much like the Bengal, the Toyger is a designer breed and was originally called "California Toyger".
The actual name is a portmanteau of the words "toy" and "tiger" to create "Toyger". In this post we are going to teach you everything you need to know about the Toyger cat breed.
This includes the characteristics of the Toyger, history, grooming & care, and the best places where you can adopt or buy a Toyger.
Toyger
WEIGHT: 7-15 pounds
LENGTH: Medium
COAT: Short and soft
COAT COLORS: Brown mackerel tabby
EYE COLOR: Dark brown / hazel
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10 to 15 years
Before we take a look at the history and all of the other cool facts about the Toyger cat breed, let's first take a look at the appearance of these magnificent creatures.
- Head: An oval shaped head which is medium-sized with a cylindrical and well defined muzzle.
- Eyes: Medium in size that are set wide apart and are circular in shape. The eyes are generally dark brown / hazel.
- Nose: Long, broad, and rounded.
- Ears: Wide and rounded.
- Torso: Medium in size with an athletic, muscular shape and a sleek appearance.
- Legs And Feet: Medium-sized and athletic.
- Tail: Long and thin with a rounded tip.
- Color And Markings: Vertically aligned stripes that are black to brown on pumpkin ground color that resemble that of a wild tiger.
- Coat: Short and soft.
Characteristics of the Toyger Cat
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Temperament
As with pretty much most breeds of cats, the Toyger doesn't like change and prefers a regular routine in their daily life. They can easily become stressed by even the slightest changes such as the furniture being moved around or change in feeding time.
This breed is outgoing and is extremely confident in social situations who loves being around people. With Toyger's being such social creatures, being left alone even for short periods of time is a major dislike for them.
This means they are a great pet for a household where at least one person is at home during the day. Another solution is to buy two of them so they always have company. This is also advised with other breeds such as Bengal's.
Thy are not the most vocal breed around but they are known to communicate back at times when spoken too.
Intelligence
The Toyger is a highly intelligent breed which means they can easily be trained to do a number of different things such as playing "fetch". As they are so intelligent, this means they require a lot of stimulation.
Interactive games are essential to keep them entertained. More info on this below.
Children and Other Pets
Previously we mentioned how outgoing the Toyger breed is. This makes them an excellent choice for families with children. Although they mean no harm, they can get a little boisterous, so playtime with children should always be supervised.
Their playful and social personality also means they get along great with other pets such as dogs. This usually works best when both pets grow up together. Care still has to be taken when introducing a Toyger with a dog.
Energy Levels/Playfulness
Although Toygers have plenty of energy and love to play, they also have a very easy going nature. You can teach them to fetch and they love to play interactive games. This is why it's important to have a large range of toys available for them.
Although Toygers adapt very well as being indoor cats, they do love the outdoors. As there are a lot of dangers in the outdoors, it may be a good idea to leash train a Toyger. As they are extremely intelligent, training them should be pretty easy.
If you do keep them exclusively as indoor cats, then make sure to provide plenty of stimulation around your home. You can do this with plenty of cat shelves, large cat tree's, scratching posts, and various other cat furniture.
History Of The Toyger Cat
The development of the Toyger came about by a lady called Judy Sugden in 1980. Judy is also a Bengal breeder and is the daughter of Jean Mill who was the original breeder of the Bengal cat. You can read more about this in our Bengal cat breed profile.
A breeding program was created by Judy which included a domestic shorthair tabby (Scrapmetal) and a big-boned Bengal (Millwood Rumpled Spotskin). A street cat called Jammie Blu was imported from Kashmir, India in 1993.
Rather than the regular tabby lines, he had all spots between his ears. Alice McKee and Anthony Hutcherson also joined Judy on the program.
In this same year, the Toyger was accepted for registration only by the International Cat Association but is now listed by the association as a championship breed. Judy is also the founder of the Toyger Cat Society.
Although a solid foundation has been established, this new breed of cat is still a work in progress and can be challenging to track down Toyger breeders.
One of the goals of the breeding program was to help prevent the extinction of big cats. It could do this by encouraging the ownership of exotic looking cats rather than wild cats.
Toyger Cat Grooming And Care
To ensure their health and coats are kept in great condition, Toygers should be groomed on a regular basis just like any other cat breed. Here are some tips and guidelines for you to follow:
- Brushing: A weekly brush should be fine as they have short coats and are low maintenance. It's a good idea to brush them more in spring and autumn when they shed a bit more than usual.
- Ears: Check your cats ears on a regular basis and clean them when needed. A build up of wax can lead to infection which can cause your cat a lot of pain.
- Teeth: A cats oral health is very important, as dental issues can lead to other health issues if left untreated.
- Playtime: Regular daily play sessions are important to provide mental stimulation. It's also good exercise, especially if they are being kept as indoor cats.
Common Health Problems
As Toygers are uncommon and a relatively new breed, there is not enough data or history to make a solid case for any breed specific health problems.
Just simply treat them like any other breed and keep a close eye on all aspects of their health and have regular check-ups.
Diet and Nutrition
The Toyger cat breed doesn't require any special dietary requirements. It's just a case of feeding them quality wet and dry food that is packed with protein, as you would with any other cat breed.
It's also important to keep them hydrated by providing fresh, clean water. As cats have a very low thirst-drive, we always recommend investing in a cat water fountain.
Where To Adopt Or Buy A Toyger Cat
As mentioned previously, the toyger cat breed is rare so it may be hard to find a breeder in your area. You can also check out a rescue organization:
How much is a Toyger cat?
You can expect to pay $1200 - $3000 USD.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Common Questions
Are Toyger cats good pets?
Toygers make excellent pets who get along great with the entire family, including children and other pets such as dogs.
If your looking for a calm, chilled out cat then this isn't the breed for you due to their high energy levels. Although they are less demanding than Bengal cats.
Do Toygers like water?
Toyger cats have inherited the love of water, even though they are only connected to the Asian leopard cat through Bengal cats. You'll often find them in the sink, or even in the kids pool outside during the summer months.
Is The Toyger Breed For You?
The Toyger is a beautiful cat breed and make a great addition to any home, providing you care for them and put in plenty of play time to keep them stimulated.
Although very active cats, they can happily live as indoor cats, providing you have the correct setup in your home. This is probably the best option as it is safer and will prolong their life.
Do you own a Toyger? Let us know in the comments below.
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