The Toyger is a domestic cat developed from breeding Shorthaired Tabbies to look like a small Tiger.
It has the striped coat of the Tiger. The person to develop the Toyger is Judy Sugden.
The unusual-looking cat has been recognized for registration by the International Cat Association in the 1990s. It was accepted as a full championship breed in 2007.
Today this designer cat is recognized by the ICA but not the Cat Fancier's Association.
The Toyger is a medium to large-sized cat that can weigh between 5 and 9kg. As with any cat, with these newer kinds of cats, the size of the cat can vary.
It is a shorthair cat that is quite a bit bigger than your regular cat. The coat of this mixed breed cat has markings similar to that of a tiger - vertical orange striping with rosettes.
The coat of the cat is short and he is a brown mackerel tabby with stripes being a dark brown to black. The eyes of the cat can be a blue, aquamarine, green, or gold.
These cats have a laid back disposition, and will comfortably slot into a busy household.
They are playful and intelligent and can be taught tricks and to walk on the lead.
This cat enjoys the company of people and will get on well with other pets too. People who have owned them say they are the most affectionate and loving cats there are and will enjoy being petted and pampered by their human family.
They get on well in busy households where there are children and other pets. They’re super smart and can be trained with ease.
Toygers are expensive cats and there aren’t many breeders in the world. If you do decide to invest in a Toyger, he will need careful looking after, after all, you've spent a lot of money on him.
Diet is of absolute importance to keep such a cat healthy. The right environment is also important as cats and dogs for that matter too, can become ill and depressed if they find themselves in homes where they are unloved and abused.
Don't get a cat if you aren't prepared to love and care for him. Because the question is then 'why get a cat?'
Just like in human beings, obesity can reduce the lifespan of your cat. Make sure you keep your Toyger’s weight under control.
These cats are considered to be fairly healthy. He can be predisposed to some of the same cat conditions that the Bengal and Domestic Shorthair face.
When your Toyger shows any signs of illness, get him to the vet. Some of the common health problems your Toygers might have to contend with include obesity and heart murmurs.
A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound, and is caused by turbulent blood flow within the heart. When you vet examines your cat, a heart murmur is detected when the vet listens to your cat's heart with a stethoscope. The vet will discuss with you the way forward for your cat.
If you get a Toyger kitten, you will have to make sure he is up to date with his vaccinations. This is part of being a responsible cat owner.
The breeder will have a record of his vaccinations and will hand this over to you.
At 6 – 8 weeks kittens start with their first injections which include vaccinations for distemper, feline rhinotracheitis, and feline calici virus.
Toygers should be brushed weekly and have their nails trimmed regularly. As with all domesticated cats, you should check inside his ears to make sure they don’t become clogged with dirt and wax.
These are smart cats so they will need to be provided with attention in the form of clever games and toys that get him thinking.
Toygers need to be fed much like any other domestic cat. The most important thing to remember when feeding a cat is that they are carnivores and they require meaty food high in protein.
Speak to your vet about the absolute necessity of getting your cat’s diet right. For your convenience, cat food manufacturers have brought out many excellent cat foods that cater to the time of life your cat is in.