Toyger Cat

Toygers are designer cats. They have an easily trained character and are laid back, which makes them perfect for apartment dwellers. Their dramatic pattern and glittered pelt makes them very appealing to all of you who have ever dreamed of owning a real tiger, but because they are domestic, they are an absolute treasure to live with. (Life magazine 02/23/07)

What is more, the cat is practically computer designed. Breeders used computer imaging in determining the type of cat they wanted, going even so far as to use email to arrange cross-country breeding matches.

Toyger cats are very intelligent, social and outgoing, so they do very well around all sorts of people and animals. The average Toyger male will range from 15-17 pounds when fully grown, with females only slightly smaller at 10-14 pounds. 

This designer cat creator, Judy Sudgen, has stated that the toy tiger breed was developed in order to inspire people to care about the conservation of tigers in the wild.

It was recognized for 'Registration only' by The International Cat Association in the early 1990s, and in 2000 its status was upgraded to 'Preliminary New Breed'. The Toyger started showing in its new TICA status of 'Advanced New Breed' in May 2006. As of May 2007, the Toyger will be given Championship status.

There are approximately 20 breeders in the United States, six in Europe and one in Australia  working to develop the Toyger cat breed.

Toyger Cat History

The designer, Toyger cat, breed began development in 1980 when Judy Sudgen, a breeder in the United States, was looking to clarify the mackerel markings in tabbies, noticed distinctive markings in two of her cats.

These markings, occurring on the head, an area normally devoid of distinct pattern, first inspired the idea of a toy tiger like tabby.

After importing a tom from the streets of India with noticeable head markings, the quest to develop tiger-like, circular face markings in the cats began. The introduction of the Bengal breed into the gene pool was a move on Sudgen's part to produce a "big cat body".

The Toyger cat is the result of many years of hard work breeding a striped domestic shorthair cat to a standard Bengal tabby. The end result was a miniature tiger that has the fur and glitter of a real Bengal Tiger, but with excellent temperaments.

Ideally the Toyger cat has dark stripes just like a tiger laid over a background of orange/tan. Also like a tiger, the stripes should be random individual stripes, not uniform ones like you might find on your typical tiger kitty.

Breeders continue to improve on the species in order to obtain one of the most beautiful domestic cats possible along with the majestic look of a wild tiger.

Toyger Cat Today

Although the current "version" of the cat remains a far cry from a toy tiger in appearance, the appropriate coloring and bold striations have been largely developed.

Toyger Cat of the Future

With the aid of computer imaging, breeders have been able to develop a prospective model for the desired, final look of the Toyger cat breed. By 2010, the breed hopes to have achieved rounded ears, and a wider nosebridge. Smaller eyes, whitened chest and stomach markings, and a cheek ruff are also breed possibilities for the future.